As a kid, growing up in the Bronx and Upstate New York, I remember dressing up for Halloween. My mom was a talented seamstress and made a lot of my costumes. Hence, I had a unique outfit every year. I don’t remember ever having a store-bought outfit. As a prodigal, Halloween became a night to dress sexy and go out partying.
Now, as a born-again Christian, I can’t stand it. I know its demonic-based history and even the decorations I see around my neighborhood creep me out. Living in Arizona, so close to Mexico, the whole area is consumed with the Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos). Many people see these decorated skulls as art, but to me, it’s evil.
Today when I was returning home, I noticed a neighbor with her 4-year-old girl admiring the Halloween decorations on a neighbor’s door (pictured below). I immediately said hi and commented on the girl’s pretty dress to take their gaze away from the door.
At the bottom of this blog article, I’ve embedded a few videos on the history of Halloween and even some testimonies of former devil worshipers who are now born-again Christians.
First, let’s see what the Bible has to say about delving with the devil.
Demons do Exist
23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.
Mark 1:23-26, 32-34 NLT
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
Matthew 24:41 NLT
Demons and evil spirits know that Jesus is the Son of God…
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil (or unclean) spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.
6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” 10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
Mark 5:1-10 NLT
Then we are told to Turn from Evil…
…Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.
3 John 1:11 NLT
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
James 4:4 NLT
19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 NLT
11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
Ephesians 5:11 NLT
20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 NLT
In Ancient Ephesus, New Christians Turned from Their Sinful Practices…
17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
Acts 19:17-20 NLT
Even Back in the Old Testament we are Warned…
Woe to those who call evil good
Isaiah 5:20 NIV
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
God said…
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
Proverbs 8:36:NLT
All who hate me love death.
The Day of the Dead, Dia de Los Muertos, All Saints Day and All Souls Day
This should be a part of my series, “Where the Catholic Church Went Wrong“. As I was watching the video on the History of Halloween (below), the narrator mentioned Pope Gregory I. That’s a familiar name! (He was the one who thought the idea of inventing purgatory would be fruitful for the church.) So, Pope Gregory I, in the 7th Century (600s), wanted the church to spread into England and Ireland, countries who practiced “Samhain” — a night celebrating death and hell. Those were the Celts and Druids.
Instead of teaching them that Jesus is all a person needs, no, he adopted their pagan traditions and that’s where All Saints Day got started. That’s exactly what Constantine did 300 years before! That’s how all the pagan practices got adopted into church rituals. That gave the devil a foothold into the church.
In Ephesians 4:27, Paul tells us that “anger gives a foothold to the devil.” It also works with pagan rituals, idolatry, Mary and saint worship, lighting candles, burning incense, putting Halloween decorations at the door and windows of your house. You’re giving the devil a foothold! Once he gets that foothold, he’s in your life for good and only Jesus can get him out.
No matter what you call it, it’s still a devil-based festival.
In one of the videos below, Anton LeVey, the founder of the Church of Satan in San Francisco is quoted saying, “I’m glad that Christians allow their children to worship the devil at least one night a year.”
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
It’s up to you.
This year — 2020 — the year of COVID-19 — people are calling to #CancelHalloween. I’m all for that. Depending on where you live and the local government restrictions, it may be banned. Yay! Yet, people will still demonically decorate.
Watch the videos below and you decide. Pray about it. You may just end up tearing down the ghosts and goblins and smashing that pumpkin jack-o-lantern.
Let’s end with some thoughts from Paul…
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Romans 12:2, 9 NLT
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
