Can I Change Your Mind About Halloween?

If you want to throw a nice wholesome party on Halloween including nice wholesome costumes… hey, why not? What's the harm when your motives (and behaviors) are exemplary? Might even be a good witness. People can observe Christians having good, clean fun especially when churches offer alternative celebrations for their members and community.

That's all what I used to think.

To be honest, I really don't care much about the pagan origins of Halloween in ages past. It's not like most of us are even aware of them, and what do they really have to do with current times? Not exactly a motivating reason to change my lifestyle. But what I have come to care about is what Halloween stands for now, based on a few of my own observations:

In every neighborhood of every town of every state of our country during this celebrated week (and a few other countries as well), you'll find dark, scary decorations. Big hairy spiders in webs, hideous green witches donned in black, skeletons, haunted houses, coffins, bats… nothing is too dark or too evil to display. And don't forget the sweet little kids dressed as Grim Reapers, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and Freddy Kruegers.

Type "Halloween Crimes News" into Google, and you'll get 349,000 results. There's a huge influx in alcohol and drug related revelry and crime that police departments far and wide refer to as "pandemonium," requiring increased police reinforcement.^[1]

Many pet shelters do not adopt out any black or white cats during the month of October, and many families keep their pets inside on and around Halloween. Whether or not it's true that Satanists use them for sacrifices (I'm not willing to take a chance with my black cat), it's absolutely a newsworthy fact that there is considerable animal cruelty on and around this holiday.^[2]

The dictionary defines "hallowed," from which the word, "Halloween" comes, as holy, consecrated, sacred, revered.^[3] In my mind, that opens up the question, "Who is being worshiped and revered on Halloween?"

On the Satanic Calendar, Halloween is one of the most significant nights of the year when "attempts are made to break the bond which is keeping the doors to the underworld closed." Sexual rituals are performed in association with demons and blood sacrifices called, "The Blood Feast of the Dead." Both human and animal sacrifices are included, with the focus placed on children ages seven to eighteen.^[4]

In college I heard an ex-Satanist tell a story so horrible, it became the deciding factor for me. In his account, the FBI had hired him to help them investigate a case during Halloween involving several child abductions and murders involving the worst of tortures such as group rape, and then being hung and burned on a cross. One little victim was an adorable girl of only eight.

It was then I realized that, even if I could somehow rationalize participating in this dark holiday promoting intoxicated revelry, overt evil, and pet cruelty, albeit under the guise of "innocent celebration," I could not rationalize participating in a holiday that at any level victimized children.

Consider these verses…

"What fellowship can light have with darkness? Therefore come out from them and be separate," says the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17

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. Romans 12:2

Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. Ephesians 5:11

So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. Leviticus 18:3

When the LORD your God destroys the nations...do not be trapped into following their example in worshiping their gods…These nations have committed many detestable acts that the Lord hates, all in the name of their gods. They have even burned their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods. Deuteronomy 12:29-31 (selected)

In her guest appearance on Christian Family Radio, author, occult researcher, and producer of the video, Halloween: Trick or Treat, Caryl Matrisciana shared her views. "…[Halloween] is a time that there are sacrifices. My question is, if we know that this is a holiday of vandalism, death, cruelty, abductions, poison, mayhem, why do we as Christians celebrate this kind of a holiday?"^[5]

I think Caryl is right. As Christians let's truly set a good example for the world by taking to heart the present realities of this day, pray against the forces of evil, and stop paying homage to Satan and his followers.