WHAT'S WRONG WITH HALLOWEEN?

"A Christian in his surroundings should encourage everyone to be better, instead of being the one who stoops to be like everyone else".

I agree with this. It is not that I believe that Christians must be perfect (for we are not - nor am I even close), nor do I believe that the Scripture teaches that Christians are sinless (for, again, we are not. Read 1 John 1:8-9). However, I truly believe, as both a Christian and a Pastor within the Church that Jesus Christ founded, that we as believers SHOULD attempt to live our lives in accordance with the will of our Heavenly Father.

Sadly, many believers (or professing believers) do not feel this same way. Some feel that compromise is the best course of action when confronted with the ways of the world. Though compromise with the world may make things easier for us in this lifetime, the Scripture is very clear on this point: If you have compromised with the ways of the world, then you have made yourself the enemy of God:

James 4:4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

Further, our Lord Jesus has called us who believe in Him to be "the light of the world":

Matthew 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".

In other words, we are to, by our lives, clearly represent Christ our Savior to a lost and dying world. Anything, ANYTHING that we as believers do that overshadows that "witness of works" is outside of the will of our Creator, Jesus Christ. Which brings me to this point:
 

However, I do not expect to receive the negative letters that I do from professing Christians - which makes me wonder - do YOU know what the Scripture teaches, or do you just "blow it off" as "just another book"? So I began to research again. I have NOT removed the other study (here) from this site, but I decided to research and see what the Wicca, Pagans, Celtic, and Druids say about the holiday we call "Halloween" - and compare their teachings against Scripture. Often I have found irregularities even among these "kindred spirits" on what Halloween really is. Nonetheless, I have reported clearly what I found. Let's begin ...

From "Lady Hedgehog's" site, located here, I found out that the original holiday is called Samhain, and is pronounced in a variety of ways:

1. In Ireland, it is pronounced, "sow-in"
2. In Wales and England, it is traditionally, "sow-een"
3. In Scotland, it is "sav-en."
4. But it is never pronounced correctly as "Sam-hane"

The Celtics, who divided the year into "summer" and "winter" phases, considered October 31 to be the end of the summer and start of winter. Summer and winter, life and death, were considered to be in juxtaposition to one another on this night. For this reason Samhain was considered to be a holiday of divination and a time of the dead, where life and death were celebrated side by side.

On this night it was believed that the dead could return¹ to earth and fellowship with the living. On this night a feast was held, and places were set at the table for the "dearly departed" so they could be welcomed and entertained. The original jac-o-lantern, gourds with lighted candles inside, were placed in the window to ward off any evil spirits that might try to attack.²

The Celts believed that, on this special night, when the veil between the worlds of life and death was at its thinnest, that this was a good night to make decisions for the future³. It was a night to cast runes, deal cards, and scry, all with the intent of seeing into the future.

From the Isle of Avalon, a Celtic-Pagan site, we read that Samhain (Sow-an) is recognized as the Celtic New Year. Among the Celtic religion, Samhain was a time to pay homage to the Celtic goddess, who was considered a trinity. She has three aspects: Virgin, Mother, and Crone. During Samhain the goddess was in Her third aspect, the Crone. In this aspect the Hindus called her Kali (Kal-ee), the Death Goddess. The Celts in Scotland called her Cailleach (Kal-eh) which simply means "old woman." The "Crone", Cailleach, had a blue-black face, one eye in the middle of her brow, and protruding teeth - and represented the typical Halloween "monster" or "witch" of today.

One of the Celtic poems/ songs are:

This site also further informs us that the Halloween tradition of "bobbing for apples" is distinctly tied to divination:

"There is a traditional activity associated with Halloween that can be a very effective ceremonial tool at Samhain. It's bobbing for apples. This is an age old tool for communicating with the other side. Water represents that veil that is so thin at that time. Apples have always been associated with Goddess and temptation. Let me tempt you if I may with a technique that might yield some interesting results. At your Samhain gathering, have a big bucket or cauldron, some room temperature water, and a number of largish apples."

"Before you begin, you need to have a question. Pick something that is happening for you at that moment that you relate with Samhain - perhaps some part of your life that is over, or another area where you need to sow some new seeds. Then bob for apples as usual. The only difference is when you finally get an apple in your teeth, instead of triumphantly pulling your head out of the water, even though your lungs might be screaming, "Air! Air!", keep your head under the water for a moment longer and pay attention. You will see or hear or experience something relevant to your question. This can be a very divinatory⁴ activity, and it is fun as well. Have lots of dry towels."

