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Romans 12

King James Version

² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

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Despite its pagan origins and celebration by occultists in our day, some Christians celebrate Halloween. For some, it’s actually part of the church calendar year, for others it is their choice. Is this you? If so, are you willing to forsake the world, take up your cross, and follow Jesus?

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Matthew 16

²⁴ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

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Many of us don’t celebrate the day but we do use the season to throw a “harvest party” for our children or youth, where they can dress up like people from the Bible and enjoy seasonal treats. (Just to be clear, I’m not referring to Reformation Day celebrations.)

Why do we do this? Often, it is to keep them from feeling left out of the “fun”. Another reason may be that we’re nostalgic about our own childhood. Then, too, the Church seems to have fallen in love with “programs”, as well as “the church year.” That is, the Church has fallen from  simplicity of devotion to Christ.

Is there wisdom in any of this? Wisdom is teaching our young people that, even for them, these things are true:

Christians are not people of disguise (pretenders),

following Jesus demands sacrifice in everyday things,

this is not their holiday, even if we “take out the bad parts.”

We can’t sanitize or sanctify the things of the world and use them. They will never be heavenly things. 

Some of us use this day and season to witness. Praise God! But, a word of warning seems necessary: we should be discerning about any materials such as tracts that we buy to witness, that have Halloween as their theme. Some of them are silly or ghoulish. We don’t want to: 

trivialize the Gospel, 

be ineffective in our witness, 

line the pockets of merchandisers.

Buying and selling “Christian stuff” is big business. Remember what went on in the Temple during the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and that He cleansed the Temple? There is nothing new under the sun. Isn’t the Bible what we should be pointing people to?

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How silly we make the Gospel look

when we witness to the world

using the things of the world.

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How foolish we are 

when we celebrate 

what the world celebrates –  

death. 

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WordPress resource:

The dangers of halloween

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