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Why I Do Not Celebrate Halloween Eph. 5:8-16I preached this sermon last Sunday to our home church. Actually, I don't preach word for word what I type out, but it is usually pretty close. Most of the time I don't even type out the sermons that God gives me, but from time to time I feel led to. I thought I would share it here, just to demonstrate some more of my convictions. They are not always popular, but I always feel strongly about them. There is much more that could be said about Halloween, but this is the direction that the Lord led me this week. Our pastor had touched on some of the evil components of Halloween the previous week, but left open the possibility that it may be OK to participate in many aspects of the "fun" part of the holiday. I have difficulty seeing anything about the celebration being appropriate "fun" for a Christian.(I am always amazed when God allows me to put together a message and uses me to deliver it. This message was not copied from anyone else, but the Lord led me through prayer and study. What follows is a copy of my notes for the message with the actual Bible verses put in where they would have been read aloud):
Why I Do Not Celebrate Halloween Eph. 5:8-168 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. I have been asked by many people over the years, why I do not celebrate Halloween. I was not brought up with any convictions against Halloween. I participated in Trick Or Treat as a child, I’ve been to many Halloween parties, I’ve even helped to organize a full fledged "Haunted House" at a church where Lisa and I were the youth leaders. As I grew in Christ, and started looking around at what Halloween is really all about, God convinced me that there was nothing about Halloween that should interest me as a Christian. Today, for me as a Christian to want to celebrate Halloween would be like a Russian citizen wanting to celebrate the 4th of July! It just doesn’t make much sense when I consider the main elements of Halloween. 1) Darkness is Enhanced v82) Fear is Embraced v9-10 3) Sin is Expected v11-12 4) Death is Exploited v13-14 5) Evil is Exalted v15-16 I. Darkness is Enhanced v8
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:Illus: Just look at the decorations surrounding Halloween, and they are everywhere. Halloween decorations are meant to celebrate evil and darkness. The Good Housekeeping Book of Entertainment: "Orange, black and red, the devil’s colors, are the colors associated with Halloween, and this scheme should be carried out as far as possible… Have paper streamers and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, or you could make a giant spider web with black and orange strings, or with narrow strips of crepe paper for the four corners of the room, complete with a large spider – one of the devil’s followers." a) Darkness hides evil "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkenss rather than light, because their deeds were evil." –John 3:19 b) Darkness is opposite to God "If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth."1John1:6 c) The light of Christ dispels the darkness "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." –John 8:12
II. Fear is Embraced v9-10 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Illus: Haunted houses, haunted trails, scary movies a) Fear is not from God "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." –2 Tim 1:7 b) The love of Christ casts out fear "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." –1 John 4:18 III. Sin is Expected v11-12 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. Illus: What teens do when they are too old to trick or treat. Egging, corning, toilet paper, bashing mailboxes, road blocks, etc Illus: Police verify that there are more crimes committed during the Halloween season. a) Sin is enticing Proverbs 1:10-16 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. b) The cross of Christ crucified sin "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, shuld live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." –1 Peter 2:24
IV. Death is Exploited v13-14
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Illus: Slasher movies glamorizing brutal, serial murders. Horror movies glamorizing the supernatural.. Wicked movies dealing with the undead like zombies or vampires. a) Death was not from God Genesis 2:16-17 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. b) Death is an enemy 1 Cor 15:26 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. c) The victory of Christ defeated death 1 Cor 15:21-22 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor 15:54-57 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. V. Evil is Exalted v15-16 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Illus: World Book Encyclopedia "Halloween’s beginnings preceded Christ’s birth when the druids, a pagan group of devil-worshipers in what is now Britain and France, observed the end of summer by making human sacrifices to the gods. It was the beginning of the Celtic newyear. They belived that Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like spirits themselves. The waning of the sun and the approach of dark winter made the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks. Most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to the old pagan ites and superstitions." Illus: Today there are real Satan worshippers and witches who consider Halloween to be their "high holy day" a) We should hate evil "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." –Rom 12:9 b) We should overcome evil "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." –Rom 12:21 c) We should not look evil "Abstain from all appearance of evil." – 1 Thess 5:22 d) The Devil is evil 1) Satan wants to be exalted and worshipped Isaiah 14:12-14 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 2) The manifestation of Christ destroys evil "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." – 1 John 3:8 Darkness is Enhanced - The light of Christ dispels Fear is Embraced – The love of Christ casts out Sin is Expected – The cross of Christ crucified Death is Exploited – The victory of Christ defeated Evil is Exalted – manifestation of Christ destroys Ephesians 5:17 is the verse immediately following our text: 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Halloween is celebrated on 10-31 so let's end with a 10:31 from the Bible: 1 Corinthians 10:31 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
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