Halloween ...is it ok for Christians to participate? By Pastor Ron McGee

hristians in America are being destroyed and seeing their children turn away from the things of God because of a lack of C knowledge. They are rejecting knowledge that is available and are entering into activities that are expressly forbidden in the Word of God. Do you know the facts? Halloween is one of those activities. The following information on the origin and meaning of Halloween is to help those who want to know the • How did this holiday begin? truth and live by it. This historical information can easily be found on the internet, in an encyclopedia or at any public library. • What is the harm in participating? Halloween, its traditions and its associated objects, are not and have • Isn’t it just an innocent way for children to have fun? never been even remotely related to true Christianity. As you will see, the origin of this holiday predates the Church by many centuries. 2000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, in the Celtic countries of “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because Ireland, England, France and Germany, savage primitive festivals were you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being celebrated under the direction of Druid priests. The Druids were being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of satanic priests whose origins go back to Old Testament days. The night of October 31st was the chief festival, the Festival of Samhain. Samhain was your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6 none other than Satan himself, their lord of death. It came at the end of summer when all the leaves and vegetation were dying and cold weather was coming. Their god of darkness was winning out over the god of “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who summer and light. It was the beginning of their new year. On that night, hates reproof is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1 Samhain assembled the souls of all those who had died during the year. Because of their sins, they had until that night been confined to the bodies of lower animals. During the festival of Samhain, their sins would be forgiven and their souls were allowed to enter Druid Heaven. The festival consisted of a large bonfire and burnt offering sacrifices to Samhain. These sacrifices were intended to appease their lord of death so he would not deal harshly with them during the long winter season. Human and animal sacrifices were suspended over the fire in wicker buckets until consumed. While this was taking place the people danced and chanted to the beat of Druid music. Most were dressed in animal costumes. As the fire subsided, fortunes were told over the remaining bones. Because of their satanic powers, the Druid priests were greatly feared by all the people. The people participated because the priests would go to the castles and villages asking for Trick or Treat. The treat was giving them a virgin to be sacrificed. The trick was placing a hexagram on the door of the castle or house if no virgin was given. The hexagram would call in evil spirits to kill someone inside. We get the saying of placing a “hex” on someone from this practice. To protect those who provided a virgin for sacrifice, the Druid priests would leave a lantern carved out of a turnip or potato, with a grotesque face and a candle made of human fat. This lantern was placed by the door or in the window to ward off the evil spirits. In some areas, the local people rounded up all known criminals each year to be offered as human sacrifices. Horses, cows and black cats were also offered up to Samhain. The wicker or thatch cages were often shaped in the form of recognition to become saints. The October 31st Festival continued and was renamed All animals or giants. In 43 AD, Rome conquered the area and in 61 AD Roman law forbade Hallows’ Evening Festival... later shortened to Hallows’ Even... Hallow’en... and finally the practice of human sacrifice. However, the other burnt offerings continued. Halloween. The Roman Catholic Church thus took in a pagan festival and declared it The Romans celebrated two fall festivals that were quickly combined with the Festival of Christian, just as Rome had declared it’s people Christian. The sacrifices were allowed to Samhain. One was the Festival of Feralia, which honored the dead. The other festival was continue as “harmless customs”. The Church established a policy of “incorporating these the Festival of Pomana, the goddess of fruits and harvest. Part of this festival centered on harmless pagan folk ideas into church activities.” apples, which were thus incorporated into the October 31st combined Festival of Death. For the next 500 years, October 31st, Halloween remained the biggest and best These basic festival practices continued under Rome’s rule. attended festival of the year. It drew much larger crowds than Christmas and Easter. In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine The Great issued the famous Edict of Milan giving Wittenburg Church in Germany was a popular place on Halloween because it housed over Christians the right to practice their religion openly. Later he and his entire army were 5,000 relics belonging to saints of the Church. Faithful Catholics for miles around would baptized to signify that Romans were now Christian. But, the Festival of Samhain still pilgrimage to the church on October 31st to pay homage to the saints and participate in continued with its heathen customs and practices. Halloween. Since this was the most notable night for the church and would see the largest Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) sent a letter to the Archbishop in England instructing crowd, Martin Luther in 1517 chose this as the time to post his 95 Theses. Among other the Church to take over all the Druid temples, to destroy their idols and to turn the temples things, he was protesting the sale of indulgences by the church in order for sins to be into Christian churches. This was done, yet the Festival on October 31st continued with forgiven. This practice was not much different than the Druid practices started 1700 years horses and oxen being led down the church aisles in preparation for sacrifice. True before. Soul cakes were also sold on Halloween. The Souler would be paid for his cakes Christianity is a change of heart, not an edict! The pagan rituals now continued within the so he would pray for a departed loved one in order to get them out of purgatory or shorten Christian church. The people came to the church on October 31st to have their Festival of their time there. This idea came directly from the punishment of Samhain, sending souls Death. into animal bodies (purgatory) before getting into heaven. Pope Gregory IV felt it would be good to honor all the saints of the church and their Each of the surrounding countries added their flavor to the festival. Scotch and Irish religious relics, so in 834 AD he established November 1st as All Saints’ Day. It soon people incorporated elves, fairies and witches. They believed that all evil spirits flew about became known as All Hallows’ Day. Two hundred years later the Catholic Church declared that night and lit bonfires to protect themselves from harm. November 2nd, as All Soul’s Day to honor all martyrs who may not have received the (Continued on page 4)

