Halloween Decoration
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Halloween decorations are on everyone's minds as October 31st draws near and host and hostesses want to throw the perfect party. Mothers and children make costumes and plan fun festivals. Doors are garnished with black cats or a window might have a spooky ghost welcoming guests. Outside the front door there might be a mysterious black witch's hat atop a boiling pot of spell binding brew. Students spend much of October making one kind of Halloween decoration or another, and even Sunday school classes will have a Halloween craft time. This fall event and season seem to bring out the creative side of just about everybody.
But, when crafting cats and witch's black hats, is there really much thought given to what this celebration truly signifies? Halloween decorations seem innocent enough, but there is an underlying message or association that Christians should be made aware of. Witchcraft is a major theme with this festival fun and a very popular Halloween decoration is the witch image. Witchcraft has been around since the Middle Ages and continues today. Witchcraft practices include the belief that October 31 is the day that the dead are allowed to roam about the earth. Witches believe in reincarnation and in the power to cast spells, and witches practice various divinations. Scripture strictly forbids these practices. "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." (Deuteronomy 18:10) The black cat is also a popular symbol of the day, and the black cat is associated with witchcraft and reincarnation. Click this link for a cool Halloween Quiz.
Another popular symbol is the jack-o-lantern. To the ancient Irish, the jack-o-lantern, originally a carved turnip, was an image of the damned soul. The carved faces in the turnips, and later pumpkins, were used to frighten away evil spirits that roamed through the streets on the night of the dead, an ancient Celtic belief. While Halloween decorations seem perfectly innocent, Christian believers must be willing to ask themselves to what degree does even a few harmless decorations affect their Christianity. The truth is that all Christians are called to be salt and light to the world, not merely existing beside unbelievers, but salting the wounds and shedding the light of truth in all circumstances. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) The Christian purpose is to glorify God, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." (Isaiah 43:7) Could a Halloween decorations be as innocent as it truly seems?
Many of the religions glorified on this day are in direct opposition with Christ. This is even a day used by Satanic cults as prime for sacrifices. The questions should be: what is a symbol that represents opposing religious activities doing on my door? What are these black and orange decorations teaching those who visit my house about my spiritual walk with Christ? Whom do the Halloween decoration crafts in my Sunday school classroom glorify?
Choosing to celebrate the beautiful fall color and crisp autumn breezes that God has created is a wonderful way to usher in the fall season. Perhaps a fall theme would be a nice alternative to a Halloween decoration theme. Christians can carefully consider what God would have them celebrate by researching scripture and researching the origins of this questionable festival or recognized date. Take this quiz for more information.
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