Good

1. Resource: Keith Taylor, Columbus Independent BC, Columbus, Georgia, 31 Oct. `12 www.columbusindependentbaptist.com
SONGS:
CLOSE:
TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 5
AIM: Teach about Halloween
INTRODUCTION:
Because of hurricane Sandy’s disruption to normal activities, New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie officially postponed Halloween that was to fall on Wed. 31 Oct. 2012 until the
following Mon. Nov. 5th. The Governor signed an Executive order delaying the holiday.
It reads:
“As governor, it is my responsibility to use all available resources of the state
government to protect against the emergency created by Hurricane Sandy –
postponing Halloween celebrations by five days is a common-sense and
necessary step to accomplish that,” Christie said in a statement to local
newspaper, The Bergen Record.
“I want kids to have Halloween, but I also want kids to be safe and alive,” the
governor said during a press conference on Tuesday. (10-31-2012)
We live in a day where the celebration of the occult and the worshipping of Satan are at an all
time high. What started out so “innocent” with television shows like “Bewitched” and
cartoons like “Casper the Friendly Ghost” transitioned into Halloween movies & TV. We
have slasher Jason in “Friday the 13th, “Sabrina the Teen Aged Witch”, “Charmed”, “Buffy
the Vampire Slayer” and now it has exploded into movies like Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”,
“Harry Potter”, “Twilight”, and the list could go on for a long time.
Belief in the supernatural has been an integral part of the worldview of the Irish people over
many centuries.
The widespread distribution of the belief in the supernatural in Ireland in modern timesis a
clear indication that belief in the supernatural has been a common property of the Irish
people over the many centuries.
BUT this superstition is worldwide. A recent University of Chicago polls states that 67% of
Americans believe in the supernatural and that 47% believe they have communicated with
the dead. (wnd.com)
According to statistics in 2011 over 7 billion dollars was spent on the Halloween holiday in
the US making it second only to Christmas in the amount of money spent and the
profitability for retailers. There have been some that have suggested that within the next
decade Halloween expenditures will overtake Christmas.
Dr. Keith Ablow a psychiatrist and member of the Fox News Medical A-Team wrote an
article in Fox News Opinion on October 31, 2011 entitled: What Halloween does for kids.
In it he gives a favourable view of Halloween. Here are some excerpts from the article:
Halloween is a kind way for children to confront, in fantasy, real doubts and fears
we all share. It creates a waking dreamland in which the dark is populated with
nothing worse than cartoon-like characters, death is a costume party with free
candy, and horrible beings are just the-kids-up-the-street in disguise.
There was wonderful anxiety in those first steps off our flagstone walk. I was
young enough to intermittently suspend disbelief and anticipate demons behind

2. Should A Christian Celebrate Halloween?
2
each tree. I could hear far-off disembodied footsteps and mischievous laughter.
But I was dangerous, too, and this put me on par with boogieman. I was, to other
devils, a kindred soul. I could walk through my nightmares with impunity.
Tests of courage waited at every turn…talking to costumed witches and man-
eating beasts and ghosts… It was a neighbourhood-wide game of peekaboo, with
friends good enough to cover themselves and play the terrifying products of our
imaginations.
…On Halloween, little people are empowered to threaten bigger people with tricks
and always come away with the goods. It is one of the precious times when
children seem conscious of the advantages of childhood. …
And, for once, kids are just kids.
A. Should a Christian celebrate Halloween and encourage their children to take
part in the celebration and activities associated with the second most popular
holiday in Western culture?
1. There are no doubts as to the origins of this satanic and occult rich date.
a. There is however a mixture of recommendations as to what a Christian is to
do about October 31st.
b. I have read numerous sermons from some respected men giving many
reasons why it is not a problem to celebrate Halloween.
c. I have also read much by those that oppose the celebrations and even the
substitutes that so many churches are involved with in our day.
d. It is my desire, as it is in all things for our church, I want us to stick with
what I believe is a Biblical approach on this matter.
2. There are no doubts about the origin of this Satanic high and holy day. The
Druid tradition of sacrificing to gods on this day is well documented.
a. Let me be quick to say that since the days of Cain there have been sacrifices
to gods.
b. During the days of the Old Testament there were sacrifices to Molech and
Baal and during the New Testament Paul mentions sacrifices to gods.
c. But the Druid sacrifices that date back to the 4th century B.C. have continued
on through our day.
3. It is believed that Samhain, the lord of death, would send evil spirits to attack
humans.
a. Thus to escape the “death angel” people were to assume disguises of evil
spirits so that they could trick the evil spirits.
b. Nearly all of the practices associated with Halloween can be traced back to
these pagan celebrations.
B. We must remember that Satan is a counterfeiter.
He tries to copy everything that God does.
Way back in Isaiah 14:13-14 we see the five “I will’s” of the deceiver: “For thou hast said in
thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon
the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14] I will ascend above the heights of the

