UPDATE: I just came across some really amazing information. Don't know why I didn't remember this from history class! The Reformation started on October 31!!! What a great way to counteract halloween!!! Hallelujah!!!
I found the information on a blog I follow. Go to
August Fields and follow her link to
Happy Reformation Day
And here is some info I found for you:
On 31 October 1517, Luther wrote to Albert of Mainz, protesting against the sale of indulgences. He enclosed in his letter a copy of his "Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences," which came to be known as
The Ninety-Five Theses. Hans Hillerbrand writes that Luther had then no intention of confronting the church, but saw his disputation as a scholarly objection to church practices, and the tone of the writing is accordingly "searching, rather than doctrinaire." Hillerbrand writes that there is nevertheless an undercurrent of challenge in several of the theses, particularly in Thesis 86, which asks: "Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of Saint Peter with the money of poor believers rather than with his own money?"
Luther objected to a saying attributed to Johann Tetzel that "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory [also attested as 'into heaven'] springs." He insisted that, since forgiveness was God's alone to grant, those who claimed that indulgences absolved buyers from all punishments and granted them salvation were in error. Christians, he said, must not slacken in following Christ on account of such false assurances.
On the eve of All Saint's Day, October 31, 1517, Luther posted the ninety-five theses, which he had composed in Latin, on the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg, according to university custom.
On the same day, Luther sent a hand-written copy, accompanied with honourable comments to the archbishop Albert of Mainz and Magdeburg responsible for the practice of the indulgence sales, and to the bishop of Brandenburg, the superior of Luther. Within two weeks, copies of the Theses had spread throughout Germany; within two months throughout Europe.
What a great thing to celebrate!!!
So if you know me at all you probably know that I HATE halloween. HATE it with a PERFECT HATRED. I count it my enemy. It has nothing to do with Godliness, not even a form of godliness. It is evil, satanic, demonic, horrible, straight from the pit of hell.
Now. I'm not here to judge anyone who participates in any of the halloween hoopla. But I've been struggling with 'just staying quiet'. And so this year I'm gonna put it out there. My family does NOT celebrate halloween. My girls like pumpkins and yes, they have carved a few, and they like to dress up - all year long in play. I don't have an issue with dressing up,(unless it's scary) I definitely don't have an issue with pumpkins!, and I like candy as well as the rest of you:)
But I'm not sure I even like carving pumpkins. Nothing wrong with pumpkins. God made them and I love them for fall decor. But carving them does have it's roots in halloween and halloween is evil. Is it right to try to put a 'good' mask on something that is evil?? Go
here to read more on this. I really like the picture above and there are some other really cool Biblical patterns out there. But... I haven't decided for sure what I think on that one. The
whole idea of carving them came from something satanic.
And there lies my real issue - the evil and the spirit of fear that halloween is rooted in.
My husband and I also have an issue with the whole 'begging' part of 'beggars night'. Begging really isn't something we want our kids to grow up proficient at. And this generation wants everything handed to them anyway so why add to it??
In all the history of halloween and in all the research you can do there is NOTHING Godly about it. It is straight from the devil himself.
So for some 'food for thought' I'm going to put this out here.
Just in case you never really thought about the meaning behind the 'holiday'.
I have copied a lot of the following from a friends blog. You can find her blog
here.
I also did some of my own research and linked to places you can read about it for yourself if you care to.
Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28
We rest in His Spirit. Never to have the spirit of fear again.
HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN
Halloween is the festival of the dead.
Ephesians
5:6-16 says,
"Let no one deceive you with empty words; for because of such
things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Therefore do not be partners with them.
For you were once darkness but now you are light in
the Lord: live as children of light
(for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible. For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
6 BILLION dollars will be spent on Halloween this year.
Everything is based on feeling today.
People say that we take the
fun out of everything and if we are not involved with Halloween
it is legalism.
But facts are facts....It's not based on feelings.
Halloween
Past
300 years before Jesus was born there was a civilization known as the Celtics*They lived in the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Western Europe
Controlled by a secret society of pagan priest called the Druids
which are mentioned more than 30 times in the Greek and Roman writings between
the 2nd and 4th century ( so this is not a made up story)
Barbarak- blood
thirsty, delighted in human and animal sacrifices ( including children ),
Recorded in the Julius Caesar commentary that they would burn scores of people
alive
2nd Chronicles 28:3
Festival of the Dead
On the eve of the festival ( October 31st ) the pagan
worshipers would call together all the wicked spirits who in the last 12 months
had been condemned to inhabit bodies of animals
Believed that on one night
of the year souls of the dead could inhabit their original homes to be
entertained by food
If food and water were not provided these spirits would
cast spells and put curses on the people dwelling there
On this night
entire communities would come together to build bon fires and make sacrifices (
animals, crops, themselves )
They would wear costumes made from the heads of
animals and cover themselves with animal skins and read fortunes for all the
people.
Anton LaVey
Author of the satanic bible
high priest of the church of satan ( Leader
of it all)
Three most important days of the santanist
Their own birthday
April 30th ( the day the church of satan was
founded )
October 31st the day when winter comes and the beginning of the
witchcraft year
Note- There are no rules that the satanist practice except
the 7 deadly sins....Lust, Gluttony, Pride, Greed, Envy, Jealousy and
Laziness.
Scripture ( Look it up! )
Revelations 17:14
Revelations 20: 1,2,6
Revelations 21 7 and 8
Jack a Lantern- Jack
was a damned soul that was not allowed into Heaven because he tricked the devil
in several places, he was not allowed into Hell therefore destined to roam the
countryside ( They carved faces in pumpkins to scare Jack away )
Trick or Treat- if food was not provided, the wicked spirits would "trick" or cast spells
on the people dwelling in the homes they visited
Costumes- to disguise
yourself as one of the evil spirits who were coming back in animal bodies. If
you wore an animal skin they wouldn't know it as you and they would leave you
alone.
Witches- October 31st is the most sacred day for witches (
Beginning of the witchcraft year )
Black Cats - the witches "demon"
helper
Bats- dwell in darkness, eat in darkness, represent a soul that
can move
Now I would not recommend that you really read all the trash out there about halloween. Even the stuff I linked to I didn't read thoroughly because it's just too evil. But I linked so you can know I didn't pull all this out of thin air. It is real. It is evil. As Christians we need to renounce it in Jesus name! He has conquered satan and death. Hallelujah! Praise HIS name!
Come quickly Lord Jesus! Oh please come quickly!!!
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely you bled, for us
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign
Forever let your church proclaim
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
The glory of God has defeated the night!
Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, he's alive! he's alive!
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!!!
Labels: halloween, jesus reigns
