COGwriter
The late WCG evangelist Leroy Neff wrote:
Those who are ready will be doing God’s Work, giving “meat in due season.” (Good News, May 1982)
Having seen a lot of Halloween decorations on lawns as well as seeing them for sale in stores, plus seeing Protestants who often are advocating the celebration of the Roman Catholic holiday of Halloween, reporting on this topic now is consistent with providing “meat in due season.”
Halloween, itself, is an old English word which means “hallowed evening.”
The following are from Roman Catholic writers:
It should be noted that Halloween is a Catholic holiday. Pope Gregory IV in 835 made it the universal practice in the Roman Catholic Church to celebrate All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1. All Souls’ Day follows the next day as the commemoration of all of the faithful who have departed.
“All Hallows’ Even” as the evening before All Hallows’ Day — All Saints’ Day – eventually became shortened to Halloween. Hallow, as in “hallowed be thy name” in the Lord’s Prayer, is an older form of the word “holy.” …
Nov. 1st was the day of the Celtic Summer’s End feast of Samhain, the day when the dead returned to the earth. We have retained some of these pagan elements to Halloween, as is true of Christmas and Easter.
Why would a pope put the Catholic celebration of the dead on top of the pagans’ celebrations of the dead? Because the Catholic feasts are in continuity and fulfill the meaning of the pagan ones…
So what about the indulgence in the spooky and scary? Skeletons are spooky, but they are also very Catholic. In fact, one couldn’t find a better haunted house for a Halloween pilgrimage than the various “chapel of bones” that can be found across Europe (Killian Brian. Halloween, as autumn celebration, reminder God’s name is hallowed. Catholic Online International News. 10/31/06. http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21818).
In the 9th century, Pope Gregory IV moved the celebration of All Saints Day (Martyrs Day at the time) to Nov 1…in effect “baptizing” these ancient pagan celebrations (Warner M. Evangelizing with Halloween. National Catholic Register – Oct 31, 2012 http://www.ncregister.com/blog/matthew-warner/evangelizing-with-halloween)
Repentance is to proceed baptism (Acts 2:38) and paganism is to be removed, not continued.
Consider the following words of Nehemiah:
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
30 Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. (Nehemiah 13:29-30)
Nehemiah was a leader that God appointed and he rightly stood against foreign pagan contamination that affected what was supposed to be the religion of God’s people. Today, as the New Testament also supports (e.g. 1 Corinthians 10:21), true Christian ministers are to stand against pagan contamination.
The date and many of the practices of Halloween predate Christianity and are of heathen origin.
The Bible teaches the following:
2 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.
3 For the customs of the people are vain: (Jeremiah 10:2-3, KJV)
Or as the NET Bible puts it:
2 The Lord says,
“Do not start following pagan religious practices.
Do not be in awe of signs that occur in the sky
even though the nations hold them in awe.
3 For the religion of these people is worthless. (Jeremiah 10:2-3, NET)
Halloween involves pagan-heathen ways–it is vain and worthless to observe it.
Furthermore, it is very important to some Satanists.
Back in 1969 Anton Lavey wrote The Satanic Bible. On page 96 (in the 1976 version) it mentions Halloween:
After one’s own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht and Halloween (or All Hallows’ Eve). (Lavey A, Gilmore P. The Satanic Bible. Avon, September 1, 1976, p. 96–note it is on page 53 of an online version I found also).
It is interesting that Halloween is considered one of the three most important holidays to these Satan worshipers (birthdays are actually number one according to Anton Lavey’s book–Walpurgisnacht is observed sort of like another Halloween).
The Bible never encourages the celebration of Halloween or other pagan worship practices. Instead, it tends to speak in a negative manner concerning them (cf. Matthew 14:6-11; Jeremiah 10; 20:14-18).
Despite all of this, many Roman Catholics and Protestants observe it.
Furthermore, each year, some Protestants will go out and support the idea that it is fine for Christians to celebrate Halloween. Here is something from earlier this month from Joy Wendling, with my comments inserted throughout in italics:
October 7, 2023
Halloween. Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
The obvious biblical answer is no.
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
First, I don’t think this is the right question to ask. I am not a fan of the word “should” or its negative, “shouldn’t.” “Can we” is probably a more appropriate question. But, that question still doesn’t have a simple answer.
Actually, it does. One CAN do all type of things that is wrong. But Christians should NOT do them.
I believe the Holy Spirit can and will guide your family if you seek his wisdom. If you have convictions, strong convictions about Halloween, that is your number one thing to listen to.
No, one’s feelings about how one believes the Holy Spirit is leading one is irrelevant if one concludes to go against scripture. It is the “word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), not one’s feelings that a real Christian would understand that he or she needs to listen to. The Apostle Paul wrote:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. (2 Timothy 2:15-17)
Practices associated with non-biblical Christianity have spread like a cancer, and real Christians should not be a party to them.
But I think that there is so much freedom in the Spirit and in our faith that I encourage you to not judge other Christian families based on their Halloween choices.
While there is freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1), notice something else that the Apostle Paul wrote:
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. (Romans 6:18-22, AFV)
So, we as Christians are to be slaves of God. Notice what the Apostles said related to that and the Holy Spirit:
29. … Peter and the apostles answered and said, “We are obligated to obey God rather than men.
30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree.
31. Him has God exalted by His right hand to be a Prince and Savior, to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel.
32. And we are His witnesses of these things, as is also the Holy Spirit, which God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:29-32)
So, we are to OBEY God to be granted His Holy Spirit. Yet, some seem to believe that we can CLAIM that the Holy Spirit allows activities that the Bible condemns.
