It was in the middle of October in 1983 I had the opportunity to meet with a Warlock, a Satanic worshipper and the teenager they were trying to convert to witchcraft. The meeting was at Sam’s Hofbrau towards the bar side of the restaurant. There were a total of seven of us in the meeting. I was accompanied by three other brethren from the church I attended then. We were asked to not open our bibles and preach scripture to them. Of course me being new in the Lord and full of zeal in the Lord, I promptly plopped my bible on the table and opened it up! The warlock kindly asked permission to ask a few questions of us as we got under way. He directed them first at me then asked a response from the rest of us. He asked what we were going to do as a church on Halloween. Then he asked what we were going to “dress up” as for Halloween. Then asked if we were going to help our children “have fun” on Halloween. In our ignorance, we all gave him answers that showed him our participation in that day’s activities it made him smile! He then proceeded to properly label us as “hypocrites” and accuse us of helping all satanic worshippers celebrate their most holiest day through the occultic activities we unknowingly consented to and taught our children! He chastised us for our ignorance in helping them contact spirits from the dead through some of their “favored mediums”and told us in front of his candidate for conversion that we really weren’t fully committed nor did we totally know the God we claimed to have served! Well, his statements weren’t totally true nor accurate concerning our relationship in the Lord, but his pointed accusations of our participation in the Satan worshipper’s most holiest day made us guilty of hypocrisy! There was much a lot more subject matter discussed in that three hour meeting! To say the least, I left that meeting extremely humbled and hungry for the truth of that entire day and many other revelations I had gained in that meeting! What you read here are partial results of that meeting many years back. Since that time, we have always made sure that we absolutely do not participate in any activities pertaining to that day, we also try to  provide some kind of activity that brings God honor and glory on that evening!

            At first glance, this day seems like a day for a fun family activity. Carefully consider these definitions.So just what is “Halloween?”. The word itself is derived from the Catholic church’s attempt to enhance an unholy, pagan laden evening of occult celebration with the acknowledgement of all of the “saints” who were not recognized in any other formal day. The word itself morphed from “all hallows eve” to “hallows evening” to “Halloween”. Carried with came many of the occult, pagan rituals that many ignorantly practice today. You may be thinking, isn’t it just a “fun time for all of the kids to get a bunch of free candy?”.  What harm could happen if we watch our kids go “trick or treating” as little “ghosts and goblins?”. The worldly fun of this day seems so innocent! But don’t be so easily fooled! For the Word of God tells us in Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death!”  There is no asterisk that excludes ignorance of the truth! However, we do find a scripture that tells us of God’s perspective of our unintentional ignorance, that is Acts 17:30. Remember, God winks, not completely closes his eyes to our ignorance! In all things we should consider God’s will in daily decisions. We must learn how to use the Word of God the way Hebrews 4:12 says it shall be used in a man. By obeying I Thessalonians 5:21, and thinking the way Philippians 4:8 tells us to, lets examine this day and come to a conclusion that will bring all honor and glory to God.  

              A basic discernment of the day… St. John 7:24 & I Thessalonians 5:22.  Halloween: Designated on October 31st, it marks the ending and beginning of the satanic worshipper’s year. It is a preferred time of fasting and prayer by witches and warlocks against “Christians”. It is without a doubt the satanic worshipper’s holiest day of the year. It marks the death and destruction of winter’s onslaught.. At this time the powers of the underworld are summoned. Spirits are supposedly freed to roam about the earth. Occultists consider this the best time to contact “the spirit world”. Occult: Comes from the Latin word “occultus” which means “secret” or “hidden”. The occult refers to 1) secret or hidden knowledge available to initiates. 2) The supernatural. 3) Parapsychology: clairvoyance; extra sensory perception and paranormal phenomena..The intention of the day itself is to promote abnormal levels of fear… Revelation 21:8. Fear can cripple physically and emotionally, thus greatly effecting the way we interpret and handle life Luke 21:26.  Fear can cause one to lose faith in God and become spiritually weak Matthew 8:26 .Once this happens, the “door is opened” for interest and involvement in occult phenomena!

