"Halloween, Not For Christians" Pt.7

Should Christians host church harvest festivals, as an alternative?, continued.

Lets look at some of the things that occur at a typical harvest festival.

(1.) Its a celebration. (2.) It is usually chaperoned. (3.) It may have costumes. (4.) Games are played. (5.) Contests are held. (6.) Music is played and food is served.   

You might say that, "this sounds like nothing to be concerned about." However, the problem lies in the promotion. Hosting a harvest festival, as an alternative for halloween, promotes the celebration of halloween. To promote is defined as, to advance the growth, development, or success of. Hosting a harvest festival will draw more attention to the fact that halloween is celebrated, during this time. Thereby, strengthening the success of the celebration of halloween. Therefore, as Christians, we should not host an alternative celebration for halloween, because of the publicity, that, it gives to the halloween celebration. The publicity that the harvest festival gives to the halloween celebration is a real good reason why we, as Christians, should not host an alternative for halloween. However, there is an even greater reason, and that is because, God  instructed us, (His Children), not to imitate the evil practices of the pagans, (Non-Christians). From the beginning, when God was bringing His people into the promise land, He instructed them, not to imitate or partcipate in, the practices of the pagan society.

Deuteronomy 18:9 Moses said, "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations."

Note: Speaking under the direction, of the Lord, Moses gave strict orders, not to copy, imitate, or follow, the abominations of those living in the land.

Halloween is a celebration that represents evil. As Christians, we are not to follow after or imitate evil.

3 John:11, "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God."

Note: What John is saying here is that, when we imitate what God says is good, we demonstrate our love for God and our knowledge of Him. But on the opposite side of the coin, when we imitate evil, we express a lack of respect and knowledge of God.

Proof of our commitment to God is that we personally reject evil, [Proverbs 8:13] and embrace a life patterned after that which is good.

Living Bible, [3 John:11] "Only follow what is good. Remember that those who do what is right prove that they are God's Children, and those who continue in evil prove that they are far from God."

Note: Halloween is and always has been the devil's holiday. There is not now, and never has been, anything Godly about it. "Halloween is not for Christians" and we should not promote it by hosting, what we call an alternative, "A Church Harvest" or "A Fall Festival"

(We hope that the message on, "Halloween, Not For Christians" is informational and encouraging. Our goal is not to condemn, but to present the truth.)

"Stay encouraged in your love walk and you will be empowered in your faith walk" [Galatians 5:6]

Remember, "GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE"

Links -

Living By Faith Ministries' Myspace Blog, www.myspace.com/livingbyfaithministries3

Living By Faith Youngsters, www.myspace.com/beingrealaboutGod

Faith International Christian Center, www.ficcwordchurch.org

"Halloween, Not For Christians" Pt.5

Christians are not to participate in halloween, or it's practices, continued.

As Christians, we are not to support or even encourage halloween participation in any way.

2 John 10-11 John wrote, (10) "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him, (11) "for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."

Note: John is not condemning hospitality to unbelievers here, he is however, condemning the support of those who are dedicated to opposing the teachings.

Amplified Bible reads, verse (10) "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine (is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught), do not welcome or admit him into (your) house or bid him Godspeed or give him any encouragement. (11) "For he who wishes him success (who encourages him, wishing him Godspeed) is a partaker in his evil doings."

Note: We are encouraged here not to participate or even encourage the participation in anything that is contrary to the Word of God. If God says that its wrong, then, we as Christians are to agree with Him, through our words and actions. As Christians, we shouldn't even take others to buy supplies for halloween. Why? Because we're now helping them to participate in a celebration that is an abomination to the Lord. Let me help you to understand, by setting up a scenario. If someone, whether it be a relative, friend or an associate, were to come to you, and ask you to take them to purchase a weapon or tools that they planned to use in a crime, would you take them? Well the answer should be no. You wouldn't take them, because, you would be helping them to do what is wrong. The legal term is called, aiding and abetting. The same principle applies when it comes to halloween. If we took someone to purchase or pick-up supplies for halloween, we would be helping them to partcipate in something that is wrong in God's eyes. We would be aiding and abetting them to compromise, God's Word, which would also make us participants as well. You know, it may seem rude to turn people away or to say no sometimes, but, how much better it is to be faithful to God, than merely courteous to people, by compromising God's values.

As Christians, Children of God, we're not to participate in the works of darkness. As a matter of fact, we're not only, not to particpate in the works of darkness, but, we are also instructed to expose the works of darkness.