How My Christian Family Celebrates Halloween
My girls love spooky, silly things and we love driving around looking at spooky houses. We’ve even sent thank you postcards to our favorite decorations. We stay away from scary and keep it fun, light, and say spooky.
We do the costumes and the trick-or-treating and my girls love Halloween music, especially the older music like Monster Mash and Purple People Eater. And I have absolutely no conviction in that at all.
No, Christian families do not celebrate Halloween. Joy Wendling is saying that her family loves things associated with Halloween and hence she and her family keep it.
I think it is just a fun way for us to be neighborly, to get to know our community, to be a part of our community, to celebrate and enjoy life with our friends and my kids’ friends and their classrooms for us. We have no convictions whatsoever and I understand that other people do. And please follow those convictions.
As far as the community and religious celebrations go, the Apostle Paul wrote:
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
As far as being unclean goes, notice the Bible warns:
31 You do not turn to those having familiar spirits, and you do not seek for wizards, to become unclean by them; I [am] your God YHWH. (Leviticus 19:31, LSV)
As far as the Holy Spirit, convictions and sin goes, Jesus said:
8. And when that one {the Holy Spirit} has come, it will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment: (John 16:8, AFV)
Note that the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, but is not a source of licentiousness. The Apostle Jude wrote:
4 there came in certain men stealthily, having been written beforehand to this judgment long ago, impious, perverting the grace of our God to licentiousness … (Jude 4, LSV)
Well, the above also would include women who teach that God’s grace is a license to rely on feelings over the word of God.
The licentious also are related to something else that the Apostle Paul wrote:
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:12-14)
Halloween is a work of darkness and often involves revelry and various lusts. Christians are not to participate in it.
The Bible also teaches God’s people to:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
Sadly, many do not see that by justifying paganism that they are being wise in their own eyes and simply are not trusting the God of the Bible over their feelings.
The division of Christians at Halloween does far more damage than costumes and candy.
The acceptance of Halloween by professors of Christianity does the damage. The Apostle Peter wrote:
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words … (2 Peter 2:1-3)
Halloween does often involve covetousness and is a destructive heresy. Because of pagan celebrations among professing Christians, the “way of truth” has been blasphemed among non-Christians, such as Muslims who know that celebrations like Halloween are demonic.
What does the Bible say about Halloween?
Halloween is not in the Bible. Trick or treating is not in the Bible. Yes, I recognize that there may be some historical elements of evil and demons and whatnot from Halloween, but that’s not what I’m celebrating.
It is not that there MAY be some historical elements of evil and demons in Halloween, there clearly are. Satan likes to make evil appear to be something that it is not. The Apostle Paul wrote:
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
Just because something may be appealing does not make it right. Eve found that out in Genesis 3:6.
Redeeming Halloween Celebrations
There’s so many great ways to love Jesus through Halloween. And to me, my biggest thing is that God is a God of redemption. He takes the gross broken, sinful things of the world and he brings light into those dark places.
Why can’t we allow God to do the same thing with Halloween? And so for me and for my family, that is the direction that we have gone is we embrace the fun part. We don’t worship Satan, do witchcraft, or any of those things that I know happen, but those things happen every day. And my kids putting on a costume and eating candy is not encouraging or discouraging the people who want to follow Satan.
Redemption is provided after repentance. Halloween does not repent and is not subject to redemption. Halloween obscures God’s plan of salvation and redemption and is not part of it.
As far as what Joy Wendling is celebrating, it is demonic. Consider something else that the Apostle Paul wrote:
20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? (1 Corinthians 10:20-22)
Christians are not to have fellowship with demonic worship practices, like Halloween.
The Apostle Paul also wrote:
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
Protestants do not PROVE Halloween is good, and those who celebrate it are certainly not abstaining from the appearance of evil.
Furthermore, the Book of Revelation warns:
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)
The principle that God’s people are not to mix paganism with Christianity is in the New Testament.
Christians are supposed to believe “the word of truth” (2 Corinthians 6:7; Ephesians 1:13).
God is Sovereign Over Halloween Celebrations
I just want us to not limit God. And I don’t want to cut off abundance out of fear. And I don’t want to make my kids feel like they can’t enjoy non-Christian things and that God is only sovereign over certain parts of the world.
God is sovereign over all of it. He is in control. God is he has the power.
God is sovereign. But as far as celebrations go, His word lists His holy celebrations in the 23rd chapter of Leviticus:
2 … The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. (Leviticus 23:2)
Yet, it is not likely that Joy Wendling observes them, which is one of the reasons she would tend to advocate demonic holidays such as Halloween–which, of course, is NOT listed as one of God’s feasts.
God’s Holy Days picture His plan of salvation, yet many prefer their own plan of salvation, which is not God’s plan at all.
If we are Christians, we have the power to obey God. And that is what we should do–we should not see how far into the world we can stray. The Apostle John wrote:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Observance of Halloween is of the world–it is not doing the will of God.
I want my kids to know that God is in all of it and that he gives us grace and he gives us freedom and he gives us room to enjoy the world. That’s why I celebrate Halloween, because God can redeem things.
God can redeem prostitutes, thieves, and murderers, but we do not go about doing those things to see if we can be redeemed. We are to repent, turn away from sin, not move towards it.
Sadly, many Protestants have been affected by Martin Luther, who perversely stated:
Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger…No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day” (Let Your Sins Be Strong: A Letter From Luther to Melanchthon Letter no. 99, 1 August 1521, From the Wartburg (Segment) Translated by Erika Bullmann Flores from: _Dr. Martin Luther’s Saemmtliche Schriften_ Dr, Johannes Georg Walch, Ed. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, N.D.), Vol. 15,cols. 2585-2590).
