Celebrate the Light

 

Is the celebration of Halloween in the 21st century as innocuous as people would have us believe?

As a child I used to love Halloween for all the obvious reasons;

• Free Candy
• Spooky Movies
• Creepy Costumes

I don't think much has changed over the years, as I'm sure most kids still enjoy Halloween for much the same reasons.

Now that I'm older and have "put aside childish ways" (1 Cor 13:11), I view the celebration of Halloween from an entirely different perspective. Since my [spiritual] eyes have been opened to the "Light of Truth", I now understand that Halloween is not the innocuous holiday many make it out to be. In fact, not counting the "dark theme" of Halloween [witches, ghosts, and goblins], there is a much darker side to this "seemingly harmless" holiday, that often leads to death; physical as well as spiritual.

• PHYSICAL - (1) Halloween has become as popular a night for over-indulging (booze and drugs) as is New Year's Eve. Each year there are many that die as a result of alcohol poisoning or driving drunk. Drunk drivers also put other people's life at risk as well. (2) The historical tampering of Halloween "treats" with razor blades, poison, or drugs.
• SPIRITUAL - Little-to-no thought [if any] is given to the true nature of Halloween. The disguising of one's self behind a mask [or elaborate makeup], the "spooky" [ghost, vampire, zombie, etc.] costume theme. The shift in costume preference for girls and women is the most pronounced. Dressing up like a princess has lost out to dressing up like a pop-star (think Rhiannon, Lady Gaga, et. al.); and the creepy, old-lady witch has given way to a young, vampy looking witch (think Elvira, TV's 'Charmed' or 'Secret Circle').

Halloween, originally based upon superstition and fear, has become a celebration of spiritual [supernatural] darkness and immorality. Many 'Christians' today choose to either focus upon Halloween's origin and dark past, or consider it to be a harmless holiday for children, failing to note the more pervasive and dangerous effect this "holiday" has on our modern culture.

Those who desire to follow Christ cannot afford to take any aspect of life lightly, for there are many adversaries of Christ and his church.

Living in the Light Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” --Eph 5:1-14 NLT

Further Bible Study: Mark 14:38, Luke 11:34-36, John 3:19, John 8:12, John 12:35, John 12:46, Rom 13:12, 2 Cor 4:6, 2 Cor 6:14, Eph 5:6-17, Eph 6:12, 1 Thess 5:5-8, 1 Pet 1:3-2:12, 1 John 1:5-6.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Light of Truth