It is time again for false Christian leaders to lead the faithful down the cemetery path that leads to the High Holy Day of Satanism...

::::::::

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the churchwhom you are to judge?God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." -- 1Corinthians 5: 12-13 (ESV)

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/behind-the-lens/67567-the-halloween-predicament

It is that time of the year again beloved. It is the time that Christians will seek any validation to participate in the most openly evil event in this country. To support this each year there inevitably will be one or two Christian celebrities who will come out and provide the necessary cover. We are of course talking about Halloween. Steeped in druidic and satanic tradition, Halloween is the one day of the year claimed by those who openly serve the devil. It is quite simply a day Christians should want no part of it. There is absolutely nothing pure or innocent about it. It cannot be redeemed. You cannot decree or declare it away. One year Mark Driscoll wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post defending Christians who celebrate Halloween by using the "relevance" argument. Driscoll argued that he wanted to be relevant to the community around him. How sad that he never learned as a pastor your job is the opposite. You are supposed to create a shining city on a hill. Something different for those looking to escape Sodom. Driscoll would fall from grace a few years later although he has slinked back into the charismatic landscape recently. Another year it was Christian music star Natalie Grant who wrote an article defending it using the "I just want to dress my eight year girl up as a princess" argument. The point I made then was simply that when your child is 14 and dressing up as a zombie from the Walking Dead or 18 and dressing up as a Goth witch remember that you were the one who taught them that it was ok.

Beloved, I know this is not an easy subject and I openly admit I approach it from a very easy standpoint of not having children. I understand the peer pressure. I understand that we don't want to seem like the crazy Christian on the block but we are supposed to be different. We are supposed to stand out. Parenting is difficult. Sometimes it requires the hard conversations that they may not understand at the age of eight. They will remember that you stood for something when they are older though. This year's faux Christian celebrity to stand up for Satan is none other than Darren Wilson, Director of the heretical Holy Ghost movies and purveyor of all that is false and wrong with Christianity today. Now, since Darren plays dress up all year as a Christian, it is not surprising to me that he sees very little wrong with dressing up on Halloween. Let us reason together beloved and review his defenses as presented in the link above:

"Ah yes, it's that time of the year again, when spiritual battle lines are drawn, friends open up to other friends in secret, hoping they won't judge them for what they're planning to do, and the kids aren't exactly sure what to think because they just want candy and don't really care where it comes from. I'm talking, of course, about Halloween." -- Darren Wilson

Where Driscoll went for relevance and Grant for moral relativism, the chosen foundational argument for Wilson is to butcher the proper Biblical understanding of judgment. It is not that Halloween participating Christians fear judgment from their brethren. They fear the truth. Somewhere deep inside they already know what they are doing is wrong. If they have the indwelt Holy Spirit it is impossible not to. What they are looking for is validation and confirmation that they are doing the right thing when they already know they are not. Are we talking the unpardonable sin here? Of course not. The Bible warns us to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness for a reason though and we readily offer up our children for this one which is something I just do not get.

So it is not judgment that they fear beloved but the truth. The actual truth about judgment is that we are supposed to judge our brothers and sisters in the church. Wait a minute preacher! Are you saying we should judge people? No beloved -- God says it in the key verses today. You see the Church at Corinth was having the same problem the church today has. It loved judging the lost but defended the most unbiblical practices within its own walls. The case in this chapter is a congregant who was sleeping with his father's wife! That is almost as scandalous as dressing your eight year old up in that cute devil costume and sending him out into the streets to ring bells across your neighborhood begging for candy. Almost. As the key verses clearly state we are not to judge those on the outside of salvation. That judgment is reserved for God. It is those on the inside of the church that we are responsible to and for. We are our brother's keeper. If not them then who? We lovingly correct of course but it is not love to turn a blind eye or minimize the seriousness of this conversation as Wilson will continue to do:

"All across America, Christians will be faced with a decision to make at the end of October, and while many won't give what they will choose a second thought, a good many others will have some internal angst about what to do. Which door will you choose? The church "harvest party" or traditional trick-or-treating with your kids? The harvest party, of course, is designed as a safe, spiritually sterile alternative to traditional Halloween that many churches will put on because, let's face it, the kids must have their candy." -- Darren Wilson

Let me proffer the notion that kids do not have to have their candy. That parenting means sometimes the denial of things our children want. It is ironic though because Wilson follows the false teachings of Bethel Church and Bill Johnson who essentially preaches this about us and Father God. Instead of candy it is whatever we want on this earth. Prosperity, money, fame, or healing. As a believer Darren Wilson believes that "kids must have their candy" and the Father's job is to provide it in unquestioning loyalty. The other problem here is the false dichotomy presented. When your premise is that kids must have their candy then you are forced to choose between two unrighteous choices. The church activities designed to mimic Halloween are just as bad. Is it so much to ask our kids to not do as the world does for day out of the year? Is that too much of a cross to bear? Realize again that in the theology of Darren Wilson, God is there to serve us and in this analogy he is using, the parents are there to serve the whims of the child. The connection is obvious and palpable. Wilson continues:

"Let me be clear right from the outset. What you choose to do with your family on Halloween is entirely between you and God. Romans 14:2-3 makes this clear when it states, "For one has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Do not let him who eats despise him who does not eat, and do not let him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has welcomed him." Paul is not talking about vegetarians judging meat-eaters here. The example he's giving carried enormous spiritual significance to many people in his culture, similar to the Halloween debate in ours. So his words should be considered very carefully." -- Darren Wilson

I understand that when someone has so little regard for Scripture that they usually cannot divide it properly. The comparison between Halloween and the recently converted Jewish believers is inane. The former Jews were having a hard time letting go of some of the ceremonial law, which Christ nailed to the cross. It was ritual and habit. Peter had the same problem until Jesus visited him in a dream in the Book of Acts. There are bound to be transitional issues when someone is converted. Former Catholics may still cling to some of their traditions when first saved as well. Becoming saved is not like turning on a light switch. It takes time for the Holy Spirit to break down some of the things that make us weak in faith, which is who Paul is addressing in Romans 14. He is also speaking against the sense of superiority that some Christians have when addressing other believers who may not be as advanced as they are theologically. We make a routine habit of devouring our own. Paul is saying do not get into the foolish arguments. Leave room for the Holy Spirit to work. What does that have to do with Halloween? Absolutely nothing. Perhaps if you had a new believer who has always participated in Halloween I could see a parallel. I would agree that there may be little point to a foolish argument trying to convince them of their peril. That does not mean that what they choose to do regarding Halloween is simply between them and God. That is a cop out. So I agree that we should consider Paul's words very carefully but only within the proper context:

The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. -- Romans 14: 6-7 (ESV)

The only way Darren Wilson even has a relatively coherent point is if the Christians celebrating Halloween are doing so for the glory of the Lord and that is simply silly. Don't get me wrong -- I have heard such ludicrous arguments. People claiming they are redeeming the holiday. There is nothing to redeem it from! It has always been associated with pure evil. Research the roots! Saying, "that's not what it means to me" is an intellectually and spiritually vacuous argument. This is considered the devils birthday. It is celebrated as the High Holy Day in Satanism. There is no day of the year that there sees more murder, crime, and evil perpetrated than on Halloween. Maybe if you organized a network of intercessors and prayed all day you can make some kind of a redemptive argument but not by actually participating in the day! Neither can you make a redemptive argument by rearranging the deck chairs in the Titanic by having a "Harvest Day" or "Trunk or Treat." Kids are not stupid. They know they are celebrating Halloween, disguised of course. Wilson continues:

"We live in a society that has increasingly become obsessed with opinions. Not only does everyone have one on just about everything, but due to the canvasing of social media, we must make sure that the whole world hears our particular opinion on any given subject, and indeed, we consider it our natural right to voice our opinions to everyone within earshot. (And yes, the irony that I am writing an opinion blog about opinions is not lost on me.) But as I've said before, just because you have an opinion on something doesn't mean you should always share it." -- Darren Wilson

At first blush this just seems like an innocuous if not pointless point but what Wilson is actually trying to do is reduce this discussion to a difference between two human points of view. In a battle of opinion, we can always more easily sin or do things contrary to God. It is when you bring in the mirror of Scripture that we see the reflection of our own deceit. Wilson's essential argument here is the people who oppose Halloween for Christians are merely expressing their personal opinion and that is untrue. We are expressing a Biblical opinion. By the way that expression is one of concern and love, not judgment or condemnation. If I see my brother walking into a burning building it is love that compels me to try and stop him. In Darren Wilson's theology that brother is just on his own journey and who am I to stop where he is going. He thinks it is love because he cannot see the building is on fire -- or that he helped light the fuse.

"Some Christians make a fun day of trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods, dressing their kids up in silly costumes, watching them gleefully run from a door after having just received candy from their neighbor, enjoying the crisp fall weather and walking around with other friends and family. The whole neighborhood is out together, and everyone is having a great time. Of course there's always that one house that just goes way overboard and is obviously too frightening for your little ones, so you just avoid that one. Plenty of other houses, obviously. And your kids get home, sweaty and tired, and they dump their sugar-laced treasures on the floor and begin the all-important process of sorting, taking inventory and trading. And you stand watch over it all, eyeing one of those mini-Snickers. Other Christians dress their kids up, but they head to church, where haystacks are set out, games are prepped and ready to go, prizes are piled high and the candy is given freely. The kids laugh with their friends, you sip coffee with other parents, smiling as your kid stumbles in the three-legged race, and you head home afterwards, sweaty and tired, and the sorting, inventory and trading begins as well." -- Darren Wilson

If the argument is that Halloween can go off without a hitch and kids can have a good time you will receive no counter argument from me. Of course that is really not the point. Forgive the analogy but many people in the world visit a strip club because everyone has a great time but that doesn't mean that as a Christian it is somehow acceptable. We know enough to know that going to a strip club would not be right but celebrating the devil's birthday? Sign my kids up and I'll sow the costumes! What are we teaching them beloved? What level of compromise are we willing to show our kids we will make all to pursue the god of refined sugar? Sorry but the argument that you can have a good time is not a Christian perspective. It is pure carnality.