Martin Luther and many others do not understand that the Bible teaches:
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:26-29)
I think if we allowed Him to use us in our communities at Halloween, there could be some redemption, some love getting us a little step closer to his kingdom.
We don’t need to fight against it, fight through it. Shine Jesus’s light on Halloween.
We shine the light of Jesus on October 31st by not participating in a pagan holiday. Doing that makes us shine for the kingdom of God. Observing Halloween does not do that.
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Let’s look at a verse:
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
This really is between you, your family, and the Lord.
Well, celebrating demonic holidays is not for the glory of God. Again, let’s look at 1 Corinthians:
21 … You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons (1 Corinthians 10:21)
Halloween celebrations do not glorify the true God.
In addition the Bible specifically teaches:
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: … 20 idolatry, sorcery, … outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 … drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21).
Halloween is clearly a heresy that with elements of revelries that the Bible teaches against.
Halloween is rebellious against God and specifically promotes aspects of witchcraft. Furthermore notice:
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you. (Deuteronomy 18:10-14).
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (1 Samuel 15:23).
17 And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone. (2 Kings 17:17-18).
The original KJV also has this statement:
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Exodus 22:18 KJV).
Of course, we do not kill nor advocating the killing of witches by people now (capital punishment was always supposed to be implemented by the civil authorities). But Christians also should not participate in a holiday that glorifies or otherwise honors them either.
That said, of course, Joy Wendling is not the only Protestant attempting to push Halloween for Christians.
Here is a view from another Protestant:
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
The origins of Halloween are Celtic in tradition and have to do with observing the end of summer sacrifices to gods in Druidic tradition. In what is now Britain and France, it was the beginning of the Celtic year, and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. The waning of the sun and the approach of dark winter made the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks. Believe it or not, most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions.
But what about today? Perhaps we can still learn from history. In the fourth century, Christians attempted to co-opt the holiday by celebrating the lives of faithful Christian saints the day before Halloween. This was a conscious attempt to provide an alternative and re-focus the day away from ghouls, goblins, ghosts, witches and other “haunted” experiences. Since that time many Christians have decided to allow their children to dress in more “innocent” costumes of pumpkins, princesses, Superman or as a cowboy. Part of this is due to the simple reality that in today’s Western culture it is nearly impossible to “avoid” Halloween.
Just before reaching a conclusion on the subject, I was struck with the thought that I ought to further my search and find out what Wicca, the official religion of witchcraft, has to say about Halloween. Perhaps they viewed the day as a simple fun and innocent neighborhood activity?
“Shock” is the only word to describe what I found. Halloween is a real, sacred day for those who follow Wicca. In fact, it is one of two high and holy days for them. The Celtic belief of spirits being released is current, along with the worship of Samhain (the lord of death) – both are promoted as something to embrace on that day. There is no question in my mind that to those who believe and follow the practices of witchcraft, Halloween represents an opportunity to embrace the evil, devilish, dark side of the spiritual world.
So after discovering this, what is a reasonable conclusion? As Christians you and I are placed in this world to be a light in a world of darkness. There is no lasting benefit to ignore a holiday that exists around us, but it also does harm to celebrate Halloween as it has originated and grown over the centuries. (Watson E. Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? CBN. http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/onlinediscipleship/halloween/halloween_watt05.aspx accessed 10/18/15)
Notice something related to an ex-Satanist turned Protestant:
John Ramirez spent much of his early life with strong ties to the devil–he drank animal blood, conducted sacrifices, was baptized with the devil and got married in a demonic wedding on Halloween. …
“I wonder why people celebrate Halloween these days,” the 55-year-old told Fox News. “Because in essence, I know what Halloween is about. I was in witchcraft for 25 years … selling my soul to the devil, I was a general for the devil … as a warlock.”
He added: “Have you ever heard a Satanist say, ‘I can’t wait for Good Friday to go to church with you?’ So, why would the Christians say, ‘I can’t wait for Halloween to say I want to dress up’ … It’s cheating on God, really.”
Ramirez, who grew up in the Bronx, was part of a Satanist church from when he was 8 years old to 35 years old. …
He showed Fox News the marks on his body, the “mark of the beast,” as he reached the “highest rank of devil worshippers” and a “name chosen by the devil himself,” after kissing a human skull and being cut open and burned in demonic ceremonies. …
Ramirez said he threw away thousands of dollars worth of witchcraft materials in the closet — including human bones, cemetery dirt, etc. …
He said all the witches claiming to do witchcraft against President Trump, “That was a hoax, just to make money.”
The author of “Destroying Fear,” said, “The devil’s greatest weapon is fear,” 10/30/19 https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/halloween-celebrate-christian-satanist-evangelist
Should Christians celebrate Halloween or let their children celebrate it? No!
Furthermore, Halloween/All Saints’ Day is NOT listed in the early observances of even the Roman or Eastern Orthodox Catholic churches as the early writings by Tertullian and Origen show (see article What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days?).
Back in 2014, actor Kirk Cameron, who is also a Protestant, put out a film called Saving Christmas. As it turns out, it was reported to be a flop (see Kirk Cameron’s Christmas movie flops).
The reason to bring that up is that while promoting his movie, he made several comments intended to encourage people to celebrate Halloween.
In light of his new film “Saving Christmas,” Kirk Cameron is also speaking out on Halloween celebrations, urging Christians to get into the spooky spirit this year.
“Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas” hits select theaters on Nov. 14,… Cameron addressed the same theories as they are applied to Halloween, clarifying why Christians “should have the biggest Halloween party on your block.”