At one of the Witch's Sites (or Wiccan, if you prefer), I found the following information:

Samhain (which this Wiccan group pronounces sow-inn), is the Witche's New Year. The god Lugh gathers the spirits of those that have died⁶ over the year and waits for Samhain night so that they may pass through the gate to the other side. Wicca perform divination. They pay homage to the horned god of the hunt. They light bonfires and perform rituals to honor their deceased loved ones. The Halloween tradition of wearing scary costumes originated from the practice of trying to scare away departed souls that may mean harm. The jack-o-lantern was also used to scare away hostile spirits, though the candle inside the gourd was meant to be a beckoning light to those departed souls you wished to welcome.

At WitchVox, the Voice of the Witches, we read the following about Samhain. The "god" of the earth is dying, but will be reborn through the "goddess". On this night the dead return to visit their kin and the doors to the Faery Realm are opened.

Though many protest that there is no "Feast of the Dead", and though they nit pick and say that "there is no Samhain, god of the dead", WitchVox states: "The Feast of the Dead" ("Fleadh nan Mairbh") is laid out by many to welcome these otherworldly visitors and gain their favor for the coming year. Many folks leave milk and cakes ("Bannock Samhain" ) outside their door on Samhain Eve or set a place at their table for their ancestors¹ who may want to join in the celebrations with their kin and family."

During the celebration the Wiccan (Witches) chant:
 

"It is an important holiday for us. Witches are diverse, and practice a variety of traditions. Many of us use this time to practice forms of divination (such as tarot or runes). Many Witches also perform rituals to honor the dead; and may invite their deceased loved ones to visit for a time, if they choose. This is not a "seance" in the usual sense of the word; Witches extend an invitation, rather than summoning the dead, and we believe the world of the dead is very close to this one. So on Samhain, and again on Beltane (May 1st), when the veil between the worlds is thin, we attempt to travel between those worlds. This is done through meditation, visualization, and astral projection. Because Witches acknowledge human existence as part of a cycle of life, death and rebirth, Samhain is a time to reflect on our mortality, and to confront our fears of dying."⁷

From the site "Tartans.com" we find out that Samhain is a month that "heralds the rule of darkness"⁸. This Celtic holiday acknowledged the rule of the chaotic Otherworld. Though many other sites refuse to recognize that Samhain honored death over life, this site states:

"What was of great importance to these people was to die with honour and to live in the memory of the clan and be honoured at the great feast Fleadh nan Mairbh (Feast of the Dead) which took place on Samhain Eve."

During Samhain those who believed in the teachings of this holiday thought that their dead ancestors were freed to walk the earth with the living. Not only is this contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ our Lord ¹, such teaching also neglects the fact that Christ our Lord is the "firstfruits from the Dead" ⁹. He alone was and is the only person who has truly resurrected in glorified body, and has walked among mankind. In fact, the Scripture is emphatic that no one, no matter who, can achieve the resurrected state apart from Christ¹⁰.

The site "Witchway" states:

"Samhain (pronounced Sow-in, Sah-vin, or Sahm-hayn), known most popularly as Halloween, marks the end of the third and final harvest, is a day to commune with and remember the dead, and is a celebration of the eternal cycle of reincarnation. Samhain (once again Halloween) is the most coveted sabbat by the Wiccan (and many Pagan) religions."

"In the European traditions, Samhain is the night when the old God dies, and the Crone Goddess mourns him deeply for the next six weeks. The popular image of her as the old Halloween hag menacingly stirring her cauldron comes from the Celtic belief that all dead souls return to her cauldron of life, death, and rebirth to await reincarnation."

In other words, the central and most pronounced message of Samhain is that of reincarnation, certainly a theology far from that of Christianity. Reincarnation assumes life without end, and presupposes that all - regardless as to their condition in Christ - will have another chance at eternity if they blow this one. Yet the Scripture denies this. ¹¹

If you fail to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior in this life, there is no hope after death. Reincarnation is but a lie from the pits of hell!

The site of "Triplemoon.com" also reinforces the teaching that Samhain is all about reincarnation, when they state:

"The story of the birth, life and death of the God is the story of the birth life and death of each of us. This cycle of birth death and rebirth is the basis for our belief in reincarnation. His death or sacrifice at Samhain is the foundation of All Hallow's Eve or The Festival of the Dead. Tonight we are here to honor our beloved dead. We believe that on this night, the veil between the worlds is thin and we can call to those who have gone and they will hear us....and so... The Circle of Power is about to be erected."