3. Should A Christian Celebrate Halloween? 3
clouds; I will be like the most High.” The sending of this death angel? Sure is reminiscent of
Exodus 12.
1. Because many Catholics were heavily involved in this demonic Druid worship
via superstition, tradition or wilful involvement, the Catholic Church decided to
incorporate some of their devilish ways along side the demonic activities in order
to Christianize these events. This is known as syncretism: combining two
different religious practices into one.
a. Pope Gregory IV moved All Saints Day from May to November 1st to
coincide with this celebration. It is officially known as “Solemnity of All
Saints” and also called “All Hallows” or “Hallowmas.”
b. Later, the Catholic Church used this as a great moneymaking scheme
realizing they could sell indulgences for wicked behaviour on October 31st
and give penance duties for November 1st and 2nd.
2. November 1st is called “All Saints Day” by the Roman Catholic Church
a. This is the day that Catholics celebrate the saints.
1) Pope Boniface IV officially established this day on the 13 May around 609
or 610 when he consecrated the Pantheon of Rome to the Virgin Mary
and all martyrs.
2) The origin of All Saints’ Day cannot be traced with certainty, but it is
believed that it has origins in the pagan observation of 13 May, the Feast
of the Lemures, in which the hostile, harmful, restless spirits of the dead
who had evil intentions on the living were propitiated, i.e. appeased.
3) Moving the feast to Nov. 1 meant it coincided on the Celtic holiday of
Samhain (sa-wein), which had a theme similar to the Roman festival of
Lemuria, of protecting themselves from harmful spirits in various rituals
and by disguising themselves in costume of spirits.
4) At the Reformation, “All Souls Day” was fused with “All Saints Day” has
been taken on as a day of recognition by many Protestant churches
because October 31st was the day that the Protestant Reformation was
birthed with Martin Luther nailing his Ninety-five Thesis to the door of
the Wittenberg church.
5) Let us not forget that Baptist people have never been Catholic or
Protestant. As followers of Christ their origin began with Christ.
b. November 2nd is All Soul’s Day.
1) This is the day when a soul who has not been cleansed from the
punishment of their sins may pass from purgatory to heaven being
helped to do so by prayer and by the sacrifice of the Mass.
a) In other words, when they died, according to RCC teaching, they
had not yet attained full sanctification and moral perfection, a
requirement for entrance into Heaven.
b) This sanctification is carried out posthumously (pos-tu-mously) i.e.
after they dead and in Purgatory.

