What is it about the Dark Side that thrills, chills, entices and tempts otherwise sane people?
Psychologists tell us that we, as a people, love dark thrills because it is all pretend.
We love being scared to death vicariously, because we are removed from what we are watching and won’t really die.
You just walk away from it. Or do you?
An often-quoted college expert on mass media says people watch horror and slasher movies or go to “haunted houses” NOT for the intense fear that it creates, but for the intense relief that comes after it’s over, calling this process the “excitation transfer.”
So if I follow this line of reasoning, I should bang my head against the wall because it will feel great when I stop.
No thanks :-).
Halloween Celebrates Evil in the World
Fact: Darkness is darkness and evil is evil, no matter how fun and innocent it appears. And Halloween is the time when darkness reaches the top.
I’m not here to debate whether you should or shouldn’t watch horror movies or scary TV shows.
I am here to open your eyes to Jesus Christ so that you may discern good from evil, as it says in Acts 26:18:
“To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Spiritual History 101: The Simple Facts
Evil is from Satan, who was cast into hell when he wanted to exalt himself above God.
Satan offers death. Satan is the Great Deceiver.
All good is from God. God has more love than Satan has hate.
Jesus offers life. Jesus is the Light of the World. Light will always overcome darkness. Tweet
When Christ died for our sins and rose again, Satan was defeated.
God will always triumph.
Here’s a universal truth:
If you walk into a dark room and turn on the light, does light and darkness arm wrestle to see which one will win out? No, because light always displaces darkness.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Jesus was sent as “the Light of the World” and will always shine into and overcome the darkness. No exceptions.
Those who say they believe in God and see Halloween as a mindless kid’s holiday, ask yourself this: Why would you step back into darkness when Jesus has brought you into the light?
If You Are Not a Christian, Let’s Cut to the Chase
If Jesus is not the Lord of your life and you feel strongly about attending a Halloween event (not to be confused with a church alternative Harvest Festival), then you are still walking in darkness.
And know this: Satan does not want you to have a relationship with God.
Satan is after the minds of your children, and what better way to showcase the Dark Side than during a “fun time” like Halloween when it is accepted by the unwary masses.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Your children are innocent, and you owe it to them to protect them from forces bent on their destruction. They are an inheritance from God (Psalm 127:3). Clothe them in the Armor of God.
If you love your children as God loves you, then take Romans 13:12 to heart:
“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
So, before you dress them up as witches and goblins and let them go door-to-door, or take them to another Halloween event, realize you are paying tribute to the Lord of Darkness, Satan, and not the Lord of Light, Jesus.
The History Behind Halloween
Wikipedia.com notes that Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, originally began as an (alleged) “Christian-inspired time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed souls who had yet to reach heaven.”
Be that as it may, this practice is nowhere in the Bible.
Can you find any likeness of that description with today’s sinister touch of ghouls, goblins, demons, witches, diabolical killers, satanic mayhem and occult influences on Halloween?
Even the black cats of Halloween harken to the pagan Druids who believed they were reincarnated human beings.
Halloween is nothing more than a celebration of evil played out in the open.
God Warns Us
“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:31).
God was very specific to the Hebrew people when it came to the occult:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who … practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
God is mindful of you and His love for you is deeper than the seas. He doesn’t want you anywhere near the occult. God’s rules are for your protection.
Just as the wages of sin brings death, so does the belief in Jesus bring life. Tweet
There is a heaven:
“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)
And there is a hell:
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; …” (2 Peter 2:4)
And there is a choice:
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)
God gave you a new life and with it comes new responsibilities. It is now up to you to protect this new generation.
Shield the innocent. Show them God’s glory and absolute love. Let your light shine!
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
This Halloween, help the children stay out of the darkness by helping them walk in the light.
Amen and Amen! I looooved this post! thank you so much for shinning a light on the darkness of this holiday. Halloween used to be one of my favorite holidays because i always loved dressing up and well, any excuse to party. But since I rededicated my life to the Lord He has taken away the love and excitment for it. I thank God He provides safe havens for us and our children at the different churches hosting events on this night, and pray that many eyes will be opened to the reality of this night. God bless you!
I know what you mean Amanda, I had no idea about the history of Halloween until the first year after I rededicated my life back to the Lord. I was pretty shocked. I think Pastor Chuck had created also a Halloween DVD about it and it really opens up our eyes.
Great job Ani!
Pete, this is a very good article, the one thing that comes to my mind is that we have an opportunity and we need to ask Jesus that rather than hiding and shutting all the light off in the house that He would prevail allowing us to be witnesses to those that come to the door. As the neighborhood kids come with their parents to be kind and this year I intend to distribute these downloadable and printable bible verses to give out with the candy here is the link that could change someone’s life https://www.preciousholidays.net/Jn316NIrV-sm.jpg
That is insanely awesome Mirv! Thank you for sharing that
link with our community, I’m sure a lot of people are going to find it very
helpful. We’ll be praying for you too, Mirv 🙂
Even before I came back to the Lord and was living in sin, I never liked Halloween. It never made sense to me how horror, violence, ghosts, evil spirits, etc. could be considered “fun.” People do die horrific and violent death. This is reality for some people. I didn’t understand how people can just so carelessly glorify such a dark day. I praise God for giving me the discernment on this practice even then. Now that I have fully committed my life to Jesus, I don’t see any reason whatsoever to associate myself with this “holiday.” I am walking in light and no longer in darkness, so why should I run back into it?