Halloween is a spooky holiday where children go trick or treating, dressed up as characters from horror movies and eating candy. However, some Christians are concerned about its timing – and have asked schools, churches and homes to cancel or alter their celebrations.
Many conservative Christians view Halloween as a pagan holiday and urge believers to abstain from celebrating it. Additionally, they wish to dispel any negative stereotypes associated with it.
1. They dress up as satanists.
Halloween is a time when Satanists can express their devotion to Satanism by dressing up as their favorite devil. This serves as both an opportunity for them to demonstrate their devotion and share their beliefs with others.
Although some might imagine satanists wearing black cloaks and drinking blood, they are actually just regular people who feel mistreated by the world’s religious establishment. Satanism is an esoteric religion that emphasizes freedom, knowledge, fearlessness and power. It lacks a god or church but shares many rituals and traditions similar to Christianity.
Anton Szandor LaVey founded the Satanic religion in 1966, and soon after released The Satanic Bible – which went on to sell over one million copies and remains in print today.
LaVey held that the Church of Satan believed there to be no such thing as heaven or hell, and people should be judged according to their merit. Additionally, he believed all races, genders and sexualities are equal and allowed them to practice any religion they desired.
He does, however, believe that satanic rituals can be hazardous and should be avoided at all costs. He asserts that “satanic activity is as prevalent in our society as ever before,” thus cautioning people to be aware of this risk.
Many satanists don costumes inspired by the Bible and other traditional mythology. For instance, The Church of Satan emphasizes using horns and a pointed tail.
This depiction of Satan in literature is consistent with how John Milton’s 17th century epic poem Paradise Lost told the tale of a rebellious angel named Satan.
In modern times, however, many have come to identify with Satan in various ways. Some even see it as a way of finding peace and comfort during times of uncertainty and chaos.
2. They do satanic rituals.
Halloween is a holiday that many people look forward to and celebrate. It’s when people dress up as their favorite characters and go trick-or-treating at local businesses. Families also take time out of the day to visit haunted houses and enjoy other activities together.
Some people take a different view on this holiday. They believe there to be an evil side to it and that it involves satanic rituals.
Satanists are individuals who practice witchcraft and believe they are working for Satan himself.
On Halloween, Satanists often perform rituals that involve killing animals or drinking blood.
Some satanists will also engage in human sacrifice.
Both groups, The Church of Satan and Temple of Set, proclaim to be Satanists.
These groups are not true Satanists, but rather involved with satanic rituals.
Some who claim to be Satanists believe they have been hypnotized and have suppressed memories from their pasts.
In 1980, a Canadian psychiatrist published a book about one of his patients who claimed she had suppressed memories and was involved in satanic rituals. The title of the book, Michelle Remembers, became immensely successful and sold millions of copies worldwide.
The author of the book hypnotized his patient and was able to elicit memories of her parent’s involvement in a satanic cult.
After this book was published, a widespread perception of Satanic ritual abuse spread throughout society – known as SRAS (Satanic Ritual Abuse Scare).
Over time, the SRAS became a sensation and many believed it to be true. This created an extremely fearful and dangerous atmosphere in the United States.
Additionally, false accusations led to the incarceration of many innocent individuals.
The false reports of a Satanic cult spread widespread fear and destruction, ultimately leading to the deaths of many innocent individuals. Ultimately, however, this fear proved to be entirely false.
3. They go to parties.
Halloween is a night of horror and superstition, yet many who celebrate it don’t even know that its roots lie in an ancient Celtic pagan festival. At that time, witches, ghosts, and other supernatural entities were believed to roam the earth looking for victims.
Today, Christians must exercise caution when it comes to Halloween. We should be wise stewards of God’s resources and therefore steer clear of sinful Halloween parties and take extra caution with our children.
But we should never be afraid to use the dark side as an opportunity to share the gospel with friends and neighbors who are not yet believers in Christ. We must reach out with biblical truth about God, His Word, His wrath, and the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ for repentant sinners (Romans 2:14-16).
Christians’ evangelism efforts are enabled by their conscience, which the Bible affirms is “a gift from God” (Romans 2:20). Therefore, Christians should use their consciences to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to those around them and encourage their neighbors to do the same.
We should encourage our friends to attend church on Halloween, as Jesus is the light of the world and life-giver (John 1:4-8). Churches should provide safe, wholesome, family-friendly options for celebrating Halloween together.
Finally, we can use Halloween as an opportunity to share Christ’s loving sacrifice on the cross with those who don’t know Him. We can ask our neighbors, co-workers and classmates if they believe in ghosts or spirits, then share the reality of this world and our need for salvation through Jesus Christ.
We must obey God and show mercy to those who are in darkness, yet also take care to shield our children from the evil that Satanists strive to spread through their satanic activities and debauchery on Halloween.
4. They drink.
Halloween is a wonderful holiday for adults and kids alike, full of trick or treating, costume contests and candy corn galore! But one of the best parts about it? Getting out from behind your couch to interact with others in an informal setting – particularly at neighborhood taverns where it can feel like being part of one big neighborhood hangout! Plus it’s an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones too! So what should be on your menu this spooky season? Luckily, your local tavern will certainly deliver!