“The real origins have a lot to do with All Saints Day and All Hallows Eve,” the actor told The Christian Post. “If you go back to old church calendars, especially Catholic calendars, they recognize the holiday All Saints Day, with All Hallows Eve the day before, when they would remember the dead. That’s all tied in to Halloween.”
Moreover, the “Unstoppable” star went on to cite the meaning behind dressing up in frightening costumes on Halloween, clarifying the meaning of Oct. 31.
“When you go out on Halloween and see all people dressed in costumes and see someone in a great big bobble head Obama costume with great big ears and an Obama face, are they honoring him or poking fun?” Cameron asked.
“They are poking fun at him,” the actor said, answering his own question before comparing the concept of costumes to early Christianity.
“Early on, Christians would dress up in costumes as the devil, ghosts, goblins and witches precisely to make the point that those things were defeated and overthrown by the resurrected Jesus Christ,” Cameron continued. “The costumes poke fun at the fact that the devil and other evils were publicly humiliated by Christ at His resurrection. That’s what the Scriptures say, that He publicly humiliated the devil when He triumphed over power and principality and put them under his feet. Over time you get some pagans who want to go this is our day, high holy day of Satanic church, that this is all about death, but Christians have always known since the first century that death was defeated, that the grave was overwhelmed, that ghosts, goblins, devils are foolish has-beens who used to be in power but not anymore. That’s the perspective Christians should have. http://www.christianpost.com/news/kirk-cameron-on-halloween-christians-should-have-the-biggest-party-on-the-block-128345/
Isn’t the perspective, that real Christians should have, is what does the Bible teach and what did early Christians do?
Let it be clear: EARLY CHRISTIANS DID NOT CELEBRATE ALL SAINTS OR ALL SOULS DAY. Ancient Catholic calendars did not have October 31 as a date of celebration.
Notice the following from The Catholic Encyclopedia:
All Saints’ Day
In the fourth century, neighbouring dioceses began to interchange feasts, to transfer relics, to divide them, and to join in a common feast; as is shown by the invitation of St. Basil of Caesarea (397) to the bishops of the province of Pontus. Frequently groups of martyrs suffered on the same day, which naturally led to a joint commemoration. In the persecution of Diocletian the number of martyrs became so great that a separate day could not be assigned to each. But the Church, feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all. The first trace of this we find in Antioch on the Sunday after Pentecost. We also find mention of a common day in a sermon of St. Ephrem the Syrian (373), and in the 74th homily of St. John Chrysostom (407). (Mershman, Francis. “All Saints’ Day.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. Nihil Obstat. March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 11 Aug. 2013 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315a.htm>)
A careful reading of John Chrysostom’s 74th homily (which supposedly is where he declared this observation according to The Catholic Encyclopedia) shows that he discussed the deaths of prophets, but it is not clear to me that John Chrysostom declared the “Christian” observation of something that resembles “All Saints’ Day.”
But even if he were to endorse it, John Chrysostom was not a true Christian, plus it obviously was not an original Christian practice, as we are talking about the late 4th century. Furthermore, notice the following also from that article in The Catholic Encyclopedia:
Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter to all the saints and fixed the anniversary for 1 November. A basilica of the Apostles already existed in Rome, and its dedication was annually remembered on 1 May. Gregory IV (827-844) extended the celebration on 1 November to the entire Church. (Mershman, Francis. “All Saints’ Day.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. Nihil Obstat. March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907.)
So, November 1st did not become the widespread practice until the 9th century–this is after the Church of Rome began dealing with many of the Druid faith which did observe the night of October 31st.
“Long ago, the Celts of the British Isles used cross-quarter days to mark the beginnings of seasons. Winter began with Halloween, or as they called it, Samhain,” says John Mosley of the Griffith Observatory.
“Halloween marked the transition between summer and winter, light and dark — and life and death. On that one night, according to folklore, those who had died during the previous year returned for a final visit to their former homes. People set out food and lit fires to aid them on their journey — but remained on guard for mischief the spirits might do.” (Spooky Astronomy. http://spaceweather.com/ present 10/31/07).
October 12, 2020
The modern-day rituals of donning masks, wearing costumes, and bobbing for apples can be traced back centuries to pre-Christian-era Celtic celebrations, says Fred Supp, a history professor at Ball State University.
He points out that a majority of Halloween traditions originated with the ancient Celts and their priests, the Druids. Other civilizations adopted and modified the Celtic rituals, such as bobbing for apples or donning disguises.
“The Celts can be traced back to 800 B.C., to what is now southern Germany and include the ancestors of the Scottish, Irish, Manx, Welsh, Cornish and Bretons,” said Suppe, an expert in Celtic folklore. “Particular motifs of modern-day Halloween — such as the date and time it is celebrated, children trick-or-treating, the jack-o’-lantern and bobbing for apples — are related to Celtic traditions.”
When Christianity was introduced to the Celts, church leaders tried to persuade them to abandon their pagan celebrations and adopt the Christian calendar. Because these traditions were culturally ingrained, the church provided alternative holy days such as All Saints’ Day on November 1. https://www.bsu.edu/news/press-center/archives/2020/10/halloween-traditions-date-back-centuries
No, the true and faithful Christian church did not try to do that. But a compromised one did.
Notice that:
The Druids, and order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain, believed that on Halloween, ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves came out to harm people. They thought the cat was sacred and believed that cats had once been human beings but were changed for punishment for their evil deeds. From these Druid beliefs come the present-day use of witches, ghosts, and cats in Halloween festivities…The custom of using leaves, pumpkins, and corn stalks as Halloween decorations comes from the Druids. The early peoples of Europe also had a festival similar to the Druid holiday…In the 700s, the Roman Catholic Church named November 1 as All Saints’ Day. The old pagan customs and the Christian feast day were combined into the Halloween festival [Halloween. World Book Encyclopedia, vol 9. Chicago, 1966: 25-26].
