Read: Lamentations 4:1-5:22, Hebrews 2:1-18, Psalm 103:1-22, Proverbs 26:23
You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out.
But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. (Hebrews 2:8)
Relate: I am writing this from Turkey, but I do understand that almost 60% of my readers are American. Well, in case you were living under a rock in America or are part of the 40% reading this from somewhere else in the world I have an important announcement: Today is Halloween. That means it is devil’s day… right? Its the day everybody does scary things and glorifies vampires and witches and demons. All the satanists are going to be out tonight performing their evil rituals under the moon… right? When you look into Halloween’s past, it is clearly the most evil, occultic, wicked day… right? No God fearing Christian would have anything to do with Halloween… right?
WRONG!
The devil doesn’t get a day. All things are under our authority. This isn’t a day we should cower in fear. This isn’t a day where we should hide ourselves in our homes with the lights off or cloister ourselves in our churches cut off from culture. This day belongs to God. The potential for good today is huge if only we take hold of it. All things, even Halloween, are under our authority, even if it doesn’t seem like it. I can only imagine how frustrated the devil must feel with the fact that a day that supposedly belongs to him is a day of community. Parents spend time going out with their children to meet their neighbors who in turn say nice things and give gifts to the kids. The opportunity is so rich… if only we grab hold.
React: So what are you going to be for Halloween? Me, I’m going to be a Christian. I’m going to be a good neighbor and a good coworker. If I were still in America my light would be on and I would be handing out candy to kids while striking up conversations with adults. Even here where they are like, “Halloween… what’s that?” I will still make an extra effort to find a way to be an encouragement to kids while building a relationship with their parents. This day does not belong to the Devil. It belongs to God. And He has given us authority over it.
Respond:
Dear God,
Help me to take advantage of the opportunities that will be so rich today. Help me to use this day to plant seeds and show love to my neighbors. Help me to redeem the day rather than hide from it. Help me to be more like You, abandoning the comforts of the Kingdom to advance the cause of the Kingdom. Help me to live in the authority You have given me.
Amen
THE RIVER WALK 
“The potential for good today is huge if only we take hold of it.” <- great point & great thoughts, friend! I appreciate the 'actionability' of your post as well, like the 'read/relate/react/respond' structure. Good stuff!
What a beautiful message on the Halloween’s day! Being a christian from the far east, I was wondering what Halloween was all about. Well, out here, we do celebrate All Saint’s day and All Soul’s day but Halloween is still a celebration that remains confined to texts..Thanks for the insight!!
Reblogged this on Oh No Mich and commented:
Even though we dont celebrate Halloween in my coutry its has a great message.
Thank you B.J. I love this!
AMEN!!!
Reblogged this on `The Penguin' says… and commented:
“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” —Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV)
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” —1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (NIV)
This is a great post! We often need to be reminded of our authority in Christ as believers. Thank you for the reminder that today has as much capability for good as any other day. Today is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!
Wonderful post! I feel the same way. Sadly, when I voiced something similar, I was hit hard, by the satanists and witches of the country! Thank you for letting me know that when I stand, I’m not alone!
Great article! So many Christians don’t know what to “do” with Halloween. This is a great response!
Thank you!! I love this one!
True. Isn’t it great? I choose God 😀 . Evil can only have power over us when we allow it to do so. Take care and have a blessed day! – Amy 😀
What a great take on Halloween!
Very true! What a wonderful way to look at this day.
Amen. We were not given the spirit of fear but of power and a sound mind.
Positive and uplifting! Loved reading this! 🙂 This day and every day belongs to God.
Great Post! All so true!
Great post. We do tend to stand back for some reason. The enemy has NO Power at all, accept the power we allow him. We must enforce his defeat. I love Phillips, Craig and Deans music. Your Brother in Christ RaymondTheBrave
Amen!! \(^_^)/
Great post, BJ. I get all the fuss about the dark origins and meanings of the day, but when we burden ourselves with the theological complexities of the issue, we miss out on just enjoying the blessings of seeing children looking cute and having fun. Thanks
WOWZA, good preachin’, Sis!!! God bless you BIG–love, sis Caddo
Thank you for your good thoughts about Halloween, Rene! I love seeing the children dressed up so cute and so creatively, love talking briefly with the parents, and always enjoy the older kids too. It’s a great night of community, smiles, happiness and sharing, which are enjoyed full circle by everyone.
