If we examine the requirements of all religions and compare them to what Jesus has said, we see a stark contrast: salvation by grace through faith or salvation by works through the institutions of man. The Gospel of Jesus Christ stands alone in declaring that there is nothing that we can do to earn God’s favor—except believe in the One that He has sent to save us.

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

During the time that Jesus conducted His earthly ministry, the religious Jews in Israel were not teaching the people the truth about God. Though the Pharisees were charged by the Lord to teach the people the Word of God; instead, they taught the traditions of men. For this reason, men were being lied to and misled in the correct way to approach God and have a relationship with Him.

See Prophecy 192 for a discussion on the “Traditions of the Elders” versus the Law of God.

Jesus brought the people back to a place of simple worship of God without the restrictions of the church or the traditions of men. Jesus told the leaders of Israel that they had made the word of God void or of no effect, by their traditions.

Mark 7:13 you make the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.

Today, many churches that claim to believe in Jesus, also endorse the practices of Halloween and Zombies, which they say are “harmless fun.” The hidden, underlying agenda of these traditions, originates in satanism and the demonic world. The popular television show, “The Walking Dead,” has a large audience that includes many people who also claim to follow Jesus.  I cannot find any place in the scripture where Jesus told those who love Him that they should become friends of death and gore. Jesus came to defeat death and destroy the works of the devil. Today, many Christians are reviving these age-old practices of the pagan world, and they don’t even realize it.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 3 John 11

Subtle traditions

There are many Christians today who believe that they have the right to celebrate Halloween because it is an American tradition. What is not often considered is that this “American tradition” has introduced millions of young children to the occult in greater numbers than any other practice or tradition known to man. By the subtlety of evil fun that Halloween teaches, children learn that witches, zombies, blood, and gore are harmless fun.

It is the testimony of those who began with the subtlety of Halloween and later delved further into the occult, that it was their parents’ celebration of Halloween as a harmless tradition, that opened their minds up to experimentation in the world of the occult.

Today, there are more children killed in ritual sacrifices on Halloween night than any other night of the year.

Former Satanist, Glenn Hobbs describes his own experience during a seven-minute video called “Halloween Trick or Treat,” by Jeremiah Films.[1]

“It’s quite ironic how one group of people are thinking it’s fun, and another group of people are taking human life, and yet there seems to be this wall, and nobody wants to face the facts of what’s really going on.” – Glenn Hobbs

Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, said this:

“While there are some people who may be concerned about the origins of Halloween and its focus on blood, death, horror, and the occult, to millions of youngsters across the nation it has been adopted as a time to pursue scary fun. It is an opportunity to dress up in ghoulish or fanciable costumes, to engage in the fantasy of being a witch or a vampire, ghost, or devil. Eager “trick-or-treaters” solicit candy door to door or bob for apples at Halloween parties. Others brave haunted houses and horror movie marathons, while the more daring visit cemeteries at midnight, play with Ouija boards, and hold seances to contact spirits of the dead.”[2]

Pastor Chuck continues:

“Deuteronomy, chapter 18, spells out God’s position concerning man’s participation in divination, sorcery, or communicating with the dead. Verse 12 states that whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord. By participating in the customs of Halloween, whether in fun or ignorance, we are continuing practices that have been consecrated to Satan. People who love the Lord should stand for separation from these things and not compromise.”[3]

Traditions and the teaching of these acceptable practices by compromising Christians have taught a false gospel to an entire generation

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 …For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? … 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”

If pastors were to take a firm stance against Halloween, more than half of any church would likely leave their congregations and never return. What in the world does Halloween have to do with Jesus Christ? The traditions of men have become so ingrained in the society in which we live today. It would be nearly impossible to dislodge these practices from the hearts of those who consider them harmless traditions.

The best test of any tradition is to try and find any place in the word of God where that tradition is a doctrinal truth. If you cannot, we should not. A person who cannot perceive that there is something seriously wrong with playing with evil and darkness has a significant loss of spiritual discernment.

Because Jesus told the people that what the scribes and Pharisees were teaching the people was in direct conflict with the word of God, their hatred and fear of Jesus grew daily. It was because the religious leaders of Israel feared that they would lose their great positions of authority should the people follow what Jesus said, that these leaders wanted to kill Him.

Telling the truth is ultimately what cost Jesus His life. Because He always spoke the truth, Isaiah prophesied that no deceit would come from the mouth of the Messiah.

The truth was not popular during the time of Jesus, and it is still quite unpopular today. People would rather be told that they are good and on their way to heaven, rather than the truth that they are a sinner, on their way to hell if they do not repent and turn to Jesus Christ. The members of the church would rather hold on to their traditions that serve no purpose in spiritual growth, and actually glorify satan and darkness.

When the truth is spoken, it is offensive and has the same effect on people today as it did when Jesus spoke it 2,000 years ago.

The truth I tried to teach the family of this young man, now lost to darkness, is showing the reality of allowing our kids to observe Halloween and its long-term effects on their lives.

NOTES: 

[1] http://www.jeremiahfilms.com/store/halloween-trick-or-treat.html
[2] Excerpts from the film: ““Halloween Trick or Treat,” by Jeremiah Films, available at The Word for Today, Pastor Chuck Smith.
[3] Ibid.