The origins of Halloween specifically can be traced back to the ancient Celts (who lived in what is now known as Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern France) and their Druid priests. The end of October commemerated their festival of the waning year … Druids believed that during this season spirits walked, and evil held power over the souls of men. On October 31, their New Year’s Eve, great bonfires were kindled, which were thought to simulate the sun to procure blessings for the entire succeeding year. The fires remained burning as a means to frighten away evil spirits. The Druids held these early Halloween celebrations in honor of Samhain, also known as Lord of the Dead, whose festival fell on November 1. There bonfires, or “bone fires”, were also used in animal and human sacrifice–thus the name. The tradition of lighting a bonfire has continued to modern times (Coulter F.R. Occult Holiday–or–God’s Holy Days–Which? York Publishing Company, Hollister (CA) 2006).
Lord of the Dead? Three immediate issues come to mind.
The first is something Jesus said:
27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken. (Mark 12:27)
The second is that the dead know nothing:
5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing more, (Ecclesiastes 9:5, DRB)
Third, notice:
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God. (John 8:43-47)
Halloween is a lie. The dead do not become more accessible then. Saints do not answer prayers.
October 18, 2021
Part of the origin for the Holiday is that the Celts believed this day was one of the days in the year when the barrier between the world of the living and dead lowered so that travel was possible. https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2021/10/18/why-halloween-will-change/?sh=7f07a3b5e779
That is a pagan, not a biblical, teaching. There is not travel between the world of the living and the dead.
5 For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6),
Until they are resurrected, and this resurrection has not happened yet, the dead are dead. They do not travel, they do not hear prayers, they do not do anything. Yet, most Protestants do not understand that–and the observance Halloween does not help correct their errors.
Consider also the following related to Kirk Cameron:
Cameron continues in the interview:
“Over time you get some pagans who want to go this is our day, high holy day of Satanic church, that this is all about death, but Christians have always known since the first century that death was defeated, that the grave was overwhelmed, that ghosts, goblins, devils are foolish has-beens who used to be in power but not anymore. That’s the perspective Christians should have.”
Everything in this quote shows extreme diarrhea of the mouth. Christians right up until the modern day have been afraid of devils, goblins, and ghosts, and that fear often manifested on Halloween. To the Christian of the Middle Ages the night was full of terrors, and things didn’t really change until the 20th Century. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/2014/10/kirk-cameron-doesnt-get-halloween-like-most-people/#udp0U90wBMfduxrG.99
As far as high holy days go, Kirk Cameron should instead endorse those of the God of the Bible which are listed in the 23rd chapter of the Book of Leviticus.
Furthermore, despite Kirk Cameron’s claims, the Bible condemns pagan celebrations and early Christians did NOT dress up as witches and devils. Related to that, someone properly commented, “If there is anything Kirk Cameron is fond of, other than bananas, it is making up his own facts about things. … this week, he brings us his version of the history of Halloween” (https://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/229911/kirk-cameron-explains-how-jesus-invented-halloween-to-mock-obama-or-something/).
The Bible teaches:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (Ephesians 6:10-17)
The Bible does not teach to put on costumes of witches or other things associated with darkness. Early Christians did NOT dress up as witches. True Christians rely on the word of God.
The perspective real Christians should have is what does the Bible teach and what did early Christians do?
The Bible condemns pagan celebrations and early Christians did NOT dress up as witches and devils. Jesus was not even born on December 25th (see also How did December 25th become Christmas?).
Christmas is a lie. True worshipers will NOT be celebrating it. To learn more about who the true Christians are, check out the following: Where is the True Christian Church Today?
Kirk Cameron not only overlooks this, he seems to be pushing a more ‘ecumenical’ and anti-biblical view of what he calls Christianity. This is wrong, and will NOT end well (cf. Revelation 18).
Now, let’s see something related to Justin Bieber’s wife Hailey:
October 18, 2019
Hailey Bieber caused some confusion when she posted an Instagram story explaining that she is “claiming” Halloween for Christians
“I’m a Christian. Do you have any idea what that means historically?” she wrote. “It means I redefine everything in culture. Pagan Feast of Winter Solstice? Oh that’s now JESUS BIRTHDAY. Pagan Feast of Spring Planting? Oh that’s now EASTER WEEKEND. Pagan Celtic Festival involving dressing up and warding off evil spirits? Oh now it’s ALL SAINTS DAY and we celebrate the VICTORIOUS CHURCH THAT HAS BEEN OVERCOME BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!!! CANDY PLEASE!!!” https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8594141/halloween-christian-holiday-hailey-bieber
Yes, I do understand historically what it means to be a Christian (see also Continuing History of the Church of God)–but apparently Hailey Bieber does not.
Furthermore, multiple wrongs do not make a right. No, none of the pagan holidays have been embraced by true Christians–but compromisers claiming Christ continue to do so (see also Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism). The Church/Churches that promote Halloween are not following the ways of Jesus.
Halloween gives a false impression about death. Furthermore, real Christians understood that Jesus taught:
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24)
Halloween is NOT based on truth and real Christians understand that. Real Christians accept the words of Jesus above their opinions or temporal feelings.
Notice also the following “justifications” by Protestant Pastor Alan Rudnik:
Here are 7 ways Christians can take back Halloween:
1. Understand that All Hallows Eve (Halloween) and the ancient pagan festival of Samhain are not the same. … Gregory III (731–741) and Gregory IV (827–844) moved the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day from May 13 to November 1 to replace the pagan rituals on October 31 and November 1. Gregory III instructed people to dress up as saints. Let the occult have Samhain, we are taking All Hallows Eve back.
