Trick or Treat?

Scriptures:  1 Sam.28; Psa.46:10-11;
1 Cor.10:20-21; Eph.5:11; Heb.9:14, 24; 13:20-21


Greetings “Fan”-tastic Passengers,
 
On October 31
st each year, many families in North America and some other countries of the world, join in the spooky celebrations of Halloween, as they come out in full swing, especially when the shadows fall and the sun dips below the Western horizon.  Halloween is considered to be one of the most favourite, popular and seemingly fun holiday, for children and their parents alike.  At sundown children and their parents becomes transformed, as they are all dressed up in a diverse array of costumes, walking around the neighborhoods and knocking on doors, as they boldly recite the common Halloween phrase, “Trick or Treat.” 
 
Historical Background
 
The word Halloween, according to Wikipedia, was first recognized in the 16
th century from the Scottish word All-Hallows-Even (evening) which referred to the night before All Hallows Day or All Saints Day.  All-Hallows-Even, however, later was converted to Halloween when the ‘s’ & ‘v’ were removed and the word was shortened.
 
The roots of Halloween can be traced back to 700 B.C., to the Bronze Age Celts, an agrarian, tribal society which primarily occupied Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, and the Brittany region of northern France, but also dwelled in parts of Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, and Turkey.  These people were polytheistic, which means that, they worshipped a variety of gods of nature, and also their own ancestors.  As a matter of fact, it is important to note that, on the eve of Samhain (October 31
st) the Celts believed that the gates which separates the living from the dead were opened, therefore, allowing evil spirits and the souls of the previous year's dead, to return to the earth, and enabled the living to contact the spirit world, and particularly the gods.
 
During the period of the first to the fourth century A.D., however, Christianity began to spread across the Roman Empire but it was not fully successful in trying to eradicate the longstanding pagan practices.  The Emperor Constantine, who ruled from A.D. 306-337, also officially declared Christianity to be the religion of the empire in A.D. 313. 
 
Subsequent to Emperor Constantine’s declaration of Christianity being the religion of the empire, thousands of pagans began attesting to become Christians, by means of engaging in water baptism.  Notwithstanding, this attestation by the pagans to Christianity, lacked a true conversion of the heart.  Therefore, even though they were instructed in Christian truths, it was only a synchronism of religious thought which resulted because their consciences were not purged from dead works to serve the living God, by the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb.9:24).  Ultimately, pagan worship was not eradicated among the pagans living in the empire.
 
Subsequently, even though Catholicism came to Britain through Saint Patrick and others in A.D. 300-400, the old Samhain traditions were popular and continued to evolve, especially in Ireland, particularly, among the younger generations.  Ultimately, Samhain continued to gain popularity and remained a primary pagan festival, where the children would act out the Samhain appeasement of evil spirits, by dressing-up as
"spirits" and going house to house demanding a "treat."  Sadly, if the children were refused a “treat” by the residents, they would then, perform a "trick" of punishment.  Hence, the term, “Trick or Treat.”
 
In the 19th century when Scottish and Irish immigrants began to make their way to North America, due to the potato famine, which was active in their region, they also brought their customs and beliefs along with them.  Consequently, dressing in costumes and going from door to door reciting,
“Trick or Treat,” was incorporated from the tradition of “guising” in Scotland and Ireland.  On Halloween night, October 31st each year, Scottish and Irish children would dress in costumes to disguise themselves, as they went from door to door requesting food or coins.  Since then, dressing up in costumes and going from door to door to “Trick or Treat” has continued to this day.
 
Halloween and the Occult
 
Interestingly, even though most children and adults regard Halloween as fun and innocent and have embraced the sanitized traditions which are associated with the holiday, the dual nature of Halloween is also evident in the reverence with which it is held by occult groups.  On October 31
st  the original, pagan, purpose of Halloween is still observed by Satanic cults, witch covens and Neo-pagans.  Witches still regard it as one of the eight great festivals of paganism; and witches and Satanists hold that Halloween is the most powerful day of the year on which to cast a spell.  The “Black Mass” of Satanic worship is held on October 31st.  Practitioners of witchcraft, on Halloween, engage in the ceremony called, "drawing down the moon."  In this ceremony, the chief witch of the coven becomes a "channel" (actually becomes possessed) of the moon goddess.  The participants of the ceremony, both men and women, are attired in what is called, "sky-clad" that is, naked.
 