How often do we enjoy those we don’t know? It happens on Halloween night, when walking right up to a stranger’s door is so very welcome!
This is an interesting take, although not my personal understanding of the Scripture. What I wonder is this. What stops you from taking advantage of every other day of the year to involve yourself with your community? Why mix yourself in, why camouflage yourself with the world on a day that it knows and celebrates as ungodly, the antithesis of honoring to the Lord?
The OT speaks of God telling Israel to stay set apart (holy) from the culture and “holy days” of the pagans. I’ve found in my walk with God that He brings me ever closer to holiness, separateness, a thing you speak negatively of in this post but one that God’s Word highlights as being pleasing to Him.
Being separate from the world, distinctly, noticeably different and set apart does not by any means imply that we no longer have “authority over all things” but rather that we honor God and abstain from even the appearance of evil. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood so we need not play along with flesh and blood to have spiritual authority.
Oct. 31’st is considered hallowed to those who love and worship God’s enemy, the devil. This day should bring believers all over America to their knees, waring against the devil and interceding on behalf of those who are lost. If God forbid His people to involve themselves in any way with the pagans of their time, His will for us is just the same.
I appreciate the boldness with which you speak but God’s Word should speak more loudly to the believer than anything or anyone else. Let God be true and every man a liar.
I agree. We need to do spiritual warfare on these days and the days beforehand. Trying to battle enemy on his terms is not a good idea when we no little if nothing about what the Witches etc do. It is the power of Holy Spirit that we need. Quoting Ephesians 6 is spot on. RaymondTheBrave
Thank you for a kind and gracious response to my comment, Ramond. Have a blessed weekend!
Hello Steffiedotorg,
Yes, I agree that October 31st is considered hallowed TO THOSE who love and worship God’s enemy, but that is their choice to war against God in this way.
In this world, people everywhere attach meanings to particular holidays in many different ways and everyone holds views that may be completely opposite of someone else. We don’t need to feel accused or even condemned because a particular day is viewed as evil by some. Halloween remains a delightful time for me. I get to meet people in my neighborhood, enjoy seeing the children dressed up so cute, tease the big kids who look horrible, and have the joys of visitors to my home. It is not a day of horror or fright for me and never has been.
Even Christmas is claimed not to be Christ’s actual birth, yet we still hold this day as special in our Christian faith.
Under the same principle, some refuse to purchase certain brands because they disagree with how the money is directed. I buy products for the product. How the corporation uses that money is between them and God. It’s simply impossible to hold the views of others as a measure of approval or condemnation in our own lives.
I have pasted an article presented by former Governor Huckabee and pastor. He shares the real history of Halloween. It is the wrong-minded among us who have perverted this day. I hope this information gives you more to think about:
“The Christian Heritage of Halloween!
We’ve all heard the allegations: Halloween is a pagan rite dating back to some pre-Christian festival among the Celtic Druids that escaped church suppression. Even today modern pagans and witches continue to celebrate this ancient festival. If you let your kids go trick-or-treating, they will be worshiping the devil and pagan gods.
The origins of Halloween are, in fact, very Christian and rather American. Halloween falls on October 31 because of a pope, and its observances are the result of medieval Catholic piety.
It’s true that the ancient Celts of Ireland and Britain celebrated a minor festival on October 31 — as they did on the last day of most other months of the year. However, Halloween falls on the last day of October because the Feast of All Saints, or “All Hallows,” falls on November 1. The feast in honor of all the saints in heaven used to be celebrated on May 13, but Pope Gregory III (d. 741) moved it to November 1, the dedication day of All Saints Chapel in St. Peter’s at Rome. Later, in the 840s, Pope Gregory IV commanded that All Saints be observed everywhere. And so the holy day spread to Ireland.
The day before was the feast’s evening vigil, “All Hallows Even,” or “Hallowe’en.” [However, American] traditions on this holiday center on dressing up in fanciful costumes, which isn’t Irish at all. Rather, this custom arose in France during the 14th and 15th centuries. Late medieval Europe was hit by repeated outbreaks of the bubonic plague — the Black Death — and it lost about half its population. Artistic representations were devised to remind everyone of their own mortality.