2. The establishment of Christmas and Easter in Europe had pagan connections but we do not abandon these holidays. Neither should we abandon All Hallows Eve. …
3. Understanding that early Christians contextualized early pagan holidays into Christian holidays helps us to see that we do not have to compromise our beliefs with pagan ones. Anthony McRoy, a Fellow of the British Society for Middle East Studies at Wales Evangelical School of Theology reminds us:
Of course, even if Christians did engage in contextualization—expressing their message and worship in the language or forms of the local people—that in no way implies doctrinal compromise.
4. “Evil” themes in our current secular Halloween observances were not always present. Thus, we can recapture the spiritual with the innocent. Halloween does not have to be a holiday filled with Draculas, bloody masks, or witches. …
5. If you still think Halloween is an evil day, then maybe you should see All Hallows Eve as a time when Christians can laugh and even mock evil. Anderson M. Rearick, assistant professor of English at Mount Vernon Nazarene College in Ohio, challenges us to rethink Halloween:
Should the forces of evil be mocked? Should Satan be laughed at? He most certainly should be. At the beginning of The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis includes two telling quotations, the first from Martin Luther: “The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.”
6. Christians should focus and teach the concept of celebrating All Saint’s Day, November 1st in churches.
The term “saint” is used over 60 times in the New Testament. We protestants use the word saints to describe the Christians living and dead. We can also honor our loved ones who have given us Christ, such as our parents, grandparents, etc… We thank God for them and pray that the living “saints” may live in community. Churches can use All Saints Day to light candles as an act of prayer for thanking God for the special people (“saints”) in our lives.
We can also learn from the saints of the church for the last 2,000 years. We protestants have often been fearful of honoring and learning from the Church saints for fear that we are venerating them as Catholics do.
7. Christ holds the “keys to death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18). We can take comfort in the fact that Christ defeated death. Even the mere name of “Jesus Christ” can make evil shutter and even follow the commands of God. (Pastor Alan Rudnik. 7 Reasons why a Christian can celebrate Halloween. October 28, 2010. http://www.alanrudnick.org/2010/10/28/7-reasons-why-christians-should-celebrate-halloween/ accessed 10/18/15)
Christians cannot “take back” what is anti-biblical–Halloween was never a Christian observance.
But apparently according to that Protestant pastor, if you feel that the Bishop of Rome has authority over your spiritual life (1), that you are to venerate dead saints and/or consider them mediators in conflict with 1 Timothy 2:5 (1,6), that modified paganism pleases God (1,2), that multiple wrongs make something right (1,2), that adopting pagan customs is not doctrinal compromise (3), that although vulgar and bad costumes are often used that because not all costumes are that way this is holiday is okay (4), that people spend Halloween mocking evil and the devil when they celebrate a pagan holiday (5), that you should venerate dead saints and light candles like the Church of Rome (6), that Halloween is a type of memorial to Christ’s death (7), and that keeeping Halloween is following the commands of God (7), then you clearly do not believe the Bible, so, if this is how you ‘take back’ Halloween, then clearly you worship a different God than we in the Continuing Church of God do. Jude wrote:
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 3-4)
Halloween, Christmas, and Easter were NOT part of the original faith. All three have aspects that promote lewdness, eg.: lewd costumes for Halloween, Christmas mistletoe for physical contact, and sex goddess promotion for Easter (the name of a sex goddess).
But, as UCG asked years ago, Can Halloween Be Christianized?:
The fundamental argument in favor of mixing ancient pagan customs and practices with the worship of God is that some believe it is an effective way to gradually win people over to Christian understanding. (Of course, in the present world we should ask ourselves why people who already see themselves as Christian would find any need to continue associations with pagan religious customs.)
This is sometimes a hotly disputed subject, and sincere people have concluded it indeed is useful to integrate the practices of ancient religious customs with the worship of God.
But perhaps we should address a fundamental question: What does God advise?
There is a scriptural precedent that offers guidance and direction for those who accept the Bible’s instruction. The Israelites were confronted with these issues as they settled and built a new nation in the Promised Land. They encountered many worshipers of pagan deities as they entered the land and for centuries faced the problem as they dealt with neighboring peoples.
Even before they entered the land, God revealed His thinking and told them how to handle this challenge. His directions were explicit: “When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed that you are not ensnared to follow them … Do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods … Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).
God’s instructions are crystal clear. He refuses to accept worship that is compromised and tainted by customs used in the worship of fraudulent religion. He expects His worshipers to revere Him in accordance with His commands, not their own imaginings.
Many centuries later the apostle Paul expressed a similar thought when correcting some in the church in Corinth for their poor judgment. “What partnership can righteousness have with wickedness?” he asked. “Can light associate with darkness? Can Christ agree with [the devil] …? Can there be a compact between the temple of God and idols? And the temple of the living God is what we are” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
The modern debate over Christianizing pagan worship customs could be resolved simply by reading and heeding God’s plainly expressed will.
No real Christian should be debating as to whether or not to keep Halloween. Real Christians know that they should not. Perhaps it should be added that even the Church of Rome now discourages Halloween (for details see Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians?).
Notice something from the Protestant publication improperly named publication called Christianity Today:
October 28, 2016
Here are four reasons you might want to go trick-or-treating tonight:
1. There is no other night in the year when people you have not met will be coming to your door. You want to be there, meet them, and visit with them. If you are at a Halloween alternative, you miss your neighbors.