The curse of fear, torment, anxiety, pain, What Does the Bible Say? apprehension and distress only comes in when a door is opened. There is a cause for each. It doesn’t just There can be no justification for being involved in the ways of the heathen. God’s happen, it comes when an avenue is opened up for the Word is emphatic about the abomination of participating in such things. enemy to send it in. Halloween is based on fear and torment! he Word of God clearly teaches us not to We should also be careful not to let these things If we are to cast off the works of darkness, not yield learn the ways of the world and to keep away enter our home through the medium of television, with our physical bodies as instruments of unrighteousness, T from any evil practice. The Festival of movies, TV programs and cartoons that depict ghosts, not defile the temple of God, not fashion our actions Samhain (now Halloween) was and is godless in every monsters, witches, super heroes, magic, violence or according to former ignorant desires, but are to be Holy, aspect. God warns us not to bring any objects astrology. separated unto God, how can we have anything to do associated with those evil practices into our homes. Participation in Halloween is instruction in the ways with Halloween and its glorification of Satan and his Whether it is a costume, ugly mask, carved pumpkin, of Halloween to your children. We are teaching them devices? We are to be lights in this dark world. We are picture of a witch or mutilated body, it is an evil thing heathen customs that are vain. There are no Christian to set ourselves apart from heathen practices. We are and we should utterly detest and abhor it. These things values of any sort associated with Halloween. They are to abstain from all appearance of evil. We are to train are cursed and if we bring them into our homes we godless traditions and customs that God commands us our children (by example and word) the ways of God. become an accursed thing like them. to abhor.

“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to “Abstain from every form of evil.” ...... I The. 5:22 follow the abominations of those nations. 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 “Neither give place to the Devil.” ...... Eph. 4:27 soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium or a spiritualist or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord...” ...... Deu. 18:9-12 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” ...... Rom. 12:2

“You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared (led astray) by it; for it is an “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers abomination to the Lord your God. Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you you be doomed to destruction like it; but you shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” ...... Jos. 24:15 an accursed thing.” ...... Deu. 7:25, 26 “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of and I will receive you.” ...... II Cor. 6:17 righteousness to God.” ...... Rom. 6:13

