HALLOWE’EN

1. HALLOWE’EN

2. HALLOWEEN: A FAMILY TRADITION • For many people Halloween is a tradition; many join in the celebration of this supposed “holiday” without giving any thought to what is being celebrated. • Halloween, typically, has always been observed by certain families and they see no need to change this tradition. • After all, what’s the harm in it? • (The Bible says we will be defiled by the unfruitful deeds of darkness.) • Halloween is the high holy day of the occult!

3. Pharisees followed tradition rather than the Word of God. • Jesus said to the Pharisees: “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?...Thus have ye made the command- ment of God of none effect by your tradition. Matthew 15:3,6 • Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 1:13

4. ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:22 • With the exaltation of grotesque and frightening costumes, images and decorations such as witches, goblins, vampires and devils; Halloween obviously does not exalt the Lord Jesus Christ in any way at all. As a matter of fact, Halloween celebrates the very powers of evil that nailed Jesus to the cross!

5. EXACTLY WHAT DOES HALLOWEEN CELEBRATE? • Halloween is rooted deeply in the occult. • Trick-or-treating, Jack-o-lanterns, bonfires and wearing scary costumes can be traced back to the customs and rituals of the ancient Druids. • Halloween is known by certain witches as “Samhain.” Samhain, a Celtic deity=“Lord of the Dead.” Halloween is quite literally a celebration of death. It honors the god of the dead and the spirits of the wicked dead.

6. HALLOWEEN—CELEBRATION OF DEATH by BARBARA BORDERS • “Historically, Halloween dates back to ancient Gaul and Britain. The earliest Halloween celebrations were held by pagan Druids, an ancient Celtic priestly order, in honor of Samhain, Lord of the dead. The Celts chose Oct 31 to celebrate the eve of the festival of Samhain, or Sa-ween as it was pronounced, hence Halloween. Samhain was the single most important festival concerning the dead….

7. HALLOWEEN—CELEBRATION OF DEATH by BARBARA BORDERS • “The Druids believed that on the eve of this festival, Samhain, Lord of the dead, called up all the wicked souls (spirits) who had died within the past year. Demons, ghosts, elves, fairies and other creatures were also to have sprung up from the netherworld. In order to protect themselves from these evil powers and to insure fertility of cattle and crops, the people offered their firstborn children as living sacrifices.”

8. HALLOWEEN—CELEBRATION OF DEATH by BARBARA BORDERS • “Halloween is a pagan religious festival. It is obviously not Christian. So why do Christians pretend to be evil creatures, emulate evil deeds and participate in festivities dedicated to the worship of the devil? The elements, symbols and customs of Halloween with its emphasis on the devil, demons and the dead constitute a dabbling in the very things which Scripture clearly forbids and is an invitation to real demonic activity.”

9. HOLIDAYS OF LEGEND, P.87 • The modern custom of “Trick of Treat” began in Ireland hundreds of years ago. Good luck was promised to generous donors, and threats were made against those who would not give. • Thus: Trick or Treat

10. BOOK OF HOLIDAY FESTIVALS PP.125-126 • The carved face in the pumpkin called the “Jack-O-Lantern” is a symbol of an ancient damned soul. A man named Jack was supposed not to be able to enter heaven or hell, and was doomed to wander around the earth with a lantern illuminated by a burning coal from hell.

11. HALLOWEEN THROUGH TWENTY CENTURIES, P.4 • Spirits which floated about in the atmosphere were allowed to take on the bodies of animals on Halloween, the black cat being the most desirable since it clearly had nine lives

12. FOLKLORE, P11 • The goddess of the harvest would give of her bounty to those who would bow to her and from that comes bobbing for apples.

13. WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA, VOL. 9. PP.24-25 • “It was the Celts who chose the date of October 31 as their New Year’s Eve and who originally intended it as a celebration of everything wicked, evil and dead. Also, they would gather around a community bonfire (a fire of burning bones)=[bone-fire] and offer as sacrifices their animals and crops and sometimes humans.” • On this night Celts wore costumes made of heads and skins of animals.

14. SATANIC BIBLE by ANTON LAVEY • “Originally, All Hallow’s Eve [Halloween] was one of the great fire festivals of Britain at the time of the Druids. In Scotland it was associated with the time when the spirits of the dead, the demons, witches and sorcerers were unusually active….The youths of the villages carried on with much merry-making and sensual revelry, but the older people took great care to safeguard their homes from evil spirits, witches and demons who had exceptional powers that night.”

