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| Halloween |
Halloweenby Becky Melendez HistoryMore than two thousand years age, a people called the Celts (Kelts) lived in what are now Ireland, Great Britain, and France. Among the Celtic people was an elite intellectual group known as the Druids, who served as religious priests, judges, lawmakers, and scientists. They had an elaborate pagan religious festival, along with special rituals. One of the biggest rituals was the Fire Festival called, Samhain (pronounced sow-en), observed at harvest time to mark the Celtic New Year. The Celts believed that on this night the barrier between the natural world and the supernatural was removed, and the spirits of the dead were able to move freely among human beings. Samhain was the most solemn and important night in the Celtic year. After the Roman Catholic Church brought Christianity to the Celtic peoples in the seventh century, some of their traditional customs were Christianized. In 835 A.D. Pope Gregory IV moved the church’s, “Feast of All Saints” from the spring to November 1st to replace the observance of Samhain. All Saints’s Day, still observed today by many, honored people who had died. The night before, which featured a sacred ceremony in church, become known as, “All Hallow’s Eve”, or Halloween. But this practice originating from the Druids was eventually denounced by the church as witchcraft. This is how Halloween become known as a witch’s holiday. Halloween TodayDressing in costumes and going door-to-door comes from a later tradition in the British Isles, a practice not restricted to Halloween. Masked pranksters would go from house-to-house, putting on dramas and musical performances in return for food and drink. Often these performances had Christian themes. The, “trick-or-treat”, custom we know today is an American custom. In the nineteenth century, when Irish and Scottish immigrants brought their Halloween traditions to North America, the night became an occasion for pranks and mischief. Vandals would go about at night, soaping windows, overturning outhouses, and pulling gates from their hinges. These pranks were jokingly said to be the work of witches and ghosts, but in the 1920’s the damage to neighborhoods was increasing. To counteract Halloween vandalism, community clubs like the Boy Scouts and even some churches began to organize alternatives that were safe and fun. Children were encouraged to go door-to-door and receive treats from homeowners and merchants, keeping the troublemakers away. By the 1930’s the practice of, “trick-or-treating”, had become popular nationwide. In this way, a combination of pagan, and Christian traditions formed the Halloween celebration we know today. In recent years, however, a renewed interest in the old pagan beliefs has increased in North America. Popular entertainment like, “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer,” “Sabrina: The Teenage Witch,” “Harry Potter”, "Charmed", and “Bewitched” make occult themes and witchcraft seem fun and acceptable. The result is that Halloween today has become strongly associated with the occult and a preoccupation with the dead – two things that the Bible has always warned against. TraditionsJack-o-lanterns – In the days of the Druids a carved pumpkin symbolized a damned soul named Jack. According to the tale, Jack was not allowed into heaven or hell. So, he wandered around in the darkness with his lantern until Judgment Day. Fearful people hollowed out turnips (and later, pumpkins in the United States), carved an evil face on them, and lit a candle inside to scare Jack and other evil spirits away. Is Satan RealSatan is not make-believe. He’s real! Though the Bible clearly states that God is the world’s highest authority, He gave Satan a certain amount of power. With God’s permission, the evil in this world is under Satan’s control. This is why the apostle Paul said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”Ephesians 6:12 Satan was the first one in history to openly defy God. He also started a way of life that was self-centered and rejected God’s authority. That marked the birth of sin, which is nothing more than rebellion against God. Today sin affects the entire human race. We are all guilty, and therefore all deserve sin’s penalty. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 6:23How Can I Protect my ChildrenNumbers 23:23a says: No curse can be placed on Jacob, and no magic shall be done against him. TLB If you are a Christian you are an heir of Jacob so the above scripture is for you. Modern-day witches and wizards believe Halloween night to be the most suitable night of the year for magic and demonic activity. In Deuteronomy 18:10-11, God forbids us to participate in any kind of occult practices or witchcraft. Further, in the New Testament, we are told to abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22. As Christians, we should not celebrate Halloween, rather we should recognize October 31st as the day the Lord has made – a day we can rejoice in. Psalm 118:24 We can seek out or develop alternative fun activities for our children, and we don’t need to be fearful, for God has not given us a spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7. James 4:7 tells to draw close to God, resist the devil, and the devil will flee from us. Parents should teach their children faith in God. Children can have just as much fun on a Halloween centered on the Word of God and family fellowship. Make a commitment today to give your children the Word of God instead of the fairy tales the world offers – it will help them grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 Speak the following prayer over your children:"Lord, I will train my children in the way they should go; and according to Your Word, when they are old, they will not depart from it. Protect their minds from demonic influence this holiday season. Keep them from being caught in a trap or hidden danger of the enemy. Thank You that You have given Your angels charge over them to keep them in all their ways. (Psalm 91) When they lie down, You will give them peaceful sleep. Father, keep our family safe. In Jesus name. Amen!" Jesus is the AnswerGod loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the ultimate penalty for your sins. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Satan was defeated when Jesus Christ came back to life after first suffering and dying as our substitute. Satan is doomed. But you can escape the punishment for your sins. You can receive God's forgiveness and love by placing your trust in the fact that Christ died and rose again for you. Jesus loves you, and you can talk to Him just like a best friend. One way to hear Him, talking to you, is to read His Word, “The Holy Bible”.Do I Need To Be Saved?For all have sinned and, come short of the Glory of God. Romans 3:23 Pray this Prayer if you have never received Jesus as your Lord and Savour: Now that you are a new person in Christ, you need to get a Bible and read it. The Bible can teach you everything you need to know about life issues. You also need to go to church and spend time with other Christians. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope, then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
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