Halloween Part 2
If you have not read part 1 please stop, scroll down and read it now. *****
Having now read Part 1, I trust you have already opened your mind and heart and are being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Let's look at some of the prominent symbols of halloween.
1) The Jack-o-Lantern There are several different versions of the history of this icon. However, the most widely accepted has its roots in the ancient British/Celtic culture. It was believed that Stingy Jack (a.k.a. Drunk Jack) made a pact with Satan in which Satan got Jack's soul. Jack was able to cheat Satan and as he was leaving hell Satan threw a hot coal at him (some versions say "tossed it to him"). Jack put the coal in a gourd to light his way.
In nearly every culture the Jack-o-Lantern was thought to ward off evil spirits roaming the earth.
They were also thought to be ghosts and they were believed to contain an "unearthly" light.
In addition, they were always given evil, malicious facial expressions.
2) The Black Cat
In past cultures the black cat was believed to be the companion of witches. Hence, bad luck if one crosses your path. In today's culture, real witches DO embrace the black cat as a companion and carrier of curses.
3) Bats and Rats
Also, companions of witches.
4) Spiders
Companions of witches. In past cultures, it was believed that if a spider fell into a lantern or candle and was consumed by the flame it meant a witch was near.
MANY innocent people were condemned as witches due to this superstition. The dying spider would bring about the accusation. A trial would ensue. Usually, the woman (the accused were most often females) was strapped to a chair and dunked into a body of water. If she drowned, she was innocent. If she lived, she was a witch and put to death.
Various methods included burning and "weighting" or "boarding". During this practice a door or large piece of wood was put on top of the victim. Then rocks were placed on top until she was crushed to death.
Of course, spiders were not the only thing used to detect witches.
5) Bonfires
This one was new to me. The Celtics celebrated the festival of Samhain. The dead were thought to return to the earth. Bonfires were built and effigies and the "bones" of the Pope were burned to both honor the dead and appease evil spirits.
6) Trick-or-Treat
I often hear people say that this practice started out innocently and bad people made it unsafe and harmful.
The true history is that it started with "soul cakes". Children went house to house begging treats, much like today. The children were dressed as evil spirits or the dead. In order to appease these "evil spirits" people gave them "soul cakes". There are two versions of the "soul cake" practice that I could find.
a) The cakes protected the giver's soul.
b) The giver of the cake was offering their own soul in exchange for protection.
7) Haunted Houses or Haunted Hay Rides or Haunted anything. There is no such thing as ghosts. Period. Spirits? Yes.
There are two forces at work in the world.
Good and evil. Dark and light. Angels and demons. Christ and Satan.
There are real "haunted" abodes and places. However, the "spectors" which haunt these dark places are nothing more than DEMONS!
8) Witches/Wizards/Warlocks
Worshippers of Satan having the power to cast spells, conjure up the dead and place curses on people and things.
It doesn't matter how "cute" or benign these symbols are represented to be, they are still representative of darkness!
Beloved, we have been called out of darkness into light and instructed not to even pretend to be a partaker of or participant in evil. (See scriptures in Part 1).
If you profess to be a follower of Christ you must now ask yourself the question: What would Jesus do?
Surely Jesus is broken hearted. Many of those professing to love Him so quickly embrace and particpate in a holiday designed to celebrate all things dark, demonic and occultic...everything that is in direct opposition to Christ!
The question is, why?
Please pray about what you have just read and let me hear from you.
Be blessed,
Pastor Jennifer
Comments
Post a Comment