Witchway also hints at another practice that other Pagan and Wiccan sites have denied: that the Jack-O-Lantern is indeed the son of a more hideous form of paganism: taking and mounting the head of your enemy on a stake. Witchway states:

"Faces rather than other available and more abstract designs were not chosen at random to be carved onto the jack-o'-lanterns. The ancient Celts considered the head the most sacred part of the body, and at one time, even held a cult-like veneration for it. In battle the Celtic warriors would take the heads from their enemies and mount them on top of poles to guard their villages and encampments. For them, the head was not only seen as the center of learning, but also as the seat of the immortal soul, and therefore a repository for all knowledge. In death, as in life, it was believed that the attributes of a person of strength and agility (such as a warrior) were able to be used as a continual protective force."

Though Witchway does not come right out and say that the Jack-O-Lantern, originally carved from a gourd to drive away evil spirits, was the cleaner version of mounting your enemy's head on a pole ... the implication is there. Though the modern Jack-O-Lantern may seem but a "cute custom", it had its roots in butchery.

In closing, should we who are Christians celebrate Halloween or Samhain? Listen to this chant from Triplemoon.com, and then tell me that you think that we as Christians should be involved in this festival:

Though modern day witches, pagans, and Celts do not perform human sacrifice, there is evidence in ancient writings that they DID DO SO at one time. There are accounts, taken mainly from Julius Caesar's "Gaelic Wars" describing human sacrifices done by the Druids. Though this is a discontinued practice (much as the Roman Catholic Inquisition was a historic reality, though no longer practiced today), much of what we see in Halloween or Samhain can be traced back to human sacrifice and evil.

Though it may not be "politically correct" to say this, if you accept the Holy Bible as God's Word, you can not justify following these base practices. If you, on the other hand, consider the Father of Lights to be a "kindly and liberal old gentleman", then you may feel that such behavior is acceptable.

Just be aware, believer, that you WILL reap what you sow:

Galatians 6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting".

, and,

1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."

Be fully persuaded in your own mind, believer. God is not mocked. God bless you all!¹²

1. Samhain teaches that the dead can return to the earth to "fellowship" with the living on this night. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught that immediately following death, both the believer and the unbeliever go to the place reserved for them in eternity (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus taught that the dead could not cross over to the other side of eternity, nor would the dead be allowed to return to the earth:

Luke 16:26  "And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence."

Luke 16:28-31 "For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

To teach that the dead can cross over to the living, or that the dead can cross from one plane of existence to another is to teach that Christ was a liar, or deceived, or both. If you would believe Jesus, you have to reject this "truth".

2. Is it possible to "ward off" evil spirits or malicious souls with a lighted gourd? Absolutely not! Satan, the fallen angels, the non-fallen angels are powerful beings - much more powerful, in this lifetime, than we as humans are. To assume that a "candle in a gourd" will ward the fallen angels off is fallacy. Further, Scripture reports that those who did not know Jesus Christ as Savior attempted to cast demons out of a man by ritually using Jesus' name. How did that work out?

Acts 19:13-16 "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."

If ritually using the name without having a relationship with Jesus did not work, then why do you think that a lighted gourd will protect you? The lighted gourd, or pumpkin with the scary face on it, looks backward to a time when ritualistic superstition was religious reality.

3. Using the dead, mediums, or "familiar spirits" to plan or direct your life were forbidden to the believer. In fact, the Father considered dealing with familiar spirits something abominable, and in Israel demanded that such people be subjected to the death penalty:

Leviticus 20:27  "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them".

Though God's children did not always heed this warning, and though people like King Saul (who certainly should have known better) sometimes disobeyed God and consorted with those who "communicated with the dead":

1 Samuel 28:7-8 "Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee".

God demanded better of His believers - and the believer who fell into this atrocity usually suffered the "sin unto death" because of it:

1 Chronicles 10:13  "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it"

4. Though I support and believe in the truth that, as Americans, we are free to do as we wish (within governmental law), we do need to remember that we as Christians are first and foremost CHILDREN OF GOD. Since Samhain or Halloween is, according to those who created the holiday, one of the greatest "witch's holidays", and since the Father considered witchcraft an abomination:

Exodus 22:18  "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live".

Deuteronomy 18:10  "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch"

Then should we, as believers, entrench ourselves in this dubious holiday. The Apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 6:12  "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any".

In other words, I can do many things because I am under the Law of Liberty in Christ, BUT all things are not necessarily expedient or good for me. In fact, the Apostle said that, even though it was perfectly acceptable to eat all types of meat, that:

1 Corinthians 8:13  "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend".

IF eating that meat offends another brother or sister, then that meat should not be eaten. Apply this same truth to Samhain. As believers we are to live our lives so that we do not cause our brother to stumble, and to live our lives in such a way as to honor Jesus. We are to be the "light" of the world:

Matthew 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".