2. There is no other night when you get to go to your neighbor’s door and introduce yourself without any awkwardness (only if you have kids—otherwise it’s creepy and you should stay home and pass out candy). Tonight, you will meet people at your door and at their door—what an amazing opportunity.
Halloween trick-or-treating might be the best opportunity you have to connect with the unchurched all year.
3. You don’t have to worship the devil to go up and ask your neighbor for candy. Choose your costume and your words carefully, and many Christians find this an opportunity, not an occult experience. I know the history of Halloween, but your neighbors don’t, so don’t assume they are participating in some dark ritual if it has lost all that meaning. (Now, if you are opposed to Easter eggs, Christmas trees, and the like, I would definitely not go out on Halloween or else you are being inconsistent to your convictions.)
4. You can meet more neighbors in one night than any other day of the year. Don’t miss the best opportunity you have each year to meet your neighbors. And, while you do, get their names and numbers and have them over for dinner. Get to know them, and start tonight. http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2016/october/new-lifeway-research-pastors-and-halloween.html
Well, you certainly are not setting a truly ‘Christian’ example for your neighbors by endorsing a pagan holiday. A holiday intended to honor the spirits, increase consumption of sweets, and one where many wear lewd costumes.
Neighbors pretty much do NOT want you to trick-or-treat and then try to convert them. But the author is right for implying that many holidays Greco-Roman Catholics and Protestants observe are also filled with paganism (see also Should You Observe God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?)–but certainly multiple wrongs do not make a right.
The Bible repeatedly teaches:
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16:25)
8 “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today — every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes (Deuteronomy 12:8)
Furthermore, consider:
8 “Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. (Jeremiah 21:8)
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (Deuteronomy 30:19)
The demonically death-themed Halloween is not the way of life that the Bible advocates.
Years ago, several anti-Church of God websites posted comments from former WCG-writer Keith Stump who abandoned the original faith:
First, there’s no need to point out that Halloween is not found in Leviticus 23. (Duh.) Leviticus 23 is obsolete and irrelevant anyway…Yet some of Halloween’s customs do have roots in pre-Christian (“pagan”) practices…Some of Halloween’s customs can be traced to practices of the Celtic New Year, particularly among the Druids of ancient Britain.
Of course, since the Bible says that the holy days in Leviticus 23 are “‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts” (vs. 2), obviously those that do not believe that they need to do what the Bible teaches would consider that Halloween was acceptable. It is nice that he admits that current customs often have pagan roots–and followers of the true God are not to adopt pagan-worship practices (Deuteronomy 4:15-16).
Plus, the writings of the Apostle Paul show that Christians are not to adopt pagan worship practices. Paul also wrote:
11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Paul and Jesus kept the biblical holy days and not demonic ones (see also the free online booklet Should You Observe God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?).
Early Christians did NOT consider the Holy Days of Leviticus 23 obsolete as they did observe them–that is a historical fact.
Keith Stump also wrote:
Others who are reading this have heartwarming memories of Halloween. It’s a slice of genuine Americana … Halloween reaffirmed social bonds with friends and neighbors. These are hardly the “unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11), unless one is a fanatic who interprets that phrase like, well, a fanatic.
Now that is an attempt to try to insult and label people who do not wish to disobey God as “fanatics.” The reality is that pagans had fond memories of their holiday practices as well or they would not have continued to have their holidays. God did not say that exceptions should be made for pagan-practices that families liked (cf. Deuteronomy 4:15-16).
Christians were considered to be part of a sect that was everywhere spoken against (Acts 28:22). The Apostle Paul was considered to be part of a cult (Acts 24:14. NLB). Jesus warned that a person’s enemies would be those of their own household (Matthew 10:36). Presumably enemies of true Christianity considered those who were faithful as fanatics.
Keith Stump also wrote:
I have seen no evidence of children being psychologically warped or seduced into a life of witchcraft and perversion as a result of innocent Halloween activities.
I was unaware that Keith Stump is able to look at the heart (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7), though he probably feels that accepting non-biblical Protestant or similar faiths is not a problem. Pagan cultures have many “experts” like Keith Stump who come to similar conclusions about how many practices that are opposed to scripture affect their people. Consider also that there is not evidence that those who embrace Halloween actively promote the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The observance of Halloween absolutely pushes people away for obeying the God of the Bible–so yes, in that sense they become spiritually warped.
Keith Stump also wrote:
Halloween is also a good time to reconsider our own views about death and the afterlife. The unbiblical doctrine of “soul sleep” would be a good place to start. The Bible clearly teaches (and centuries of experience demonstrate) that death does not interrupt self-awareness; personal identity survives death!
Jesus and others in the Bible come to a different conclusion than Keith Stump here (see What Happens After Death? and Did Early Christians Believe that Humans Possessed Immortality?).”Soul sleep” is actually what the Bible teaches and early Christians also taught it.
Furthermore, most people do not use Halloween as time to consider views of their death, but instead view it as a time for a holiday of indulgence. The high prevalence of diabetes in the Western world is the direct result of consuming excessive amounts of sugars and other refined carbohydrates, which is something that modern Halloween practices do encourage.
Keith Stump also wrote:
To all COG members out there: Is your children’s Christianity so feeble as to be endangered by a plastic mask and a few candy bars? Are your children so inadequately grounded in their religion as to be tempted into a life of witchcraft by attending a costume party? Are you yourself so poorly rooted in your faith that you fear your children will ask questions to which you have no satisfactory answers?