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness “...Cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” ...... Rom. 13:12 with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness.” ...... I Cor. 6:14 “As obedient children not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance: but “Do not learn the way of the heathen...for the customs of the people are vain.”...... Jer. 10:2,3 as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, be ye Holy for I am holy.” ...... I Pet. 1:14-16 Jack-o-lantern: Originally turnips and potatoes were Fortune Telling: Druids used the remaining bones of hallowed out and a candle made of human fat was placed in human and animal sacrifices to tell the future. them. Druid priests gave them to those who gave them a virgin to be sacrificed on October 31st. These lanterns were placed at the door Frankenstein: This story was written by Mary Shelly who or in a window to ward off evil spirits and prevent them from killing was a cocaine addict. She wrote the novel while sitting on someone in the house. Pumpkins were adopted in America as more her mother’s grave. When her husband died she cut out his heart suitable. The ugly face carved in them was to ward off demons. Also, and then burned his body. She kept his heart. This story was made Irish tradition says a drunkard named Jack could not get into heaven into one of the first horror movies ever made. because of his wicked life. He also couldn’t get into hell because he played tricks on the Devil. He was thus destined to walk the earth in Trick or Treat: Druids came to castles and houses looking darkness until judgment day. The devil gave him a lantern to guide for a treat; a virgin, to sacrifice at the Festival of Samhain. him. A hexagram was placed on the door if a treat was not given causing a demon spirit to kill someone in the house. Later, soul Horror Movies: Story origins come from Druid tales of horror cakes were left at the door to feed demon spirits so they would not told on Halloween to frighten others. They glorify ugliness, where cause destruction. That practice was made into a children’s abnormalities, blood, perversion, violence, mutilation and animal like activity. Candy was given to pranksters to keep them from behavior. The intent of horror movies is to create fear and terror in bothering ones’ house and properties. the onlooker and to teach that horror is fun, innocent and harmless. did Vampires: Castle Dracula existed in Rumania and was Witches: Witchcraft is one of the oldest forms of satanic it once owned by a man named Valid the Impaler. He was a worship. Exodus 22:18 says, “Suffer not a witch to live.” real person in the Middle Ages with a blood and flesh fetish. Bram These individuals and covens which exist today, are dedicated to come Stoker wrote the book about him and called him Count Dracula. Satan and his work of fear and terror. Many have real satanic power. John Wesley said, “To give up belief in witchcraft is to give up belief from Human Mutilation: This practice originated in actual Druid in the Bible.” October 31st is the night of one of four witch general rituals, also from witch activities. These rituals of mutilating meetings during the year. It is the night of drugs, hallucinations, humans and animals by removing organs, decapitation, blood sacrifices and horror. disfigurement and dismemberment is still practiced today in Satan worship and is presented as a form of amusement and Black Cats: These are believed to be a talisman or bad luck entertainment through horror movies and television. This is charm of witches. Black cats are believed to be an animal something we protect our children from 364 days a year and then indwelt by evil spirits. Both Roman and Greek mythology speak of a expose them to it on Halloween. woman priestess who could turn herself into a black cat. She served under Hecate as the goddess of sorcery and patron of witches. Super Heroes: Originated in Greek and Roman mythology and are promoted every Saturday on TV through cartoons. Animal and monster costumes and ugly masks: People It is a trick of Satan to get our children preoccupied with the satanic came to the Druid Festival of Samhain in animal skins. supernatural. It teaches children to search for power other than When the movie industry introduced monster characters and super God’s power. Our children should be forbidden to watch any heroes with supernatural powers, these were added to the variety of television program or have any toy that promotes characters costumes. Costumes are a token worship of the things that they involved in any form of witchcraft, derive supernatural power from represent. any source other than God, or who communicate with gods.

Halloween in the classroom, make an appointment to and reaping (Matthew 6:26, II Corinthians 9:6-10, SOME HELPFUL meet the teacher privately. Share with them the Matthew 13:3-23) and the faithfulness of God to give a conviction of your heart and the background harvest (James 5:7, Joel 2:23-24, Galatians 6:9, SUGGESTIONS information on Halloween. Tell them you do not want Psalm 126:5-6). your child to be involved in music, arts and crafts, 1. If you have been observing Halloween with your games or anything else related to this holiday. Ask 4. Become active in the school’s Parent Teacher children, explain to them that you have learned what it them to provide an alternative activity for your child Association and share your convictions in the means and that it displeases the Lord to participate. when the rest of the class is doing these things. Make meetings and encourage them to replace their Tell them Halloween means (jack-o-lanterns, trick or sure the teacher understands that you expect this to Halloween Carnival with a Harvest Festival. treat, witches, black cats, etc.). Tell them that be done in a way that does not embarrass your child because you want them to grow up to please God, in front of his or her classmates. you will not participate in any of these things anymore. 3. Make the month of October, Harvest Month at your 2. If your child attends a school that gives emphasis to house. Use this special time to teach about sowing

Halloween ...is it ok?

