God judges the intentions of our hearts based on what we have understanding or knowledge of in regards to His character. If I participate in situations or events that are associated with evil things then I know I am sinning due to the conviction that His Spirit has placed in my heart of understanding.
The Bible is filled with example after example of things that we ought to avoid due to conflicts with His Spirit. We may have liberty yes, but obviously some liberties can be taken that may conflict with His Spirit and will reap consequences. Especially when it involves participating side by side with evil in a compromise that one feels he has to liberty to exercise in.
Liberty is an entirely separate study and once one looks into the Bible for it's true meaning they will find that we do indeed have the liberty to serve others and to be free from sin. Other than that we do not have the liberty to serve the flesh as this leads to death...
When God says to not do as the heathen do and "abstain from all appearance of evil" (2 Thessalonians 5:22) that includes any sort of compromise to participate in holidays such as Halloween. If one feels that this thinking is prudish and of a 'party pooper' sort of spirit then that individual does not know the Word of God or is not taking it seriously. That person may say this is being legalistic but obeying God and walking in His ways is never legalistic. Walking in His ways has everything to do with abstaining from all appearances of evil. Remember Jesus did say "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Amos 5:21
Days can and will be dark and the qualifications to darken these days include pagan festivals. Halloween falls into this category. The news came out in the year 2011, when this was written, that Americans will spend more on Halloween than any year prior. This will include many who call themselves Christian. To participate in it as the heathen do would be pleasing Satan rather than the Lord. Satan loves death and those who don’t love God love death.
Halloween is very much a celebration of the dead. Folks fixate on and get a rush from everything associated with death. If you are dressed up as Bible prophet but walk along side a zombie then you are essentially making a statement supporting this obsession with death. You are saying that participation in this day is ok and thus grieving God. We have laws that convict the accomplice in regards to their close association to a crime and this falls very much into this realm of logic.
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. Proverbs 8:36
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21
With all of this said what part of this day is glorifying to God?
"It is generally agreed that, in Church history, Halloween took the place of a special day celebrated by the ancient Druids...Unfortunately the Christian Church never truly Christianized Halloween - the Roman Church merely baptized it with its own unique, if unbiblical, beliefs concerning sin, the saints, and purgatory."(John Ankerberg).
Where is the Christian influence today? If I go out on the streets or attend the parties based on the secular interpretation of the day then how am I being set apart?
A harvest festival held on the same day of Halloween or around that day is seen by many as an alternative but I know of one church that had to discontinue its efforts in doing harvest festivals due to lack of fruit and the inability to prevent evil costumes from attending. This is just one example of the hold Satan has on this day and on this world. Any sort of way to "Christianize" this day will fall short of success. Believers should instead fall to their knees and pray for the souls who think they are safe in their Christianity but are instead cursing God with their outright love and participation in the celebration of death.
Some may say these are harsh words but I am just stating what the Bible had recorded within it far before I ever came along. My thinking here is far from original but it is very Biblical. Essentially before it was ever my opinion it was God's Word.
To close I will share a few more versus related to conduct in this world as believers:
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:9
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
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. 3 John 1:11
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:1, 8-16.
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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. Jeremiah 10:2
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:19-23
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. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 1 Corinthians 10:20-22
This is the one verse that definitively states that Halloween is evil and something that God abhors. I did not lead with this as I often do but saved it for later to emphasize the message.
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth 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. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 18:10-13
God hated the things associated with this day in the Old Testament times and He still detests them to this day. I cannot be set apart for the sake of the Gospel by walking side by side with things that represent the darkness. I can be set apart by taking a stand and boldly stating to all what is right and what is wrong on that day but then I would ruin the day for many and would be labeled a closed minded ignorant individual. Or I could just participate and have fun. I chose to pray for the lost souls during this day.
Every tradition and holiday ought to be examined as such.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
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