15. JAMES NAPIER WRITING IN FOLKLORE SAYS: • The beliefs and practices of Halloween were not confined to northern Britain, but were widespread and—with variations—practiced globally by pagan peoples. • In Cambodia, for example, people chant, “Oh, all you our ancestors who are departed deign to come and eat what we have prepared for you, and bless your posterity to make it happy.”

16. THE INVISIBLE VEIL • Druids, Wiccans, Occultists, who are deeply initiated, believe that Halloween is the holy day once a year that the invisible veil which divides the spirit world from the physical world is supposedly at its thinnest. The souls of the dead return to their former homes to be enter- tained by the living. If the food and treats were not acceptable, the evil spirits would cast spells, and terrorize the home folks=beginning of “trick or treat.” • Witches and wizards believe that on this night they can communicate with the dead. • The Bible calls attempts at communicating with the dead, Necromancy.

17. “…thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one…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 (a person who attempts to consult the dead). • For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord….” • Deuteronomy 18:10-13

18. HOW DID HALLOWEEN BECOME ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTIANITY? • Roman Pantheon: built by Hadrian 100 a.d. • Pantheon: temple to Roman goddess, Cybele. • Here is where Romans prayed for their dead. • 607 A.D. Emperor Phocas gave the pantheon as a gift to Pope Boniface IV. • Boniface reconsecrated the Pantheon to Mary. • Here is where Roman Catholics prayed to Mary for their dead.

19. HOW DID HALLOWEEN BECOME ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTIANITY? • For 2 centuries the major celebration in the Pantheon took place in May and was called, “All Saints Day.” • In the 9th century Pope Gregory moved All Saints Day to Nov.1 to coincide with the ancient Druid and pagan practices that had been going on for centuries—the church was accommodating the recently conquered German Saxons and Norsemen of Scandinavia. • Thus the wedding of All Saints Day to Halloween.

20. How does God view Halloween? • Halloween is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. • What does the Bible say? • “Thus saith the Lord, “Learn not the way of the heathen….For the customs of the people are vain….” Jeremiah 10:2a, 3a • “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Exodus 22:18

21. “An have NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of DARKNESS, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11 • “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for WHAT FELLOWSHIP hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?” II Corinthians 6:14 • “Prove ALL THINGS: hold fast that which is GOOD, ABSTAIN from ALL APPEARANCE of EVIL.” I Thessalonians 5:21-22 • Does Halloween carry with it ANY appearance of evil?

22. “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.” Proverbs 4:14 • “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil….” Exodus 23:2 • Just because the multitudes practice Halloween (in Satan’s world system) does not make it RIGHT for the one who professes Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Savior of his/her life. • Psalm 1: Only two paths: right or wrong • Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

23. Clinging To Our Traditions • Halloween without controversy is a work of darkness (see Eph. 5:11). Christians have no business in any form of participation connected to this “holy day of the witch.” • When confronted with the truth of God’s Word (It IS TRUTH, John 17:17, 8:32, Heb. 4:12), a true believer should submit to the authority of scripture. • To the one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17)

24. Are we “lipservicing God?” Wherefore the Lord said, “Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart from me….That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord.” Isaiah 29:13a,9

25. Are We Cultural Christians? • “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” II Corinthians 10:12 • A Christian must compare him/herself to the Word of God and NOT to people of the of the prevailing culture!

26. 1 PETER 5:8 • “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

27. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31, 32 • Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

28. 1 SAMUEL 15:22, 23 • And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

29. JEREMIAH 10:2, 3a • Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain….

30. 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.

31. HALLOWE’EN: SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE APART? By Albert Dager • “Is it suitable for the Body of Christ to embrace the symbols of Satan for any cause and for the excuse of “fun,” induce fear in people? How easy it is to become oppressed by evil spirits if we don’t keep our guard up and continue in the peace and joy of Christ, but instead allow ourselves to indulge our senses in momentary pleasures revolving around Satan and his domain.”

32. HALLOWE’EN: SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE APART? By Albert Dager • “There is nothing on this earth, least of all some bits and pieces of candy, which can justify embracing Satan in his unholy day’s celebrations. Yet the church has accepted so many things of this world because of ignorance or tradition. Hallowe’en has captivated the minds of Christian children and adults alike to the detriment of their spiritual lives for too long.”

33. EPHESIANS 6:11,12 • Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.

35. HALLOWEEN From: Contender Press P.O. Box 218 Campbellsville, KY 42719