4. Should A Christian Celebrate Halloween?
4
2) With the invention of Purgatory chiming (ringing bells or striking metal
bars) for the dead souls was believed to comfort them in hell.
a) In some countries, the sharing of soul cakes with the poor is believed
to help buy the dead a bit respite in the purification flames.
b) In the same way lighting candles was meant to kindle a light for the
dead souls languishing in the darkness.
c) Out of this grew the traditions of souling (giving out of small round
cakes) and the baking of special types of bread or cakes.
3) Barmbrack is yeasted fruit bread made with tea and is the centre of an
Irish Halloween custom. The word is from Irish Gaelic bairín breac. Irish
word bairín = a loaf and breac = speckled (due to the raisins in it), hence it
means a speckled loaf.
a) Barmbrack has always been associated with fortune telling and
divination, so various objects are wrapped up and hidden in the
cake mixture and baked into the bread — it was used as a sort of
fortune-telling game.
a) In the Barmbrack were: a pea, a stick, a piece of cloth, a small coin
(originally a silver sixpence) and a ring.
b) Each item, when received in the slice, was supposed to carry a
meaning to the person concerned: the pea or a thimble—the person
would not marry that year or even signify spinsterhood; the stick—
the person would have an unhappy marriage or continually be in
disputes; the cloth or rag—meant one would have bad luck or be
poor; the coin—would enjoy good fortune or be rich; and the ring—
one would be wed within the year.
c) Other articles added to the brack include a medallion, usually of the
Virgin Mary to symbolise going into the priesthood or to the Nuns,
although this tradition is not widely continued in the present day.
d) Commercially produced barmbracks for the Halloween market still
include a toy ring.
C. All of this confusion is just from the “religious” side of this occasion. The
Wicca, which is the official religion of witchcraft, has much more wicked and
diabolic meanings attached to October 31.
1. It is NOT just about fun and sweets, fruit & nuts and dressing up.
a. Please understand that it is not an innocent neighbourhood activity.
b. Historically, October 31st is a day of open celebration of demons and the
devils of Hell.
c. It is a time of recruitment into those practices and the occult world.
In our 1 Thess. 5 text the Apostle Paul makes two very important statements that we must
apply to answering the question: “Should a Christian Celebrate Halloween?”
In vs. 21 is the phrase: “Prove all things.” In vs. 22 is the statement to “Abstain from all
appearance of evil.” So with those statements in mind and understanding the seriousness of

5. Should A Christian Celebrate Halloween? 5
this subject let me give you three reasons why a Christian should be totally disassociated
with Halloween. By this I mean not being involved in its practices at all!
I. HALLOWEEN HONOURS SATAN
A. Halloween has nothing to do with God.
 It has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.
 It has nothing to do with Godly principles
 It has nothing to do with promoting clean healthy living.
1. Halloween is a day that is to honour death and more specifically the one that
caused death to come upon man—THE DEVIL.
2. We must understand the devil is real. We are to avoid him at all costs.
a. Now he is subtle and he works his way into our lives through those actions
but as a believer we must be aware.
b. Any day that promotes and honours the devil must be avoided.
1 Corinthians 10:20 – “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.”
Eph. 5:11 – “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
3 John 11 – “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of
God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”
Ezekiel 44:23 – “And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and
cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 – “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15] And
what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16] And
what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath
said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17]
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you…”
1 Peter 5:8-9 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour: 9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
B. The Bible is clear that Satan is our enemy.
Ephesians 6:12 –”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
1. The devil is trying to get those that are lost to stay lost and to ruin the testimony
and the relationship of the saved in order to keep those lost, lost.
2. If as believers we know the origins of Halloween, it should be obvious that by
approving and by participating in the practices associated with Halloween we
are not fighting Satan we are joining forces with him. The devil is our enemy and
not our friend!!!!
II. HALLOWEEN HARVESTS SINFUL PRACTICES

