Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Take a Stand!

I have had another post on my brain for a few weeks now, but need to get this one out first. The other post entitled "under the surface" will have to wait until later.

Do you celebrate Halloween? Do you believe in Jesus? When I say Halloween what do you think of? Do you know the history of Halloween? Do you know some of the things that happen on Halloween? These questions, and more, prompted me to write this blog. My challenge to you is to take a stand AGAINST Halloween. Do the research yourself and see what it is all about.

The history of Halloween

Halloween and its practices are Roman Catholic and Pagan in origin. From the Encyclopedia Britannica: "In its strictly religious aspect, this occasion is known as the vigil of Hallowmas of All Saint's Day, Nov. 1, observed by the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. Pope Gregory III (731 to 741 AD) assigned this date for celebrating of the feast when he consecrated a chapel in Saint Peter's basilica to all the saints. Gregory the IV extended the feast to the entire Roman Catholic¹ church in 834 AD" "There is little doubt that the Roman Catholic¹ church sought to eliminate or supplant the Druid festival of the dead by introducing the alternative observance of All Saint's Day on Nov. 1."
"… after the Reformation, Protestants rejected this feast along with other important ones such as Christmas or Easter."
- Colliers Encyclopedia

Associated through its name with Allhallows Eve. Popular secular observance of Halloween, falling on the night of Oct. 31, is derived from the rights of the Druids celebrating the day of Samhain (pronounced sow-en), the so called "lord of death", when the "Lord of Death" called together the souls of the wicked who had died during the past year. The theme of harvest, which runs through modern Halloween celebrations, comes from both the old Druidic celebrations and the old Roman Catholic festivals in honor of Pomona, goddess of fruit, brought to Britain during the Roman occupation."

Modern Halloween
Isn't the whole theme of today's Halloween one of darkness, death, fear, threats, destruction and evil? So many parents dress their children as demons, witches, ghouls, and monsters and send them out into the streets in the dark to collect candy, just like the Druids asked people for food. If the people did not comply, they would be cursed (a trick).

We take not a turnip, what the Druids took, but a pumpkin and carve demon faces in it and decorate with it. At Halloween there will be apple bobbing, divination, fortune telling, haunted houses, candles lit, and spirits called up. There will be seances and ouiji boards in the name of fun and excitement. There will be sacrifices of dogs, cats, rats, chickens, goats and even humans! Where is JESUS in all of this? Do you see any light, or only darkness?

Even if you say it is all in good fun, how does God see it? What does the devil think? Who has the ultimate power during this holiday? God or Satan?

Did you know that Satanists typically celebrate Halloween like Christians celebrate Christmas? Excepet, Satanists mutilate animals, use young girls as breeders of children and then sacrifice the babies. Sometimes the mother even has to help with the sacrifice! They drink the blood and eat the parts of the animals or humans sacrificed.

You may think that you live out in the middle of the midwest states, or in the mountains, or someplace "safe". However, it is happening everywhere! I heard that it is happening within 20 miles of where I live. That is scary and makes me physically ill!

We are taking a stand! We are going to stand for what God's word says! We are going to stand for Jesus and not worship Satan or let him have a stronghold in our families life! We are not going to worry about what others think of us and whether or not they agree with what we are doing. We are living for the Lord Jesus Christ who died upon a cross for my sins and all believers' sins.

I encourage you to take a stand as well, or at least do your research. Look up the facts. Search out what the bible says regarding evil. (I have included a partial list below.) Stay at your house and pray and worship the Lord on Halloween night. Educate your children about why you believe what you believe. Instill values in them that they can pass on to their children.

Who do you worship? Do you worship Jesus Christ or Satan? We have made our choice, what will yours be? Take a stand!

Bible verses regarding evil
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”)
James 1:27 (“keep oneself from being polluted by the world”)
3 John 1:11 (“do not imitate what is evil”)
Romans 12:9 (“abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”)
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (do not learn to imitate detestable ways, including spiritists, sorcerers and witchcraft)
Ephesians 5:11-12 (“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness” / “live as children of light”)
1 Timothy 4:1 (don't “follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”)
1 Corinthians 10:21
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (“what fellowship can light have with darkness?”)
Philippians 4:8 (think about pure, lovely, noble things)
1 Corinthians 11:1 (“follow the example of Christ”)
1 Corinthians 10:31 (“whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God”) James 4:7-8 (submit yourselves to God / resist the devil / purify your hearts)
Ezekiel 44:23 (“…teach my people… to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.”)
Proverbs 22:6 (“train a child in the way he should go”)
Matthew 18:6 (“if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin…”)
Hosea 4:6 (“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”)
John 3:19-20 (people love darkness instead of light)
Romans 13:12 (“put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”)
Ephesians 6:11-18 (“take your stand against the devil's schemes.”)
1 John 5:19
2 Chronicles 7:14

1 comment:

Tracy said...

Well written, steph, and a lot to think about and research. Thanks for the food for thought...we are taking it all in...