Say "NO" to Halloween

Today is the worst day of the year for me. I hate Halloween with all that I am. I know that there are some Christians out there who don't mind it. Some even participate in the rituals and "celebrations", claiming that it's just a "bit of fun" nowadays. It makes me feel physically ill. I actually detest it and here's why.

The official line is “it glorifies all that is evil” – I do accept this, but there’s other reasons too… Here's why I'm totally against Trick-or-Treating specifically:

• There’s the begging thing. It’s the same with the “Penny for the Guy” craze (which used to only happen during the first 5 days in November when I was a child, now I see them outside supermarkets from mid-October!) At the end of the day, I won’t encourage my children to go out begging strangers for money or sweets. I will buy them candy, chocolate and give them pocket money, they don’t need to act like paupers and terrifying people, especially the elderly in the dark evenings.
• We teach children not to talk to or accept sweets from strangers and then one night a year, we encourage them to dress up and go knocking on the doors of strangers (who could be convicted paedophiles) and ask them for sweets or money. Some children aren’t even accompanied by an adult – I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. Plus, it’s giving them mixed messages, and how do you know that those homemade cupcakes (or even those packaged sweets) aren’t laced with drugs?!
• Why anyone would want to dress their child like a demon, a zombie, or a witch is beyond me – surely children should still be innocent and not even know about these things yet?! When I was a child I would dress as a princess or a ballerina – not on Halloween, just in general. I didn’t even know that there were such things as zombies! This age of innocence is so precious, why let it escape too soon?
• I believe in these things. I believe that demons and witches exist and they’re dangerous. It’s not just a bit of harmless fun and I don’t want to promote it. To me, it’s just like telling someone how to make a Ouija Board – they’ll become interested and then a huge can of worms has been opened. Before you know it, they’re in too deep, have been possessed or may even be dead.
• It scares the heck out of me! I know that it’s real and it terrifies me!

The notice I put up outside my house

A friend commented that he didn’t accept that witches exist. Well I believe that they do. They might not necessarily have pointy hats and broomsticks but there are very real witches, wiccans, witchdoctors and shamans who cast spells, make potions and commune with spirits… In this country there are hundreds, if not thousands, of mediums and spiritualists who also claim to commune with the dead and that terrifies me too! It's a shame that people don't realise how dangerous it is until it's too late…

Here's a link to a website discussing Halloween, from the point of view of an ex-wiccan, ex-psychic, ex-witch who is now a Christian. It's a great read.

In the Bible, it says that:

• Men and women among you who act as mediums or psychics must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:27)
• Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:31)
• Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 18:10-13)
• When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? (Isaiah 8:19)
• For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

There are many more scriptures but these few are reason enough for me to feel uncomfortable, and I shouldn’t have to explain myself to friends, family, especially not my employers (but that’s another story). Why is it so difficult for some people to accept that I simply do not want anything to do with Halloween, and that I feel physically sick and uncomfortable discussing their “ways around” it. For example, witches are not folklore – they’re real and dangerous. Regardless of whether it is Halloween or not, I refuse to participate in any witch related activities (decorating witch hats with the children at nursery – apparently witches are folklore so it shouldn’t be taboo for my beliefs! I’m sorry, who made you the keeper of what I believe in?!)

If you have to find ways to rationalise what you're doing, should you really be doing it?

I'll be totally honest with you now. I'm quite impressionable. As a child and young teenager I watched shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, moving on to movies like The Craft and Satan's School for Girls. I loved these shows and I was drawn in to them. I know they're fiction and they're created for enjoyment but I was fascinated with magic and witchcraft - and I'd been in the church from the age of two!

I'm not saying that these shows and movies are bad but I was becoming hooked and didn't know when to leave it alone. I was looking online for spells; buying books and magazines; searching for witch schools and my friends and I were in the process of looking for "a fourth" to create our coven of witches (we were around 13-14 years old and didn't really grasp the danger). I'm so grateful that we gave up and grew up. It's so easy to be drawn in, especially when you're searching for answers.

Here's something I've just seen on Facebook. I don't know the gentleman who posted it as it was shared by a mutual friend but I have a few issues with his reasoning.

He states that it's ok to join in with the celebrations because, basically, they don't mean anything unless you want them to.

I disagree.

Regardless of what you think; the frame of mind you're in; the rationale you use so that you can sleep at night, it's still rooted in Paganistic and Satanistic rituals and symbolism.

A colleague made a similar argument to me yesterday at work and I responded with this: If you play with a Ouija board but don't believe in it; just think it's a bit of fun, does that mean that nothing will happen? No! Of course not! Satan doesn't care what you believe. You've opened a doorway whether you know it or not!

 
Anyway, I just thought I’d share. Obviously my opinions and beliefs won’t be for everyone and I’m not suggesting that all Christians feel the same way. I’m just sharing what I feel!

If you are going out Trick or Treating for Halloween, please be careful and vigilant. It’s not just a bit of fun!

- Lisa

P.S. If you’re interested, here’s a message I received on 25 October 2008 about the history of Halloween. I think the most important part of the whole thing is the last part: “A final note, is the fact that Halloween is the high holy day of the satanic church. So it still bears a very dark side indeed, even today!”

As our children get ready to go “Trick-or-Treating” let us learn a little about the day “Halloween.”
Therefore we will look at a ancient pagan ritual, that is still practiced today. It’s original name was “Samhain,” however we know it as “Halloween.”
“Samhain” began at sundown on October 31st and extended into the following day. According to the Celtic pagan religion, known as Druidism, the spirits of those who had died roamed the earth on “Samhain” evening. This night was much feared by the Celtic people, and they sought to ward off the spirits with offerings of food and drink.
The dark side of this event was the fact that the Celts built bonfires, at so called sacred sights, and sometimes preformed rituals involving HUMAN and/or Animal Sacrifices, to honor Druid gods. “Samhain” was abandoned only when the people converted to Christianity during the very early middle ages. Now during that period of time the Church often incorporated modified versions of ancient pagan rituals in order to win over converts.
For example, Pope Gregory IV successfully replaced “Samhain” with All Saints Day, which fell on November 1, thus the evening of October 31 became known as All Hallows’ Even, which was later shortened to Halloween.
All Souls Day, as it is known as today, is a Holy Day in the Roman Catholic, and Anglican Churches, honoring those who have passed away.
Some aspects of this ancient pagan tradition thought to be incompatible with Christianity, were linked with folk beliefs about evil spirits.
In British folklore, small magical fairies became associated with Halloween mischief. The jack-o-lantern, originally carved from a turnip, originated in medieval Scotland. A small candle would be put into the turnip, that had a scary face carved on it. This was to be lit at night and displayed to scare off evil spirits which they feared roamed about that night.
Between the 15th & 17th Centuries, Europe was seized by a hysterical fear of witches, who were thought to ride flying brooms and to assume the form of black cats. Thus the images of witches and black cats soon joined other European superstitions as symbols of Halloween.
In the 19th & early 20th Centuries, young people often observed Halloween by perpetrating minor acts of vandalism, such as overturning sheds or breaking windows. Beginning inthe 1930′s, Halloween mischief gradually transformed into the modern ritual of trick-or-treating, though some still choose to perform acts of vandalism on Halloween still today. A final note, is the fact that Halloween is the high holy day of the satanic church. So it still bears a very dark side indeed, even today!
References: ( Encarta Reference Library 2008, and theEncyclopedia Britannica 2006. )

Helium Balloons and Takesy-Backsies

Guess where I’m writing this post from… Want a clue? It’s pretty dark and cold and very uncomfortable…

I’m in my car in the car park of my church!

No, I haven’t gone mad. Nor have I found a sweet writing spot. Riki has joined an Alpha course (Praise God!) and rather than driving all the way back home to have to drive back to pick him up again in a couple of hours, I figured I’d stay and wait. I guess I could have gone inside but I’ve already done an Alpha course a few years ago. As much as I loved it and would definitely do another, I felt it was important for him to do this by himself – allow him to really open up and spend quality time fellowshipping without me taking the lead!

So I’m in the car park. I have a bunch of unfinished blog posts in my Drafts folder – I don’t know why I can’t seem to finish any to a decent “post-able” standard. I’m a perfectionist and I often think, “there’s something else there, something missing, but what?” so it goes onto the drafts pile.

If I’m honest, I’ve been struggling again recently. I’m back to trying to “help” God in Riki’s salvation.

