Introduction
Good morning Church. I'm sure that you would have noticed that there appears to be a whiff of some sort of celebration in the air. Our supermarkets aisles and shops are filled with all sorts of costumes and decorations, many with demonic and dark imagery.
It is that time of the year where many people engage in some sort of Halloween celebrations and unfortunately many are introduced in the occult world.
Halloween celebrations continue to gain more and more popularity and many companies and institutions are cashing in on it.
Here are some statistics
● In 2022, sales statistics sat at £687 millions
● since 2013, estimated UK consumer spending for Halloween products has quadrupled. In 2023, spending sat at a projected estimate of over one billion British pounds, a significant jump from previous years.
New in Town
If you're new in the City or perhaps recently travelled to the Western world, I suppose you are shocked at the glorification of evil, witchcraft and all things demonic. You would have been shocked at the amount of celebration of the darkness even in our schools and universities. And if you asked the average Joe on the street what the celebration is all about, you would have been told that its just a bit of laugh, a bit of fun, a time for the children to play tricks and treats.
On the surface, Halloween is some sort of celebration on the 31st every year. From a casual observation, we say it must be a celebration because we see people dressing up in various costumes. We called it celebration because we see people performing tricks and giving sweets but then when we ask, what really is the celebration about? It then get complicated and confusing 😕.
So, what's really is Halloween?
Well every yearly celebration has a history and purpose. For example, when you celebrate your birthday, you are mindful of your history, how God has been faithful and you are grateful to God for life.
History of Halloween
So what's the history of Halloween? Well according to history.com and other sources such Britiannica, it's a tradition which originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. And in our day and age, it is still the case that statistical, more people die during winter months because of
1. colder temperatures can lead to increased risks of certain health conditions, such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular problems, and hypothermia. Additionally, individuals with pre-existing health conditions may experience worsened symptoms during the winter season.
2. Furthermore, shorter daylight hours and decreased sunlight exposure can affect people's mental health. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is more prevalent during the winter months and can contribute to an increased risk of suicide.
3. Lastly, accidents, such as car crashes and falls, tend to occur more frequently in winter due to icy or slippery conditions
4. Demonic activities.
Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes.
Church, in summary, the history of Halloween is connected to an ancient people who celebrated a festival called Samhain based upon the following beliefs
1. the lines between the living and the dead is blurred on the 31st of October
2. On the 31st of October, the ghost of the dead returned to the earth.
3. These ghost caused caused trouble and caused destruction of their crops
4. The presence of these ghosts allows their priests called Druids to prophecy- to foretell the future.
We are told that to commerate this day Druids did the following to appease and ward off these ghost
1. built huge sacred bonfires,
2. where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.
3. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins
4. and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes.
So what really is wrong with Halloween?
1. Halloween goes against the Kingdom's culture.
The origins of Halloween are steeped in culture and culture is good until it goes against Kingdom culture. Halloween, a celebration steeped in pagan culture has become part of our modern culture and if any culture goes against the word of God and His kingdom then we must be bold enough to not only disengage from it and we must stand against it.
a. For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.” Mark 7:8-13 NLT
2. Halloween glorifies and celebrates darkness.
As believers we cannot glorify and celebrate darkness. We are called to separate ourselves and shine our light.
a. Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For
We are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NLT
3. Halloween desensitises
Halloween celebrations desensitises people particularly our children to the evil and dangers of the occult world. Church, Halloween is a celebration that involves imagery and themes of ghosts, witches, vampires, and other supernatural or occult entities. Its simply a celebration that's associated with evil and ungodly forces. When you celebrate evil, you are sending the message that it is okay, it's fun and cool to be engage with the occult world and when people get engaged with this evil world, they get trapped. The idea is to allow people believe that it's harmless and its a world that they can engage with. Many who have engaged and dabbled into it are trapped in an unending cycle of pain and horror. Many have been trapped and in the Jesus, everyone trapped shall be delivered in Jesus name 🙏🏽
a. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. Ephesians 5:11 NLT
b. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV
4. Introduction & Initiations
During this season, many are introduced and initiated through engaging in occult games such as Ouija Board and tarot cards. Warning, these things are not games but ways of opening portals to summon the spirit of the dead which God through the scriptures warned against.
One of the things Saul did that was an abomination to God was to seek information from a medium.
● Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” 1 Samuel 28:7 NLT
● “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:31 NLT
5. Halloween and its practices goes against the word of God. It is against the word of God because of the associated practice with pagan or occult practices and the bible has things to say about pagan and occultism.
a. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (NIV): "When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD.
b. Leviticus 19:31 (NIV): "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God."
c. Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV): "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Finally, what should be the response of the church, a people that has been called out of darkness into the marvellous light, a people called to be salt and light during this time where the world celebrates and glorifies darkness.
1. Sensitise. the plan of the world is to desensitise people, particularly our children, then the church should sensitise the people.
2. Educate. Church, our response is to educate the people around us about the danger of getting involved in the occult world.
3. Intensify. The Church should intensify the light that it carries. and use the season as a time to shine the light of the glorious gospel like never before
Prayers
1. Father, in your mercy, please deliver everyone that has been caught up in snare of the fowler.
a. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. Psalms 91:3 NLT
b. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. Isaiah 49:24-25 KJV