6. Should A Christian Celebrate Halloween?
6
There are three sinful practices that are extremely glorified on October 31st.
A. Participation is idolatry.
1. Satan is very much the father of idol worship. Idolatry is prohibited by the 1st &
2nd commandment.
a. As such, Halloween it is not of God, even if it the world views it as childish
fun. 2 Cor. 11:14-15 – “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light. 15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
b. By participating in a known event that honours the devil means we are
fellowshipping with devils. We are to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).
2. The devil is trying to turn people away from God.
a. When we are participating in idolatry we are giving our approval to the
devil’s work.
b. Whether that is watching television programing and movies that glorify
occult practices or by participating in the high holy day of Satan. 1 Cor. 10:14
clearly states: “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”
3. It is not possible to participate in true worship to God and worship of the devil.
Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 11:16 – “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be
not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;”
Psalm 81:9 – “There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.”
Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my
praise to graven images.”
B. Trick-or-treating or Guising, is a customary practice for children on Halloween
in many countries. This practice encourages begging instead of working.
1. Children in costumes travel from house to house in order to ask for treats with
the question “Trick or treat?”.
2. The “trick” is a (usually idle) threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or
their property if no treat is given.
a. Harmless tricks were tolerated but serious vandalism can be expensive to
people were concerned.
b. All sorts of acts of vandalism were blamed on ghosts, goblins, and witches.
(The blame game is another of the devil’s tactics.) So folks wilfully treated
the beggars relenting to extortion.
c. Although some popular histories of Halloween have characterized trick-or-
treating as an adult invention to rechannel Halloween activities away from
vandalism, there are very little records supporting it.
The Bible clearly states in 2 Thess. 3:10 we should in still a work ethic in our youth. “For even
when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
3. The tradition of going from door to door receiving food already existed in Great
Britain and Ireland in the form of “souling”, where children and poor people
would sing and say prayers for the dead in purgatory in return for cakes.

7. Should A Christian Celebrate Halloween? 7
a. Guising – i.e. children disguised in costumes going from door to door for
food and coins—also predates trick or treat, and is recorded in Scotland at
Halloween in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made
out of scooped out turnips, visited homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit
and money.
b. While going from door to door in disguise has remained popular among
Scots and Irish, the North American custom of saying “trick or treat” has
recently become common.
c. Despite the concept of trick or treating originating in Scotland in the form of
guising, the use of the term ‘trick or treat’ at the doors of homeowners was
not common until the 1980s.
d. Here in Ireland before the phrase “trick or treat” became common, children
would say “Help the Halloween Party”.
4. Have you noticed the food police and some politicians pitch a fit about school
lunches and the consumption of sweets & junk foods, but do not come out
against Halloween?
5. Why is it that there is an increase in opposition to Christmas (wanting to rename
it the Holiday Season) and Easter as religious celebration, but not Halloween?
Romans 12:9 – “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is
good.”
John 3:19-20 – “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the
light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
Romans 13:12 – “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of
darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
C. A Third Practice of Halloween is the Power of Witchcraft is Glorified.
1. The Bible has some direct comments about witchcraft. If you recall, King Saul
lost his life after seeking guidance by going to a witch rather than obeying God
in 1 Samuel 28. TURN >> Deuteronomy 18:9-14
The OT law as found in Exodus 22:18 said, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”
Leviticus 19:31 – “Regard not them [sorcerers, and witches] that have familiar [demonic] spirits,
neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”
2. Since God is against divination, spiritism, and witchcraft, why would the saint of
God be for it and glorify it?
III. HALLOWEEN IS HATED BY GOD
A. Halloween does not honour God.
In Neh. 9:5 the leaders of Israel instructed the nation: “Stand up and bless the LORD your God
for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.”
B. God is not honoured by Halloween alternatives.
1. These are just as wrong as non-alcoholic beer, “Christian” rock concerts,
“Christian” cocktails, and electronic cigarettes. It is an invitation into the very pit
of hell from which many will never return.

8. Should A Christian Celebrate Halloween?
8
2. The Psalmist realized that God’s Word taught him some precious things and his
heart was such that he said in Psalm 119:104 – “Through thy precepts I get
understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
3. You may know preachers or churches that provide a “safe” environment for
Halloween. But Halloween still honours the day of the devil.
a. The argument is that children will be sneaking around doing such things
whether we like it or not.
b. With this philosophy, we should provide safe sex appliances, health board
approved houses of prostitution, sanctioned drug use, etc.
4. Folks be honest with your children and teach them Bible truths.
a. Teach them that “righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any
people” (Prov. 14:34).
b. Teach them “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12).
c. Teach them to “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is
holy” (Psa. 99:5).
d. Let us go back to our text. Teach them 1 Thessalonians 5:21-21 “Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good. 22] Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
We will say as a church with the Psalmist from Psa. 118:28 – “Thou art my God, and I will praise
thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.”
4 Nov. `12,Morn. – River Valley BC – Leixlip, Co. Kildare