There has been a lot of controversy, over the years, about the holiday called Halloween.  Is it a pagan practice, or Christian, is it just fun, or evil?

I have done quite a lot of research and have come to a conclusion that I believe is the truth.  Often times, things are not always what they seem to be.  Much of what we do as Christians is done as tradition.  Sometimes, we join in activities thinking they are fine and acceptable, because we have a lack of knowledge concerning it.

The first thing we need to know concerning Halloween, is its origin. Many sources I looked at were in agreement.  I have chosen to share what I found in the Encyclopedia Britannica.  It stated that what developed into the modern holiday began as what Celtics called "Samhein" or the festival of death.  In ancient Celtic religion, Samhein (with an alternate spelling of Samhain) was one of the most important and sinister festivals of the year.  At Samhein, which was held on November 1, the world of the gods (demons) was believed to be made visible to humankind.  These gods played many 'tricks' on their mortal worshippers.  It was a time fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes.  (According to information on the irish -genealogy website, spells and incantations of witches were especially powerful at Samhein).  Sacrifices and attempts of appeasement of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them, Celtics believed they could not prevail over the perils of the season, or counteract the activities of the demonic deities.  Samhein was also the name of the god of death and hell which was worshipped by the Druids. (The ruling priests of the Celtics).

A Christian organization, Dial the Truth Ministries, with Dr. Terry Watkins presents this truth according to their research.  "The Druids believed, during Samhein, the mystic veil separating the dead from the living was opened.  The Druids taught that those roaming spirits loosed on Samhein went searching for a body to possess.  (My note, which is what demons do, according to Matthew 8: 29-32 and Luke 11:24-26).  The frightened Celts would masquerade as demons, evil spirits, and ghosts hoping to convince the roaming evil spirits, that they were another evil spirit and thus, leave them alone.  The Celts also prepared meals as 'treats' to appease the evil spirits from 'tricks' or malicious acts; hence, our custom of 'tricks-or-treats'.  The Druids performed horrifying human sacrifices and other vile rituals during Samhein.  Let there be no doubt - Samhein was a terrifying 'covenant with death and hell'.  The Druids would drink their victims blood and eat their flesh.  The original jack-O-lanterns were human heads."

My research also indicated that this original practice accounts for witches using human skulls as lanterns to light their way to their satanic rituals, even today.

The following quotes by witches and satanists,  were obtained from the Logos Communication Consortium, Inc.

"Satanist Anton LaVey confirmed that two major holidays, Halloween and Walpurgisnacht (the eve of May Day, or the eve of Beltane, believed by medieval Christians to be the occasion of a witches' Sabbath: also known as a feast of witchcraft in German folklore) are celebrated by the church of satan.

Witch, Doreen Baliente says that "Halloween is one of four Great Sabbats of the witches that everyone has heard about.  To witches, Halloween is a serious occasion, however, merrily celebrated.  It is the old Celtic Eve of Samhein.  With the coming of Christianity, the church tried to Christianize the old festival by making November 1, All Saints Day, or All Hallows as the old term was.  Thus Samhein became All Hallows Eve or Halloween.  But attempts to discourage the pagan celebrations were so unavailing that the festival was eventually banned from the church calendar.  It was not until 1928 that the church of England formally restored "All Hallow Eve" to its calendar."  [My note : according to the irish genealogy website, "7th century Pope Boniface attempting to lead his flock away from pagan celebrations and rituals, declared November 1 to be 'All Saints Day' also known as 'All Hallows Day.  The evening before became known as Hallows Eve, thus the origin of Halloween.]

Here is the thing, a rose by any other name is still a rose.  In modern times, satan does as he has always done.  He deceives all people, non-Christians and Christian alike.  His goal is to get them to worship and follow him and his ways - or in this case - get them to participate, even unwittingly, in his holidays!  Proverbs 25:26 (NLT),  "If the godly give in to the wicked, it's like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring."  Ephesians 5:11 (NLT) tells us, "Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them."

Let us see what some other Scriptures say.

John 8:44 (NASB20), "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies."

2 Corinthians 11:14 (NLT), "No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."  He transforms himself into an angel of light.  The Halloween celebration is just a fun time.  Everyone is doing it.  The kids love it, and from what my wife saw in the elementary school, parents love it more.  They would spend an hour helping their children dress in their costumes before the parties held at the school. While all the time, satan is drawing people in to participate in celebrating his high holiday.

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT). "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."  Revelation 12:9 (NKJV),"This great dragon--the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world--was thrown down to the earth with all his angels."

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NASB20), "so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes."

2 Corinthians 4:3 and 4 (NASB20), "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Halloween is a satanic high holiday celebrated by satanists, witches, and the occult, all over the world.  Having spoken to former law enforcement officials from our local county, I was told that evidence of satanic rituals and animal sacrifices, having been performed, were found in local cemeteries, after Halloween. (Including finding overturned headstones).  I have also received a flyer in the mail from law enforcement warning me, as a pastor, to be aware of what was taking place, locally.

What are we to do concerning Halloween?

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (NLT), "When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. 10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. 13 But you must be blameless before the LORD your God. 14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things." 

Leviticus 19:31 (NASB20), "Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God."

2 Kings 23:24(NLT), "Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah. He did this in obedience to the laws written in the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had found in the LORD'S Temple."

Leviticus 20:6 and 7 (NLT), "I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community. 7 So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the LORD your God."

Ephesians 6:11 (NLT), "Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil."

James 4:4 (NLT), "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."

2 Corinthians 16:4 and 5 (NASB20), "for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,"

Joshua 24:14 and 15 (NLT), "So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."  Choose who you will serve.  Satan rejoices when he is able to lure God's people into the ways of evil.

The only involvement a believer should have with Halloween is to tell those who are involved with Halloween about the love of Jesus and His saving grace.  Tell them how Jesus came to deliver us from the power of satan.  Jesus came to deliver us from the kingdom of darkness and place us into His Kingdom of light.  Jesus has delivered us from death and given us eternal life.

I end the blog today, with sharing the Roman Road to Salvation.

Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 6:23 (NLT), "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 10:9 and 10 (NASB20), "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

John 14:6 (NASB20), "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me."