A Christian view of Halloween?

It’s amazing to me that as believers in the Bible, we continue to partake in traditions and celebrations without even looking at why we do it. I remember growing up with Santa, the Easter Bunny, Midsummer Night, and “All Saints Day” without being bothered by where these traditions came from. But when I got kids of my own, and wanted to sift out which traditions were worthy of passing on and which are a waste of time, money and attention. To me “Halloween” was a no-brainer, because we didn’t celebrate it where I grew up. I had no problem seeing it for what it is and throwing it out of our family customs. Luckily, my husband felt the same way.

We do not talk about Santa or put any emphasis on that part of the commercial Christmas, though we enjoy “the Polar Express”, Rudolph, Frosty and the Christmas tree. The Easter Bunny and eggs, I have never understood, though I don’t see any harm in celebrating spring and new life. But why is the manger, the cross and the resurrection not enough for us?

The Old Testament tells stories of how God’s chosen people started their practises of “Holy Days” and annual celebrations, solely for the purpose of teaching and reminding future generations of God’s mighty works. Then the New Testament added several major events worthy of remembering and celebrating as Christ-followers. I don’t mind acknowledging influential, godly, historic people such as St. Valentine, St. Patrick and St. Nicholas, but let’s give credit where credit is due! We enjoy Thanksgiving, too, as we celebrate courage, community and sharing God’s bountiful provision.

But to me, Halloween is a purely pagan tradition, with it’s focus on everything evil and gross. The below history and references are taken from the K-Love website: www.klove.com

“The atmosphere of Halloween celebrations is marked with fun, mischief and the evil forces of nature, but the origins of this celebration are quite solemn. Celebrated on October 31st, Halloween is one of the oldest holidays—having originated thousands of years ago!

The belief system behind Halloween came from the druids, who believed that witches, demons, and spirits of the dead roamed the earth on the eve of November 1. Halloween originally was a Druid holy day called “The Vigil of Saman.” In early Britain it was called the festival of Samhain. This festival would last for 3 days and many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of animals.

When Roman Catholicism became a world political and religious power the pagan customs were still widely celebrated. On the eve of All Hallows, Oct. 31, people continued to celebrate the festivals of Samhain and Pomona Day. In 800 A.D. the Roman Catholic Church moved “All Saints’ Day” from May to November 1st. All of the “saints” who did not have a special day to their honor on the Catholic calendar were to be honored on All Saints’ Day—a time to pay respect to the dead by visiting their graves. The “new day” that was to replace the pagan vigil of the dead was called “All Hallows Day”. It soon became the custom to call the evening before, “All Hallows Eve”, which was soon shortened to Halloween. The Halloween we celebrate today includes all of these influences, Pomona Day’s apples, nuts, and harvest, the Festival of Samhain’s black cats, magic, evil spirits and death, and the ghosts, skeletons and skulls from All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day.

As Christians, what do we do?

Halloween still carries some of its pagan significance and there is no Christian influence to be found in Halloween. Jesus Christ is conspicuously absent! Some parents are replacing Halloween with family night activities. Others are having “Hallelujah nights” or “Glory Gatherings” where all references to Halloween are removed.

We need to beware of its origins, its history and its dangers. From Romans 12:21 (NLT) we can be encouraged, Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Relevant Scriptures 

For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling or sorcery, or allow them to interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, [11] or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.
– Deut. 18:10-11 (NLT)

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. [23] And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.
– Romans 1:21-23 (NLT)

You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.
– 1 Cor. 10:21 (NLT)

Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them.
– Ephes. 5:11 (NLT)

For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
– Ephes. 6:12 (NLT)

Keep away from every kind of evil.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (NLT)

Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.
– 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)”

I have the mind of Christ!

1 Corinthians 2:16

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ”

The context of this verse is Paul teaching the Corinthians about how we perceive and judge matters differently if we are spirit filled or not. But is it not a contradiction that nobody KNOWS the mind of the Lord, yet we HAVE the mind of Christ?

I started digging into the meaning of the word “mind” used in this passage, assuming that the exact same word is being used both times in this verse.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says  ⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God’s ways (walk, journey, path, manner, and way of life, course or physical passageway) are so much higher than ours; therefore no one can know the mind of Christ or give Him advice.

So what does it mean, then, that we have the mind of Christ?

The word “mind” (from King James, Zodhiates’ lexicon) means “the organ of mental perception, apprehension and of conscious life”. This is probably how we would describe the mind in modern terminology, when asked to distinguish it from our body, emotions and soul.

But the word “mind”, in Biblical terms, reveals a much broader meaning as the description continues: “The consciousness preceding action or recognizing and judging them, the understanding of word concepts, sense.” The verb derived from the same word means “To perceive with the mind as distinct from perception by feeling. Intellectual faculty, understanding or moral reflection. The faculty renewed by the Holy Spirit. A sentiment, disposition (not as a function but as a product), an idea, consideration which denotes purpose, intention, design. Thought, providence, forethought, provision.”

The Bible tells us we already have abundant life, forgiveness and salvation, power and authority and so much more as we receive Christ as Lord and chose to walk a spirit-lead life. But to also have the mind of Christ means we can have clear thought, sanity, wisdom, understanding and discernment, self-control over our thought life, protection against Satan’s lies taking root in our minds, a healthy mind-set (disposition), and even clear direction. The Holy Spirit can speak directly into our minds as we listen and chose to believe Him.

A dear mentor brought 1 Cor. 2:16 to my attention as I spent months preparing for the State Board tests several years ago. As English wasn’t even my primary language and I had not been educated in the US, this test seemed impossible for me to pass and I was overwhelmed by stress, fear and hopelessness. Clinging on to this verse really helped me focus and trust in Him who as NO trouble with tests or academics. I passed both tests with flying colors and I take NO credit for that achievement! God is always faithful when we trust in Him as our provider and deliverer, as we seek Him for support and guidance, as we lay our plans and desires at his feet, and as we take Him at His word.

Good or Evil?

I am borrowing this text from another blogger. Though it was a really good one:

A poor farmer in a rural village had his only horse wander off and get lost. The people of the village came to lament the evil that had befallen the man. In response to them calling it evil, he said, “Maybe, maybe not.” Days later the horse returned followed by six wild horses and the people of the village came to proclaim the good that had come to the man and he said, “Maybe, maybe not.” Days later the man’s only son was trying to train one of the horses and fell breaking his back leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. The people of the village came to lament the evil that had befallen the man and he said “Maybe, maybe not.” Sometime after that the army came and drafted all the young men of the village except the man’s son because he couldn’t walk. Shortly after that news came that a battle resulted in the death of every young man from that village. The people of the village came to lament the evil that had befallen them all but the man said, “Maybe, maybe not.”

Was this man wise beyond his years or did he simply understand he lacked the wisdom to judge good and evil rightly?

 We live our lives judging people, places and circumstances as good or evil based on the simple criteria: Does this benefit me or not? As followers of Christ, we may extend the criteria of our judgment to include God’s Will as we understand it that day.

His ways are so much higher than ours.