In This Issue:
Halloween
Volume: 1018 September 15, 2025
Theme: Halloween
Sunday School Teachers & Preachers: There are hundreds of free lessons at http://www.openthoumineeyes.com/lessons.html and http://www.devotionsfromthebible.com/. The commentaries for each New Testament chapter can also be used for lessons at http://www.openthoumineeyes.com/blog/. You can be assured that all material uses only the KJV (most Sunday School material cannot claim that)!
More than 2,000 years ago, the pagan Celts celebrated the end of the summer and the arrival of cold winter. The day was celebrated on November 1, the beginning of their new year1.
The celebration served as a poignant reminder to many that winter would claim numerous lives. On the night before their New Year, October 31, the Celts believed that on that day, Samhain, the dead returned to the Earth. It was believed that those spirits would create trouble and destruction. Death was the theme of that day2.
It was also believed that the Druids, the Celtic priests, could make prophecies about the future on that day. The priests built huge fires where people burnt crops and sacrificed animals to the Celtic “gods.” People attending the festival wore costumes, often featuring animal heads and skins, and tried to tell others’ futures.
Around A.D. 43, the Romans took control of the Celtic territories. Over time, they combined the days commemorating the Roman Day of the Dead and their day honoring their false goddess of fruit and trees (Pomona, which was symbolized by apples) with the celebration of Samhain.
On 60 A. D., Catholic Pope Boniface IV established the feast of All Martyrs Day, honoring Christian martyrs. Later, Pope Gregory III included all saints and martyrs, and changed the day from May 13 to November 12.
The influence of Catholic ”Christianity” spread to Celtic areas. As Catholicism has done throughout history, it absorbed the pagan Celtic beliefs into the teachings of the Catholic church, most likely to make the religion more encompassing and more powerful.
Later, November 1 became “All Souls Day,” “All Saints Day,” and ”All Hallows Eve” to honor the dead. Eventually, the day was changed to “Halloween” and was still celebrated as was done during the Celtic Samhain. Bonfires, costumes, and parades were part of the celebration. Some dressed up as saints and devils. It was soon celebrated on October 312.
As immigration transported many who upheld the Catholic/Celtic tradition of Halloween to America, the practice spread. It was not accepted in New England because the Bible’s influence was too profound, and they recognized it as an ungodly event. However, it did thrive in Maryland (“Mary Land, named after Mary in the Bible, who Catholics venerated.”)
As Halloween spread across America, that day’s traditions evolved. However, many of the early practices remain, including bobbing for apples, giving treats, scaring people, costumes, and concern for the dead in the afterlife.
Today, in many areas, Halloween is celebrated more than Christmas. The day often glorifies things God is against, including the occult, and even has a theme of fear.
Scary things, such as ghosts, devils, and unwholesome things, are emphasized on that day. Professing witches commemorate Halloween more than their other festivals and days they remember.
Halloween is a day that remembers and celebrates traditional pagan beliefs. It should have no business being observed by professing Christians. It glorifies all things that a Christian should avoid.
Halloween:
- Incites fear. We are to respect and rely on God. We are not to be afraid of what could happen in this world. Fear breeds trust in oneself. Our eyes and reliance should be on Him, not on the things of this world or those that God opposes.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Psalm 37:7 Also: Proverbs 24:19.
- Glorifies death and makes it appealing. But, for many, death will be eternal agony in Hell and later in the everlasting Lake of Fire. Halloween desensitizes many so that they will not fear death, which they should if they are not saved (John 3:3).
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:14
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15 Also: Rev. 20:10.
- Fills one’s mind with wicked, ungodly thoughts and actions.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
“The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.” Proverbs 15:26
- Witchcraft.
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Exodus 22:18 In the Old Testament, they were to put witches to death. Today, many dress up as witches and even venerate them. God hated the sin then and hates it today.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” I Samuel 15:23. Witchcraft is a sin, and we are to stay away from it. We should certainly not venerate it or make it appealing, as is done on Halloween, in movies, and in other forms of entertainment.
- Fortune tellers and talking to spirits:
“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:2
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:31
“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:27
“And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers.” Micah 5:12 A soothsayer is one who makes futuristic predictions, often from supernatural sources.
Also read: Deuteronomy 18:10-11, Leviticus 20:6.
- Wizards:
“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.” Leviticus 20:6
“And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachil 3:5 Also: Leviticus 19:31, I Samuel 28:3, 9.
- God commands not to have any part with the occult.
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer (sorcery, divination).” Deuterobomy 18:10-11
“Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.” Leviticus 19:26
Halloween has origins in ungodly behaviors and practices. Christians should not elevate it by using it as entertainment or celebrating what God forbids.
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I Thessalonians 5:22 Also Philippians 4:8.
Many justify participating in the celebration of Halloween by claiming “It’s just harmless fun. We are not encouraging people to be involved in those sins.” Maybe so, but you are showing people, especially the youth, that it is an acceptable activity.
Many folks have their first exposure to the occult from the “innocent” participation of glorifying things that God is against. Halloween can put ideas in minds to consider one day. If it is okay to do things God hates on one day of the year do not be surprised if that exposure to those things becomes more than a thought in someone’s mind. Do not celebrate a day that glorifies activities God is against!
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
2 https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-halloween
“Christian, you are on the winning side. Why are you doing what the losing side does?” — Brinkworth
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” II Corinthians 6:17
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I Thessalonians 5:22