Now, the Bible says that no unclean person will enter the Kingdom (Ephesians 5:5). I am fairly sure that the Corinthians thought that they had less feeble Christianity when they tolerated a type of fornicator in their midst. But God inspired the Apostle Paul to write:
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles — that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. (1 Corinthians 5:1-3)
Christians should not be “puffed up” they think that they have spiritual strength because they have compromised with pagan-practices.
The Apostle Paul also warned:
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
It is not good to participate in corrupt and pagan activities.
Here are some excerpts from an article in Christianity Today that Halloween endorses Halloween:
On the calendar of events for the Christian college where I teach, October 31 sits in a dark square with no acknowledgment that there is anything special about the date.
“It’s Satan’s Holiday, Dr. Rearick,” affirmed one of my students. “Didn’t you know?”
Well, no, I didn’t know … I have always considered Halloween a day to celebrate the imagination, to become for a short time something wonderful and strange, smelling of grease paint, to taste sweets that are permissible only once a year … “But look at the roots of Halloween,” some may say. “Don’t you see how evil it once was?” I do, but the operative word in that sentence is was. Samhain was once a time of fear and dread, but at one time so was Yule or Midvinterblot, as it was called in Sweden …
Christians should instead celebrate Halloween with gusto. (Rearick III, AM. Trick-or-Treat? Christianity Today, October 31, 2008. http://blog.kyria.com/giftedforleadership/2008/10/trick_or_treat.html viewed 10/17/2011)
Hallowing Halloween
Why Christians should embrace the devilish holiday with gusto—and laughter. …
I have always considered Halloween a day to celebrate the imagination, to become for a short time something wonderful and strange, smelling of grease paint, to taste sweets that are permissible only once a year. How wonderful to be with other children dressed up as what they might grow up to be, what they wished they could be, or even what they secretly feared. (Rearick III, AM. Hallowing Halloween. Christianity Today, October 2, 2000.
The above argument suggests that it does not matter if Halloween was a pagan holiday, it is not one now, so it is okay.
But based on what scripture? The Bible is clear that the God of the Bible did not want His people to adopt pagan customs (Jeremiah 10:2-3). Plus, remember that the Apostle Paul wrote, “ let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Furthermore, notice something about the type of costumes that many women like to dress up as in the 21st century:
As everyone knows, the perennial favorite among Halloween costumes for women is “ho,” followed by “sexy witch,” “sexy nurse” and “Lady Gaga.” http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-allen-halloween-sluts-20111030,0,6455906.story
No one can consider how “Lady Gaga” provocatively has dressed to be Christian, and no true believer would ever try to follow her risqué example, or to try to directly resemble some type of harlot as many women apparently like to do now.
The Apostle Paul taught:
9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)
Hence, although I have heard some claim that Halloween is no longer a pagan holiday, certainly with many dressing immodestly, no one can seriously feel that Christians are to observe it.
Holidays that encourage women to dress like harlots are not holidays that Christians should want to endorse.
Many claim Christians should celebrate Halloween.
But the Bible does not endorse it–instead it warns about following pagan ways–in both the Old and New Testaments.
Jesus said:
4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4)
Those who really intend to live “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” do not celebrate Halloween.
While many Protestants tend to rely on feelings above scripture, we in the Continuing Church of God are not Protestant, but as this article demonstrates, do rely on scripture as well as historical facts.
Halloween was NOT something early Christians observed. It was adopted by the Church of Rome from the pagan Druids. Many of its modern practices are bad, and its fruits are not good.
Furthermore, it obscures God’s plan of salvation as it is an alternative that many Protestants (and others) have chosen to observe instead of those days God commands in scripture.
Update: 10/21/23: The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce this sermon from its ContinuingCOG channel:
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? It became an official holiday in the 9th century after a pronouncement by the Roman Catholic Pope Gregory IV. Protestants such Joy Wendling, Kirk Cameron, Hailey Bieber, and Alan Rudnick think Christians should keep it. But other Protestants have issues with that. What about the Church of God, which is not Protestant nor Roman Catholic? What about Martin Luther, the Apostle Jude, the original faith, and licentiousness? Does Halloween have its origins in a pagan Druid holiday which has many of the same features as modern Halloween celebrations? What do Satanists and those who practice Wicca (witchcraft) think of Halloween? Is Halloween the right time to be a Christian witness? What about lewd Halloween costumes? Did a Roman Catholic write, “Catholic feasts are in continuity and fulfill the meaning of the pagan ones”? Did the Apostle Paul about combining biblical and demonic practices? Did early Christians endorse anything like Halloween or ‘All Saints Day’? What is the state of the dead? Should real Christians rely on the word of God or feelings some ascribe to the Holy Spirit? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.
Here is a link to the sermon: Halloween, Protestants, and Scripture.
In 2024, in response to another Protestant advocating Halloween, the Continuing Church of God put out the following sermon from its ContinuingCOG channel:
Here is a link to the sermon: 5 Ways Christians Can Biblically Celebrate Halloween?
Some items of related interest may include:
Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? Here are some historical and biblical insight on this question. There are many cultures that have celebrations and observances that are similar to some associated with Halloween. What did the Druids do? Is Halloween one of the most important holidays for Satanists? Do the Japanese, Indians, and Chinese have any practices that are similar to some associated with Halloween? Does the Bible endorse or condemn practices that are associated with Halloween? Here are links to three related sermonette length videos: Debunking 17 reasons to celebrate Halloween, Halloween: Are there 7 reasons for Christians to celebrate it?, and International ‘Halloween’ Should Christians observe Halloween?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
All Saints’ Day, the Day of the Dead, and All Souls’ Day When did “All Saints Day” and the “Day of the Dead” begin? “What about All Soul’s Day”? Here is a link to a related sermon: All Hallowed Saints’ Day of the Dead.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