But the French dressed up on All Souls, not Halloween; and the Irish, who had Halloween, did not dress up. How the two became mingled probably happened first in the British colonies of North America during the 1700s, when Irish and French Catholics began to intermarry.
But as every young ghoul knows, dressing up isn’t the point; the point is getting as many goodies as possible. Where on earth did “trick or treat” come in?
[During the 1500s toeer and cakes for their celebration: trick or treat!
The mixture of various immigrant traditions we know as Halloween had become a fixture in th the 1700s in England], bands of revelers [to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day] would put on masks and visit local Catholics in the dead of night, demanding be United States by the early 1800s. To this day, it remains unknown in Europe, even in the countries from which some of the customs originated.”
— Father Augustine Thompson, O.P., associate professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia. Excerpted from Catholic Parent magazine (2000).
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT
Interesting. Are you Roman Catholic?
I don’t believe in accusing a person who celebrates a Halloween with the gospel. He or she is always near you to preach gospel.but if we preach on the day where they rejoice, we become a enemy. So I will prefer to stay silent on that day at the same time, we can’t allow our neighbors to get into dark side. Remember…love your neighbor as yourself.
Question is , will we spoil the temple of The Holy Ghost with the weird drawings which represent devil? If it a NO, then it’s high time to pray for them. Specially when it comes to children.
Amen!
I totally agree with you.
Few take things very casual, but don’t know the danger which lies inside it.
This is a great article! I made a similar point at http://theundercoverchristian.com/2013/10/27/aberzombie-and-fitch/. Only you were nice enough not to refer to trick-or-treating children as looking like ‘miniature Village People’. I was, er, not so kind…
Great work!
This is very meaningful and I agree. God should have his DAYS and the Devil doesn’t get any of our time or days!
Cool perspective!
Best post I’ve read in a while. Great point great enthusiasm God bless you
We at our Church use it as an outreach, we throw a carnival, send each kid home with a big bag of candy, meet and greet the people of the community, and show God’s love. A day is only evil if we allow it to be. We need to take back everything that the enemy has stolen. Good word! Thanks.
I like your perspective, B.J. This holiday has long been difficult for me because my husband and I felt the Lord calling us to NOT celebrate many years ago. In hindsight, I think it is likely because my past is filled with a fascination and flirtation with the occult.
For me, it is an act of obedience to not celebrate. Each year I struggle with it but I know it is right for us. I think that as Christians, to celebrate or not is a very personal decision but whichever way we handle it, you are correct that it is NOT the day of the enemy.
Blessings to you. Thank you for a thought-provoking post.
Good message, BJ.
People need to stop messing up with the things and giving the devil powers that he doesn’t have!
Keep it up the good work. Miss you!
🙂
I didn’t at first recognize the name. How long have you had a “Payne” email? 😉
Christmas has roots going back to pagan Roman practices (and beyond). Should we not celebrate Christmas? Thanksgiving celebrates the European invasion and Native American genocide. Should we not celebrate Thanksgiving? Should we not celebrate Memorial Day considering all the atrocities committed by our army in its history? Should we not celebrate Labor Day with its Communist overtones? The history and intentions of pretty much all of our holidays are mixed. The youtube video you present is very selective in his presentation of facts, and often downright false. For example, the Romans never conquered Ireland, Pomonalia (what he calls Pomona Day) celebrates cultivation and growth (especially orchards and fruit trees) not death. He also imposes late medieval motives and machinations on the Catholic Church and individuals like John Chrysostom and Ephrem the Syriac (who he calls Ephrem Syrus) where their motivations were far more evangelistic. I could go on. This teacher tries too hard to twist or present facts to fit his opinions.
Part of being salt and light is to protect against decay and darkness. What salt does not touch will decay. Where light does not go, darkness will prevail. When we avoid an aspect of culture rather than invade it or transform it, of course it will fall to evil. We are not called to run from the gates of hell but to invade them. Where we go, they cannot prevail.