Can you, as a believer in Christ, endorse a witch's holiday? Can you endorse it and remain "the light of the world"? Can you endorse it and not offend other believers? Can you see Jesus on "Trick or Treat" with you?

5. Samhain is intimately tied to worship of a triune goddess amongst the Celts - a goddess who is considered to be a creator god. As Christians we believe that there is only One God, not a goddess, and as our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 4:10  "... it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve".

We serve God the Father through the authority of Jesus Christ our Lord and by the empowerment of God's precious Spirit. This is the Christian perspective. We do not serve goddesses and gods of other pagan religions, Celtic included. We recognize only One Creator, Jesus Christ:

Colossians 1:13-18 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

Can the believer reconcile the goddess, the foundation of Samhain/Halloween with Christ as portrayed in Scripture? I suspect not - not if you're honest with yourselves.

6. Samhain is intimately linked with death, dead spirits, departed souls, and so on. Though the Wicca generally refute this as error, several respected conservative Christian groups report that Samhain originally was a time to worship the "god of the dead". Some claim that this god/ goddess/ or whatever (depending on who you listen to) was actually called Samhain or Samana:

In Your Child and the Occult, Johanna Michaelsen(1989) writes: "The Feast of Samhain was a fearsome night, a dreaded night, a night in which great bonfires were lit to Samana the Lord of Death, the dark Aryan god who was known as the Grim Reaper, the leader of the ancestral Ghosts."

The Watchman Fellowship, Inc., a respected conservative Christian countercult group states:

"It [Halloween] was at this time of the year that Baal, the Celtic god of Spring and Summer, ended his reign. It was also when the Lord of the Dead, Samhain, began his reign."

If we secede to Wiccan claim that Samhain really meant "Sam" (end of) and "hain" (summer)to the Celts, then why, IN EVERY INSTANCE, IN BOTH PAGAN AND WICCAN sites I have examined on the Internet, that Samhain is INTIMATELY tied to death and the dead? The god Lugh is obviously gathering the dead. Obviously some worship of a god gathering dead is being followed during the holiday of Samhain, whether the god's/ goddess' name is Samhain or Octane. In either instance, does God the Father want His people involved with Pagans in their rituals?

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Absolutely not! We are called to be:

Leviticus 20:7  "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God."

1 Peter 1:15-16 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

Holy, separated unto God's use - not compromising with the world of the Celts, the Pagans, the Druids, and the Wiccans.

7. Again, is this a holiday that you want to invest yourself and your children in? Believers are called to "Redeem the time" for our Savior:

Ephesians 5:16  "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

And to "walk in wisdom toward those who are without", that is, walk in a manner that exemplifies Christ:

Colossians 4:5  "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Can the believer who compromises with Samhain truly represent the Savior as the "only Way, Truth, and Light" to the lost Wiccan who watch us? Can we truly represent the EXCLUSIVENESS of Christ to a lost and dying world if we are compromised with the world? No, no we cannot. Wiccan are LOST, and worship their gods and goddesses during Samhain. We need to act as if Christ is important to us in all things, and especially when the world watches.

8. We as believers, though we are certainly not perfect, are ordered by our Creator to recognize that God is light:

1 John 1:5-7 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Our God has no darkness in Him at all, and expects that we who believe in Him should walk in the light, as he is in the light. In fact, we are told that IF we walk in darkness, then we are NOT behaving as His dear children.

9. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

10. John 20:31  "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

11. Hebrews 9:27  "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment", and

John 3:18-21 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

12. Some within witchcraft and the occult parade the "theory" that "white magic" is in no way evil as "black magic" is. I am certain that the person in "white magic" follows a better motive than the one in black magic. Yet, if one examines the Scripture, there is absolutely no difference between so called "white" and "black" magic. ALL magic and the use of Occult techniques are condemned by God.

In fact, the Word of God - if you accept it as such - condemns the following forms of occultism - forms that we frequently "wink at" as harmless:

Astrology: Isaiah 47:13-14 "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it."

Charming, Divination, Necromancy, Witchcraft, and Wizardry: Deuteronomy 18:10-12 "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee."

Magic: Genesis 41:8  "And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh."

Soothsaying: Isaiah 2:6 "Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers."

White Witchcraft is only different from it Black sister because of motive. Unfortunately, God never addresses the issue of motive when condemning Occult practices. And those who practice witchcraft, regardless of the motive, end up participating in one of the "works of the flesh":

Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

White or Black - it doesn't really matter because the practices of both are wrong.