"Halloween has traditionally been a flashpoint for Christians because many hold very strong opinions about it. An opinion is fine, as long as it is used mostly for your own behavior. When it is used to bully or intimidate or pressure someone else who maybe shares a different opinion than you, it becomes sin. I've had conversations with friends of mine who, for the life of them, can't remotely understand why any Christian would even entertain the thought of celebrating Halloween by trick-or-treating with their kids. To them, it's so obviously Satan's holiday, and so obviously a dark spiritual holiday (Don't you realize how many sacrifices happen on Halloween?) that to partake would be the same as endorsing occult activity." -- Darren Wilson

No Darren. It is a flashpoint for Christians because God holds such strong opinions about evil. The argument then that the possession of opinion leads to sin has to be one of the most ridiculous things Darren Wilson has ever said and that is saying a lot. So is the Christian argument Darren Wilson is making that Christians should never voice Biblical truths? At Pentecost, Peter addressed the 3000 and told them his opinion about what they had done to Jesus. When Paul stood in front of Herod he presented his opinion about Christ. The Bible says the Word is profitable for teaching and reproof. Does Darren Wilson even own a Bible? I might add that the notion that Christians are bullying other Christians regarding Halloween is equally absurd. For the record, let's clear up some of the muddying Darren Wilson has engaged in here. There are not two "opinions" at war here. There is God and the devil. There is what is Scriptural and what is cultural. There is what is spiritual and what is carnal. All Darren Wilson has tried to do is lower the spiritual arguments to his carnal level so he can make this a simple choice between two fleshly opinions. It is not. Wilson cannot even be honest here about things that are known and accepted in the world. It is Satan's holiday. The word holiday comes from holy day and that is what this is to Satanists. It is not obvious only to us but to anyone who is honest.

"At the same time, I have talked to many Christians who don't view the day as spiritual at all, but rather view it as a cultural holiday. Yes, there are goblins and witches and monsters, but there are goblins and witches and monsters in Narnia, too, and we don't stop our kids from reading that. It's enjoyable to get out once a year and meet your neighbors, be a part of the neighborhood and see what everyone is wearing. To them, turning the day into an overtly spiritual, satanic ceremony is laughable and silly." -- Darren Wilson

Yes, because the heart is wickedly deceitful above anything ever created. We can convince ourselves anything is righteous. That is why the Bible says woe to those who call evil good. It does happen. It does not matter if they are deceived though. The only thing that matters is the truth of God's Word. It is true that Narnia has goblins, witches and monsters but they are represented correctly as evil. There is no celebration of them in the Chronicles of Narnia. No one desires to dress up like them. As for the neighborhood argument, if the only day of the year that you see your neighbors is Halloween I would suggest that you find a new neighborhood. The final point he tries to make here simply highlights his ignorance. People are not turning Halloween into an overtly spiritual, satanic ceremony. It already is one. So laugh at it and dismiss it but you do so only in your own witlessness. Wilson concludes his scary discourse:

"Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, always remember that your convictions are your convictions. Scripture gives us very clear instructions for times like this, and my prayer as that we can be obedient in what God is asking of us. If you want trick-or-treat, have a blast. If you want to attend a harvest party because you can't stand all the dark imagery, have a blast. Just don't let your personal conviction become an offense, which then leads you down the road of judgment and condemnation of others. Because if you go there, you're just as bad as the very thing you're condemning." -- Darren Wilson

No Darren my beliefs are my beliefs and they come from the Word of God. If you are a Christian, we should share those beliefs. Convictions come from the Holy Spirit when we violate His Word. Now it is true that everyone is at different maturity levels and many in the church are not actually saved so there are no convictions. Many in this discussion will be buoyed by Darren Wilson assuring them there is nothing wrong with celebrating an evil, evil High Holy Day. For the last time beloved this is not my personal conviction. This is what the Bible says over and over again. I do not say it to condemn anyone but merely to say what sayeth the Lord. Darren Wilson is right about one thing. You ultimately decide what you will do. Just do not pretend that God endorses every opinion. Ultimately it is not my opinion or yours that will matter. Only God's. Is celebrating Halloween a grievous sin? No I do not think so but it opens your family and children up to a very dark side of the spiritual realm we know as believers is very real. It is not innocent beloved. There is no argument against the fact that at its core it is a compromise and that ultimately leads to other compromise. That should frighten us as Christians more than ghosts and goblins.

Reverend Anthony Wade -- October 4, 2017

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.