King Saul and the witch at Endor

Scripture in Deuteronomy 18:9-14 declares that, it is an abomination to the Lord, for the people of God to seek after anyone, “which uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.” 
Nevertheless, sometimes in life, when human beings have come to the end of themselves, in trying to solve their problems, instead of turning to God and wait on His deliverance, they will seek the pagan, sinful and costly services of witches, or psychics, for example, desperately seeking any answer to their situation.

Scripture in 1 Samuel 28 shows us a picture of King Saul, as: 
“…he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled” when he saw the host of the Philistines, Israel’s long-time neighbourhood bullies, as they were planning to launch another serious attack on them (v.5).

Now, Saul’s troubling situation was growing like a cancerous sore, which also ate away at his heart because of the following reasons:
  • The Prophet Samuel, who normally advised him on things concerning the righteous rule and reign over the nation of Israel, was now dead (v.3)
  • As the King of Israel, Saul displayed weakness in the area of obeying and following God’s instructions.Therefore, due to his disobedience to the Word of the Lord, which came to him by God’s Prophet Samuel, Saul chose to reject God (1 Sam.10:8; 13:8; 15:33)
  • Consequently, God also rejected Saul.So, basically, Saul was now, afraid and on his own in terms of fighting his battles in life.Therefore, when:“…the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem” to battle against Israel, the Scripture tells us that:“…when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (vv.4a, 6) 
  • At this point in Saul’s life, he was suffering from rejection, loneliness, fear and confusion.In his disobedience and rejection of the Lord, Saul had reduced himself to a person of no self-worth and was at his wits end.Ultimately, instead of repenting of his sins and calling upon God for help, while in his distress:  “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor”
  • Ultimately, the very pagan, works of darkness, which Saul himself had previously renounced because he knew that these pagan influences were and are an abomination to the Lord, he was now dangerously celebrating, as the Scripture says:“And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee” (v.8)
  • Eventually:“Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it” (1 Chron.10:13)

God’s Spiritual Growth Enhancer

In the seasons of life, when you face perplexing challenges, for which you have earnestly prayed to God but somehow it appears as though, He is giving you the, “silent” treatment, it is that He wants you to apply His spiritual growth enhancer of, the Word of God to your life.  His Word to your heart in these challenging seasons is:  “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psa.46:10-11).

God’s spiritual growth enhancer is critical to the development of any leader, in learning to wait upon the Lord, whether as an individual, as a Church leader, as a leader in your home or in your place of employment.

As we all go through life, we will encounter diverse challenges from time to time.  Simultaneously, God has furnished us with brains, in order for us to solve our problems.  Furthermore, as we solve one problem, we become better equipped to handle and overcome adversity in the future.

Notwithstanding, there are times in life, when we will find ourselves in the midst of circumstances, such as King Saul did, that are beyond our control.  This is when we need to turn to God, who is our Refuge and Strength and “be still” in His presence.  In this moment of being still, we must cease trying to handle things ourselves and trust God to deliver us because we have already tried everything and they have failed us.  It is God alone who can save us from even the most seemingly impossible situations and bring us out of the deepest and darkest valleys.

Is there trouble anywhere in your heart today?  I encourage you to apply God’s spiritual growth enhancer to your situation, as you, “be still” and know that God your King, is in control of every situation.  He wants you to trust Him and refrain from consulting those who have familiar spirits:  For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.  Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary” (Psa.96:4-6).  This means that whereas all the gods of the nations are lifeless, your God is alive, and worthy of all glory.  The splendid display of His creative powers, can also be seen in the heavens, which declares His glory (Psa.19).  Declare Him as your King today and let Him rule and reign in your life.