               We must know how Halloween came about! In order to perceive what choices God would have us make concerning this day, we must understand it’s roots. The earliest celebrations began about 2,500 years ago. At least 500 years before “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” St. John 1:1 & 14. By the Celts who live in what is now England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern France. Also by the Druids who lived in what is now Britain, France and Germany. They celebrated the “vigil of samhain”. This translates as “the celebration for the lord of the dead ”!They believed that “demons”- evil spirits lurked about as “muck alla”, the sun god, and other tormenting spirits, showing that the sun god grew pale as the lord of the dead grew stronger. The practice was to dress like them by the wearing of grotesque masks and costumes to try to “trick” them into thinking that you were one of them! then provide them with some kind of sacrifice that would “treat” them into not performing any evil on you or your family as these spirits would go from house to house!  Hence the chant “trick or treat?”! Wow! Sounds like the exact opposite of Easter and passover doesn’t it? Halloween’s main theme includes death, torment, fear and loss. Easter’s main theme is life, joy resurrection and salvation! Think about that a minute!

                Lets look at the ways, and reasons why, they celebrated… because of the fear and superstition surrounding that evil day, bonfires were lit on hillsides to scare away the evil spirits of those who had died in previous years. They believed that the souls of the dead would rise from the grave to haunt the living.  This would occur in the form of “ghosts”.  Defined by some as “spirit apparitions” in which the dead from the years before would show themselves. Defined by others as a “demon spirit” released by Satan to dwell in dark, warm conditions. In their attempts to please samhain, the druids held cruel fire rites using virgins, P.O.W.’s, criminals or animals to be burned alive in odd shaped baskets. They believed that by observing their torment and the way they died, good and bad omens of the future could be seen and perceived. By waving burning plates of straw on a pitchfork, they would attempt to frighten demons, witches, goblins and fairies. The word “witch” comes from the Saxon word “wica” meaning “wise one” who practices “magic”: The power of that craft wa given by the “cone of power” the pointed hat with a star and crescent moon in it. The star in the cone of power acknowledged Lucifer, the angel of light, the anointed one of song and praise.  “Goblins” and “fairies” are believed to have been “ghosts” of kings and heroes that were “blessed with a touch of divinity”. However, once the church bells rang, if  “holy water” was sprinkled on them, they transformed to evil spirits in a “smaller size”! How innocent it all seems! But what beliefs do we proclaim by our actions!?

                Consider carefully some of the occult “modern day customs and traditions” of this day. The bat; often believed to be the devil’s favorite manifestation. Because it signifies a bird, the symbol of the soul, that dwells in darkness, the devil’s preferred scenario. Certain species of the bat like to suck “blood, which is the life of the flesh” Genesis 9:4 & Leviticus 17:11. The black cat; in occult worship, is regarded as a deity, or cursed demon. They are believed to be a “witch’s familiar”, that is to say, their evil spirit! The owl is believed to be a familiar that acts as a witch’s “servant” and eyes in the darkness. The screech of an owl is interpreted as a warning of danger or death! The “jack-o-lantern” is believed to be the souls of sinners condemned to walk the earth till the end of time! Consider the story of “A Man Named Jack”. Amidst those areas where the fog is thick at the seashores, the jack-o-lantern is also thought to be signals from the souls of men lost at sea! Bobbing for apples is interpreted similar to reading tea leaves. The apples once bitten were cut in certain ways to foretell one’s future. the “R.I.P.” headstones were considered the “gateways” those dead spirits entered into the world to roam and haunt it on Halloween. There are many other paganistic symbols of this day we consider ever so lightly if at all.

                God intended that man should have knowledge of evil through exposure, not experience according to Genesis 2:16 & 17. He knew that we would have to “wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12, however, he did not intend for us to be bound or lose the battle! don’t forfeit divine protection and blessing by promoting a night that has been made out to be “innocent fun”! My hope and prayer is that this article will change the way you do things and conduct yourself on this day from now on! Now that you know what you know, answer these questions honestly. Does this day bring any honor or glory to God? Would this day be considered offensive to God? How do you feel that God feels about his children participating in something that exalts Satan and his confused, divided kingdom? I find it very hard to knowingly do something that grieves the holy ghost! Or that makes me offend God. I would really appreciate your comments in this matter! May God give you enlightenment!