I’ve been trying to tell people for years that those who believe the message about Christ and have received His Spirit are transferred from one place into another – from darkness to light – out of one kingdom of slavery and death, and into another of new life in Jesus. Halloween is a festival that holds no real meaning for most. It’s just a bit of fun. A time to dress up and get lollies/candy. But it’s this display of ignorance and the desire to be involved in any way with this festival that has me perplexed. How can a Christian who knows the truth be involved?
Jesus died to set us free from demons that pretend to be harmless ghosts, lying spirits, deceiving the minds of those unbelieving and disobedient to Jesus, the Messiah, and Son of God. They keep people bound from understanding that He came and crushed the head of Satan and made right what was very wrong. The grace of God has been revealed to bring Salvation to all people. (Titus 2:11). Christ died to free us from the slavery of the Devil and his demonic army of evil spirits and demons and to forgive our sins to give us new life in Him. We can’t keep the law, and we can’t do anything to break the curse against us of slavery, sin, and death. So why, tell me, can you find pleasure or have any association with a festival that makes fun of death with its skulls and graves? And that makes light of ghosts or demons as if they have no power? Witchcraft is real, death is fatal, and lying spirits and demons deceive people every day to keep them from understanding the truth so that they will go to hell. Why, as a Christian, do you go back to ignorance unless you never understood at all?
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins (Colossians 1:11-14 NLT.)
Why go back to the old neighborhood and join in with things that displease your Father that Jesus died to free you from? It doesn’t make any sense. It’s illogical. He purchased our freedom from demons, trickery, witchcraft, ignorance, and foolishness, and forgave our sins. If you have His Spirit – God moved you to a new location – into the Kingdom of His dear Son, the light! It is so dishonoring to partake in such things, a slap in the face, a mockery. Read Psalm 1 –
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers”
Psalm 1:1
When warning people not to partake in Halloween, I’ve been accused of being a weak Christian and that I don’t understand the grace of God. Or, that I am trying to make people live under the law, which is ridiculous!
“They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations. But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.”
Galatians 2:5
By warning people not to partake in Halloween or decorate their homes to celebrate this festival, it is not trying to force people to follow Jewish regulations or live under the law! But persuade people to be WISE! And to not parade their ignorance to demons and lying spirits as if they are confused. Also, by doing so, it creates confusion and allows a confusing message in front of the gospel and what Jesus died to free us from! I will conclude with this point about a confusing message and not clarity with these two photos that I took at Vons, our local grocery and supermarket store.
As you can see, these two photos are quite opposite and convey different messages yet are both associated with Halloween. One brings a sense of relief, that everything is okay, and that ghosts are cute and harmless. And the other is like a trophy shelf, where a warrior is displaying their killings and human skulls. Which is true? Is death our enemy to fear? We know we all will die, but is there a villain behind the killings, a culprit hunting us that we are not aware of? We know the answer – 1 Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – And Jesus died to free us from his hands. There are no cute, cuddly ghosts like in fantasy books. The ghosts people see are really demons, disguising themselves, like these messages in Vons, to keep themselves hidden because they are hunting you. And Christians born again, God released you from their hand, and their hunt. So why join in with those yet to be released as if there is nothing to fear, and make a joke and mockery of Salvation, and join Satan’s work of confusion?
So, I will stick my neck out again, which is a saying to say that you are putting it over the chopping block to get your head cut off. And I dare say, Satan will try to set many a voice against my wisdom and what I am testifying to the truth as someone Jesus delivered from these beasts and this kingdom. It’s funny how people with no experience will suddenly be experts. Yet, they have never experienced demon-possession or Jesus’ deliverance with His personal teaching of His gospel and grace. But Paul experienced many whips and chains, and we will suffer if we are to share in the glory of Christ. And my heart wants to warn for the one who will hear! The grace of God has been revealed bringing Salvation to all people – Titus 2:11. So, why go back to ignorance or give a display to others that there is no power in witchcraft and that death can be made fun of and trickery of the mind by Satan is only a dream we can wake up from. Even if you only dress up as a superhero, you look would look foolish to King David who said in Psalm 16:3 –
“The godly people in the land are my true heroes!”