Are you feeling pressured by others to go, “Trick or Treat” or dress up during Halloween?

A Biblical response to Halloween

The Apostle Paul, in speaking to the Corinthians regarding having fellowship with devils, said:  “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils” (1 Cor.10:20-21). 

What exactly is the Apostle saying? 
  • The Apostle, therefore, is explaining to the Corinthians and every born-again believer that, to partake of the Christian feast, when one comes to the, “Lord’s table” is to have communion with Christ. It is a celebration, “to show forth Christ’s death.”  It is not just in remembrance of Christ, of what he has done and suffered, that this ordinance was instituted.  Instead, it is to commemorate, to celebrate, his glorious condescension and grace in our redemption.  In this celebration, the born-again believers, declares His death to be our life, the spring of all our comforts and hopes.  Furthermore, we glory in such a declaration, as we show forth his death, and spread it before God, as our accepted sacrifice and ransom (1 Cor.11:23-26)
  • To participate in Halloween, on the other hand, one really becomes a part of a pagan ritualistic celebration, which has its origin as a pagan worship festival.Furthermore, the basic elements of spiritism and witchcraft, have remained the same throughout its history
  • Therefore, to partake of the feasts made in honour of the heathen idols, “the table of devils,” is to have communion with devils and celebration of the dead
  • Note:Communion with Christ, and communion with devils, cannot co-exist in the life of the born-again believer; one must be renounced, if the other was maintained. Therefore, he who holds communion with Christ, must renounce that with devils or, he who holds communion with devils, must by that very deed renounce communion with Christ

Jesus’ Intercessory Prayer keeps His followers from moral corruption
 
  • While He was on earth, Jesus Christ prayed for His followers and said:  “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil”It is not the physical or social troubles of the world from which Jesus wishes His disciples to be “kept” but from its moral corruption
  • As our High Priest, sitting at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, He:  “…ever liveth to make intercession for us…” (Heb.7:24-26)
As born-again believers we do not have to do what the rest of the world does.  Actually, the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:11 exhorts the Church to:  “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Therefore, we are encouraged to choose other options, which will, instead, offer a learning exercise, to the believers, about Halloween.  For example, one may choose to:
  • Conduct a Bible study on the occult and Halloween witchcraft
  • Have a family or Church family activity night instead of a Halloween party
  • Engage in other board games instead of the Ouija which is also known as a spirit board or talking board

Finally, the born-again believer has been rescued from sin, by the ransom or payment, of the precious blood of Jesus Christ and are, therefore, holy and belongs to God.  Furthermore, Halloween by any other name is still a celebration which has its roots in paganism and is a vehicle which exalts the dark, spiritual forces of evil.  Actually, it is a “trick” of the enemy, to try and deceive the born-again believer, to celebrate Halloween, in any shape or form and in so doing, to partake of the “cup of the devil.”  Besides, to celebrate Halloween or any other pagan worship is to partake of idolatry-the worship of an idol or a physical object such as a cult image as a god. For that reason, when it comes to, “Trick or Treat” those whose consciences have been purged by the blood of the everlasting covenant, which is the precious blood of Jesus Christ, from dead works to serve the Living God, are to:  “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph.5:11; Heb.9:14; 13:20-21).

Stay strong!  Stay encouraged!

Many thanks for your continued support, in purchasing my music.  If you have already purchased yours, you may also wish to consider purchasing music to bless the life of someone else.  Joy Creed album/s or track/s, may be purchased at any of the following:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joycreed
www.joycreed.com/audiocd
https://www.reverbnation.com/joycreed
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/yadah-single/id52179152

Your Conductor,
Joy
©Creed's Melody
'Positive Message: Diverse Cultures'

Website: http://www.joycreed.com
Blog: (http://joycreed.blogspot.ca/)
Facebook: http://facebook.com/joy.creed
Twitter: http://twitter.com/joycreedmusic
Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiN68R6Qo5g
ReverbNation: http://reverbnation.com/joycreed

 

Leave a comment