Ephesians 5:11 Paul said, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."

Note: Paul said here, that, we're to exposed the works of darkness. The traditional King James Bible, uses the word reprove instead of expose. The word reprove comes from a Greek word, (elegcho), that means to convict, convince, or tell a fault. Paul's instructions are plain and direct, we're to live in righteousness and purity. In other words, we're to live in total opposition to the evil ways and works of satan and the world.

Amplified Bible reads, "Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead (let your lives be so in contrast as to) expose and reprove and convict them."

Note: Our responsibility does not stop with the rejection of evil. We are also responsible for exposing evil or darkness where-ever it is found, especially when it is found in the church. It is important to avoid the unfruitful deeds of darkness, which is, any pleasure or activity, that, results in sin. However, we are to go even further, we are to expose these deeds, because, if we don't, our silence could be interpreted as approval. (Stay with us, because our next posting will be on the most controversial question asked, in the Christian community.)

"Stay encouraged in your love walk and you will be empowered in your faith walk" [Galatians 5:6]

Remember, "GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE"

Links -

Living By Faith Ministries Myspace Blog, www.myspace.com/livingbyfaithministries3

Living By faith Youngsters, www.myspace.com/beingrealaboutGod

Faith International Christian Center, www.ficcwordchurch.org

"Halloween, Not For Christians" Pt.3

Practices associated with halloween

The jack-o-lantern - Hundreds of years before Christ, on halloween night, each druid (a class of priests and learned men), dressed in hooded robes, and they had slung over their shoulders, on a cord, a large hollowed-out turnip, with an oil lamp burning inside. Carved into the side of the hollow turnip was, in the form of a face, the likeness of the demon spirit that dwelled inside. The spirit was the druid's spirit guide, his personal little god, who directed and empowered his life. When the Celtics immigrated to the New World, they discovered that, pumpkins were much easier to hollow-out and carve, than turnips. Among the English-speaking Celts, the hollowed-out turnips or pumpkins were called jock or jack-of the lantern, referring to to the evil spirit, that lived in them.

Trick or treat - The druids of old, chose to eat certain types of food. On the night of the festival of the dead, (halloween), these druids would go from house to house, demanding the type of food that they ate. If the people complied, the druids would pass on in silence. However, if their demands were not met, the people and their homes were cursed with trouble, sickness, and death. Today, this has been modified, instead of just invoking a curse on the people and their homes, trick or treaters, now throw eggs and oranges at the people and their houses. In some instances, some trick or treaters, even toilet paper the people's house and cars.

The wearing of mask and costumes - This also originated from the druids. During this night of rituals, (halloween), the druids sacrificed animals and sometimes humans. Often, they wore the skins of these animals. Dressed this way, the druids would engage in fortune-telling. Villagers also dressed in hideous masks and costumes, in an effort to disguise themselves from the spirits. Now, although, in the modern day celebration, the masks and costumes have been replaced with loveable characters, instead, of frightening ones, the celebration is still the same.

Bobbing for apples - Since samhain was the beginning of the new year, much fortune-telling was done concerning the coming year. Many things were done to invoke good luck, which meant finding favor with the evil spirits, for the coming year. As Christians, we need to recognize that we have authority over evil spirits, and they are subject to us, [Luke 10:17-20] Therefore, we don't need and should not desire, favor with evil spirits. Instead of wishing one another good luck, we should speak God's blessing into each other lives. In other words, we should say to one another, "be blessed" instead of, "good luck" Now, a very popular form of invoking good luck, was to kneel around a tub of water with apples floating in it. The first one who could get an apple out without using their hands or teeth, would have good luck with the spirits in the coming year. Then, each would peel, his or her apple, trying to get the peel off in one piece. They believed that by removing the peel in one piece, it gave the peeling particular power, and that , it would caused them to gain special favor with the spirits. (It is trully amazing, as to what we will believe)

Bonfires - Bonfires orginated from those nights of human and animal sacrifices, where the remains of the bodies were thrown into the fire. The next morning, all that was left were, ashes and bones. The original name for this event was, bonefires.

(Stay with us, we have more to reveal, on the next posting)

"Stay encouraged in your love walk and you will be empowered in your faith walk" [Galatians 5:6]

Ministry Links -

Living By Faith Ministries, Myspace blog, www.myspace.com/livingbyfaithministries3

Living By Faith Youngsters, www.myspace.org/beingrealaboutGod

Faith International Christian Center, www.ficcwordchurch.org

Remember, "GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE"