Thomas Czech's Thoughts

Halloween, also known as the witches’ new year, originated among the ancient Druid priests from Britain and France. It commemorated the end of summer and the beginning of the Celtic year. The celebration was considered the highest festival of the year called Samhain (sah-ween). It was named after Saman, the god of the dead.

The Druids not only believed that the dead came back to mingle among the living on this night, but that demons, witches and hobgoblins were also released in droves to harass and oppress the living. The Celts also believed that the sinful souls of those who had died during the year had been transferred to the bodies of animals. Through gifts and sacrifices their sins were atoned for and their souls were set free. Samon judged the souls and decreed whether they would continue as a human or an animal.

Bonfires, animal and human sacrifices and ritualistic offerings to the dead were common during this Feast of Samhain. It was believed that human blood opened up the gates of the dead and released the spirits for the night. To protect themselves, many Druids would dress up as devils, witches and ghouls and would even involve themselves in demonic activities to ward off an attack.

In a bold evangelistic move designed to demonstrate that only the power of Jesus Christ could protect men and women from the fiery darts of Satan, the early church moved a festive celebration of their own called "All Saints Day" from the month of May to November 1st. They renamed it "All Hallows’ Eve", from which we get the name Halloween. The evening before November 1 (October 31) was set aside as a HOLY EVENING in remembrance of those who had suffered martyrdom for their belief and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this Holy Evening has become anything but holy. There has been little or no effort on the part of the "church" (us) to renew the original purpose for which this day was intended. On the contrary, many churches and Christians today are compromising their faith on Halloween just so their children don’t feel left out of the festivities. I believe we have allowed things in our homes and churches that are an abomination to God.

TRICK OR TREAT - This modern custom of going door to door begging for candy while masked and dressed in costumes goes back to the pagan New Year’s Feast. It was thought as long as the living set out bowls of fruit and other treats for the demons, witches and ghosts to partake of, then they might leave that home untouched. When your child goes door to door yelling "trick or treat" he is re-enacting that ancient superstition.

JACK-O-LANTERN - in America it’s a pumpkin but in Europe it was usually a turnip that had the fact of a demonic spirit carved in it. The smiling face was symbolic of the mocking spirit that laughed at the fate of it’s victims. Candle-lit Jack-O-Lantern or skull’s heads also symbolized that the occupants of that house were sympathetic to the evil spirits and would hope to receive mercy and favor.

We can ill-afford to sit around any longer and remain ignorant about Halloween. Our children need to be taught that there is nothing cute in pretending to be a friend of the enemy for a few hours. It only took one apple for Adam and Eve to be deceived. Who are we to think that going to strangers houses or a haunted house or a school Halloween party is any less appealing to a young mind. If I had a child in grade school, you can bet they’d miss school the last day of October. Why! Ask any school administrator which holiday receives the most money, time, energy and bulletin boards and I guarantee it won’t be Christmas, Easter or Martin Luther King Day. Halloween wins hands down. For those who think that’s a coincidence, think again. Hitler wasn’t the only one who knew that those who have the youth have the future.

At this point many will argue, "Come on. It’s just Halloween, I’m not worshipping anyone. It’s just harmless fun." Is it? Our children are already growing up in such a contradictory society, do we have to add to it? Can’t we at least give them the stability of worshipping the one true God, only?

The popular teen magazine "Sassy", printed an article several years ago entitled "Witchcraft is a Religion", subtitled "And a very cool one at that" (March 1992). The author praised witchcraft for it’s environmentalist and self-esteem building features. She explained why Halloween was important to witches and some of the meaning of the evening. The magazine article concluded by quoting a witch named Laurie: "Witchcraft is a connectedness to everything, so you can center yourself and feel as if you can control some of your environment a little more. I think teenagers today need their own power."

I also agree that teenagers today need more power, but it sure isn’t the power she’s talking about. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit that enables a young person to stand up and boldly and unashamedly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That starts when parents care enough to not just let anyone deceive or give candy to their babies.

Bible-believing Christians cringe and shudder at the thought of Satan worship and occult rites. But, how many of these same people will dress their children as witches, ghosts, skeletons or devils and send them out to "trick-or-treat"? How many smile approvingly at the church or Sunday School and youth organizations that have Halloween parties and sponsor "haunted house" activities?

Can any Christian give any scriptural - or even logical- reason for participating in, or approving of, that which is unmistakably associated with paganism, devil-worship and witchcraft?

Deuteronomy 18: 10--13 explicitly forbids Christians to have anything to do with witchcraft, spiritism or the demonic. 1 Thess. 5:22 tells us to abstain from all appearance of evil.