Reblogged this on MLou's Photography Blog and commented:
I have mixed feelings about Halloween but this blog has a good perspective on the holiday. Enjoy!
I pray God gives us the grace, wisdom and courage to invade those walls constantly.
Truly Oct 31st has a new meaning for me after coming front and center with Martin Luther. This is a marvelous opportunity to celebrate Reformation Day and to ask others do you understand what is meant by “the righteous shall live by faith?” So how does one celebrate Reformation Day? Share your candy treats dressed as Martin Luther and explain the significance of who he was and how he changed the entire world for Christ.
Reblogged this on deascycles.com and commented:
I got to this post a day late but it is well worth the read anyway. It is very true and should be taken into careful consideration. In my opinion.
Tony R
I love the post and I feel the same way.
Tony R
Bravo!
I have NEVER thought of it this way…thank you! we take dominion in the Name above all names: Christ Jesus!
Well said!!
Thanks for sharing your perspective, BJ. My family and I “take back Halloween” by building new traditions. After all, Jesus is the best at giving sweets and treats. For years we’ve gone out and had breakfast for dinner followed by ice cream from an ice cream shop. Since we’re purposeful about connecting with neighbors daily, i don’t see the need to participate in Halloween activities to do it. AND it’s been cool to meet the people working in the restaurants these past Halloweens. It’s easy to get a table that night☺️
I agree with you in one way…yes, reach out to neighbors and don’t bash them; however, the choice becomes more difficult once you have your own kids. (There’s more to think about, I assure you.) And, what you learn from friends who come out of the occult…well, it’s just hard to justify “celebrating” anything connected to this night. In fact, my friends have shared that a lot of horrid things happen to kids/others on this night. After studying the origins of Halloween (teaching Asians overseas etc..) and then having friends share with me…it just became more difficult as a parent. Oh, I celebrated as a kid, myself, so it was a difficult decision when my own kids saw everyone else having fun; they’re all grown up, now and will have to make those same hard, decisions with their own kids someday.
Teaching Asians overseas? Where?
Hey, if you chose not to shine your light in the darkness… that is your choice. If you chose not to engage with your community… that is your choice. If you chose to give up the day to the devil… that is your choice.
Jesus said to Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell cannot stand against it.” The gates of hell… that means hell is on the defensive and the church is on the attack. How can that be the case when instead we chose to hide our lights?
Well, you misspoke and misjudged me, I think. I did pass out candy this past week, as I usually do, I did talk to my neighbors as I usually do, I did help with community parties and my kids even dressed as Biblical characters at school. I was saying as a parent, (are you one?) there’s a lot more to think about. No one was “hiding their light” AND…some of my friends rescued from out of the occult, would beg to differ with your statement “you chose to give up the day to the devil” and say that you actually played right into the hands of the devil…and that was his strategic plan; that that is how he works by making things look so innocent so people become deceived. Just sayin, ( and playin’ devil’s advocate I guess ;)..But, something to think about. Everyone needs to use discernment; you can’t brush everything/situation with one broad stroke. BTW…Did you know that kids are kidnapped on this day? Did you know that children are raped and some have even been sacrificed in honor of this day? See that’s why people need to use discernment and speak directly with those who have eye witnessed some of these atrocities.( I hadn’t previously educated myself in these matters.) My pastor had also been involved in praying with those who were wizards/witches and gave up their demonic trinkets. He wrote a book about it. Then, he stared a Hell House exposing the trick of Satan which gets thousands of attendees every Halloween. So, see, one cannot paint one broad stroke for every situation and we must be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. Blessings. (Oh, and I taught in China back in 1987.)
Thank you for the reminder that we, under God’s grace, have authority over evil.
what An Opportunity to be shone at this time 🙂
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Love ya
Excellent insight. Reframed to remember that God is in control. Thank you. Pray hard.
I will be dressed as a witch handing out candy 🎃👻 Happy All Hallows Eve
I always thought Halloween was about candy and fun. Sure, Im aware that for some that it holds negative conotations but I never let that stop me from enjoying the day.
Im a Christian everyday. And candy and fun? A blessing added to any day. I didn’t dress up this year but last year I was a cat.
I like that you remind us that Jesus is Lord of everyday.