Last week he didn’t go to Alpha and I was so upset and frustrated, I sat in the kitchen watching the washing machine go around, rather than talking to him! I know it’s not helping anything and I can’t force him, but I'm only human. I thought he’d made a breakthrough and then taken a step back. 

I find myself having to tell God (and myself) more and more often that I trust Him and I know that it’s in His time, not mine, etc, etc… Maybe one day it’ll sink in and I’ll finally let go and let God deal with it!

I guess that’s what I wanted to post about tonight. It’s one of the many notes I’ve jotted down but not gotten around to creating a post around; letting go.

I’ve posted something about letting go of our sicknesses and labels (here) but this is a general thing, based on my own experience.

Generally, I say to myself and to my friends, “Give up; there’s no more you can physically do, it’s time to let go and give it to God”.

Easy, peasy?

Nope!

It’s certainly one of those “easier said than done” things.

You see, I’m great at giving up. I’m brilliant at asking God to take control of whatever I’m struggling with. I’m even pretty good at releasing that tight hold I have.

Try to imagine, if you will, a helium balloon. This symbolises my issue or struggle.  It naturally tries to float away, out of my control, up towards the heavens. This is how it is with whatever we’re clinging to – God is trying to take it away and deal with it for us but unless we let go and allow it to float up to Him, it’s going nowhere!

I can let go of the balloon, no problem. I might even try to give it a head start by thrusting it upwards, “Incoming! Catch, Lord, it’s Yours now!”

But what’s this? As it’s floating up towards the only One who can sort it out, it suddenly comes to a halt and that’s when we see that there’s a piece of string, pulled taut and attached to the bottom of the balloon. Where’s the other end? That’s right, in my hand! I’ve relinquished my grip on the balloon, the struggle, but I’m not letting go completely! I need to keep some control over it – I need to keep some kind of ownership of it. It’s my problem, and I’m not letting go of it. I guess it could even come back to the “it’s part of me and who I am” mind-set I’ve discussed before.

So what are the implications of clinging onto this balloon? Well from a purely physical standpoint, it’s exhausting! It’s trying to break free and I’m expending all my strength trying to keep hold of it. Have you ever tried walking a very large, very boisterous dog? They're wanting to run and they almost pull your arm out of its socket as you try to rein them in! From a spiritual point of view it’s even more worrisome. Why should God keep fighting and pulling against me, trying to help me, if I’m not co-operating? How long will He try? How many chances do I get?

So how long will we keep doing this? How often will God try to step in and help us out, only to have it metaphorically thrown back in His face?

How can we have the audacity to ask for His help; to tell Him that it’s His, and then ask for it back, or worse still, never truly give it in the first place?

Imagine if you had a friend who was going to give you a gift. She’d been telling you for weeks or months about this gift and you were really excited about it. How about when the day comes along and you’re expectant, you’ve prepared yourself and you’re on your way to meet her to collect this gift. How would you feel if she turned up empty handed? Oh yes, she had bought the gift but then decided that she wanted to keep it for herself.

I don’t think I’d be too far wrong if I said that you’d be a little peeved. It’s only natural! I’d probably think she were selfish, inconsiderate and, quite frankly, a little rude!

When I was at primary school we had a saying. If someone had given a gift, or even something as insignificant as a chewing gum, and then asked for it back, we’d call them “taker-backerers”. I know it’s childish (I’ve heard other names for it but I don’t think they’re quite as charming, or politically correct!)

Obviously, this isn’t the same thing. God is merciful and ever understanding, and I don’t think He would be angry or annoyed with us. I doubt He’d call us names anyway, but I certainly wouldn’t want to be a “taker-backerer” from God!

It’s difficult, and nobody can deny that, but imagine the freedom when we finally let go of those things we’re bound by!

I’m not going to lie to you, I can’t give you a 3-step program, not even a 12-step program to get to that place, because I’m still struggling with it myself. I have no idea what works, or how to make it easier. All I can say is, PRAY! Pray over it and ask for God’s strength; His courage and boldness. There’s no way that we can do this kind of spiritual release in our own strength. We need God.

Keep on it; it’ll be worth your while!

-          And keep me posted!

Be blessed,

-Lisa