(Continued from page 2) In Greece and other heathen areas, the Church drove the priests of Diana, Apollo and Hecate out of their sacred groves. These priests went underground and developed a new satanic religion. The Witch Cult and covens were established and spread into many countries. The Black Mass was instituted as an obscene parody of divine worship. The Lord’s Prayer was repeated backwards and a list of “Thou Shalts” was drawn up. Satan was the object of the worship and human and animal sacrifices were used. After the execution of over 900 witches and warlocks by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484, the covens grew stronger and swore allegiance to the Devil. Witch Sabbath was convened several times a year with the biggest one occurring the evening of October 31st. When settlers started to come to the new world, America, they came because they sought religious freedom. They brought Christianity and left behind all the pagan practices of their former countries. When our Christian forefathers established this country in the late 1700’s, there was no Halloween. Our Christian nation celebrated only its natural and spiritual birth and its thanksgiving to God. After the potato famine in the British Isles during the 1840’s, a mass migration of Scotch and Irish came to America bringing with them their godless tradition of Halloween. It took little time for the rest of the nation to be deceived into thinking it was just a cute, fun night. It is time for Christians to wake up and fully reject any involvement in this night of death; this night of glorification of the Devil. Halloween was godless in its inception and remains godless today in every way. It is an observance that glorifies the Lord of Death and mocks The Lord God Almighty. It is a device of Satan to degrade man and to condition his mind that the abnormal is normal, that death is cute, that fear is fun, that evil spirits are just imaginations, that witches are neat little ladies, that ugly is beautiful, that horror is entertaining, that terror is harmless, that nothing is sacred, that evil is good and that God doesn’t exist. Sadly, he has been most successful. Even Christian churches have been deceived into involving themselves with Halloween. †

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

1. The Bible 2. Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary: A. Merriam Webster, 1971 This is a publication produced by ROCK Church in Wilmington, 3. Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible: Robert Young, LL. D. 1975 NC. All content ©2006. All rights reserved. You may copy and 4. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Vol. 11-12, P. 857; 1910 distribute this information freely. Copies must be made of this 5. Encyclopedia Britannica, Micropedia, Vol. IV, P. 862; 1975 original document. No information can be revised in any way 6. Encyclopedia Britannica, Micropedia, Vol. III, P. 1068, 1975 including this copyright information. For further information 7. Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 13, P. 725; 1978 regarding this publication or the ministries of ROCK Church, 8. Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 13, P. 725; 1982 please contact the church office. 9. Collier’s Encyclopedia, Vol. 12, P. 192; 1980

10. World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 9, PP. 24,25; 1977

11. Merit Student Encyclopedia, Vol. 8, P. 368; 1981 12. Round The Year With The World’s Religions, Royston Pike, P. 160; 1950 13. Customs & Holidays Around The World, Lavinia Dobler, P. 118; 1962 14. Halloween, Larry Racioppo; 1980 ROCK Church 15. Halloween, Joyce K. Kessel; 1980 P.O. Box 10229 16. Halloween Through Twenty Centuries, Ralph and Adelin Linton; Wilmington, NC 28404 17. Heigh-Ho For Halloween, Elizabeth H. Sechrist; 1948 18. Compton’s Encyclopedia and Fact Index, Vol. 13, Vol. 11; 1971 Phone: 910.602.5300 Fax: 910.602.5301 19. David R. Bell, Rd. #1, County Hill Road, Lebanon, NJ 08833 [email protected] rockwilmington.com