A Hillsong pastor provides ten different and heretical reasons why Christian should celebrate Halloween. Hillsong. That should be enough to make you say no.

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Abstain from all appearance of evil -- 1Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

https://www.faithwire.com/2019/10/21/spiritual-darkness-is-surrounding-everything-despite-warning-hillsong-pastor-explains-why-you-should-let-your-child-trick-or-treat/

We have written extensively over the years about Halloween. I have heard the tired excuses that pass for arguments. At the end of the day, Christians who want to celebrate are going to celebrate Halloween and you know what? It is not the unpardonable sin but remember that while all might be permissible, all is not beneficial. The fact that we can do something does not mean we should. My writing has largely been to stop Christian Halloween advocates from mangling the bible and our faith to defend their indefensible position. It also has been to warn from a spiritual warfare perspective because while you might think it is adorable to dress your eight year old up as a princess you are planting seeds. You are always teaching your children and you have lost the moral high ground when you allow Halloween while they are growing up. This devotional is in response to a recent article linked above. The title alone made me laugh in heretical irony, "Hillsong Pastor Explains Why You Should Let Your Child Trick-or-Treat, Despite Warning: 'Spiritual Darkness Is Surrounding Everything." Ironically, I guess there is no better advocate for spiritual darkness than a Hillsong Pastor. Buckle up beloved, there's a train wreck up ahead.

"Nathan Finochio, author and pastor at Hillsong Church, is tackling the topic this year, arguing that the word of God allows Christians to redefine everything. In a story shared to Instagram, Finochio listed out 10 reasons parents should let their children trick or treat:

1.Don't instill fear of the world.

2.Don't teach them that the world has more fun.

3.Don't teach them superstition.

4.Don't teach them isolationism.

5.Don't teach them a lack of faith.

6.Teach them common grace -- candy is from God and that to the pure all things are pure.

7.Teach them the redemptive motif -- that we reinterpret culture and give it a new meaning.

8.Teach them that the demonic works by willful agreement, bot accidental consumption.

9.Teach them in but not of, not out and not of.

10.Critique loudly what you see as you walk. Make them brave and discerning, not scared and superstitious." -- Pinocchio

Forgive my snarkiness but God is eternally hilarious and the fact that this Hillsong pastor's name is one letter away from a puppet who could not tell the truth I find incredibly funny. That said, Jesus was snarky with the Pharisees. Elijah was snarky with the prophets of Baal. Hillsong is a giant heretical cesspool. It is a blight upon this world as millions will be led to hell through it. Just saying this to reset perspective if you were upset at my sarcasm. Now onto the commentary!

The word of God allows Christians to redefine everything? I must have missed that bible verse. I think I see Mr. Finochio's nose starting to grow. This is of course a ridiculous statement. Yet no more ridiculous than the ten listed reasons why parents should allow Halloween participation for their children. Let's try to go through these swiftly. First of all, abstaining from Halloween is not a fear of the world issue. It is a fear of God issue. You see, and I know they do not teach you this down at Hillsong, a healthy fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Finochio is trying to prick your ego here to make you feel cowardly for not allowing your children to participate in the Satanic High Holy Day. Secondly, I do not find partaking of evil to be "fun." The problem is in your definition. By the way, if you want to have a costume party in April -- go for it! If you want to give your kids chocolate -- go for it! Beloved, we must realize that Hillsong is the world. It is not the church. They think like the world. They rationalize like the world. They make excuses like the world. It is no wonder that they believe the most evil day of the year is "fun." Thirdly, to claim that opposing Halloween is somehow "superstitious" indicates how woefully unprepared Hillsong is for spiritual warfare. Our battles rage in the heavenlies against principalities. Evil is real. This is said not to fear but to defend. Fourth, the church is supposed to a shining city on a hill, which sounds pretty isolated. Hillsong is the penultimate purpose driven, seeker friendly church so they are more concerned about fitting into the world than saving people out of it. By the way, we should give candy out at Halloween with maybe a tract? That is not isolated. His fifth reason is a joke. So to Hillsong, participating in the Satanic High Holy Day is now a matter of faith? If we have faith, we should do what the bible commands. Read the key verse. Avoid the mere appearance of evil.

Fifth, candy is not from God. Three Musketeers do not grow on trees. Common grace does not apply here. Finochio seems to be throwing everything against the wall in his desperation to make evil sound benign. The more disturbing comment is this notion that to the pure, all things are pure. That is biblically ignorant and frankly a dangerous teaching. By that logic, adultery is pure so long as I am saved. Even the greasy grace of Joseph Prince is not that greasy. To Hillsong however it is. They thought nothing of the Sensual Silent Night performance or the youth pastor "dressing" up as the Naked Cowboy for their Women's Conference. Redemptive motif? Before you start poring over your concordance let me save you the time. This is a Hillsong term, not a biblical term. Nowhere are we instructed to reinterpret culture, which is another dangerous notion. We do not call evil good beloved. We just don't. Finochio's eighth point makes no sense. I assume he is under the impression that we can only participate in demonic works by willful agreement and not by accidental consumption? If so, that is a doctrine of devils. First the notion is wrong. Demonic works can be entered into accidentally and that does not change their nature. Either way, no one is surprised by the evil nature of Halloween. It is a willful choice to celebrate it. There is nothing accidental about it. The ninth reason is just more ridiculousness. We are meant to be in the world but not of it but that does not mean we must partake of every evil it offers. Plus, if we work in the world 365 days a year, are neighbors to the world for the same, it does not mean we are "out of the world" just because we refuse to dress our children up as zombies and send them off begging for candy. His tenth reason is more of the "I am going to redeem this evil day" rhetoric. The reality is that celebrating Halloween and then loudly criticizing all you see to your kids is not brave -- it's hypocritical. There is nothing brave or "discerning" about celebrating Halloween. No matter how much Hillsong disagrees.

'In an interview with Faithwire, Finochio pointed out that while there is nothing wrong with celebrating Halloween, it's the role of a parent to properly teach their children about things like Halloween because spiritual darkness is real and ever-present. "There is spiritual darkness surrounding everything," Finchio stated. "Films, books, politics, and yes, even Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter." "I think humanity is fascinated with the afterlife, with death, with good and evil. And Halloween is a cultural recognition, a sort of strange negotiation with some of these concepts."' - Pinocchio

So let me see if I have this right. Finochio properly admits that spiritual darkness is real and ever-present yet thinks it is ok to celebrate that darkness? Welcome to the idiocy of the purpose driven church. Welcome to Hillsong. As for his examples, does Finochio then think nothing of letting his kids watch blood and gore horror movies or read pornographic books? I mean, we can call culture whatever we want right? He is right that Halloween is a cultural recognition of evil but still says send your kids out! This is beyond absurd!

'He pointed out that while there are still witches, warlocks, and pagans that consider Halloween a high festival, Christians took power away from the dark even ages ago. "This is their last stand, and we actually took it from them a long time ago," he argued. "In the British Isles, it is known that churches were already celebrating All Saints on 1 November at the beginning of the 8th century to coincide with or replace the Celtic festival of Samhain." "Pope Gregory III made All Saints Day official in 837 by appointing November 1st as the official day," he added, "but many historians believe it was just to recognize what was happening in Northern Europe (the Germanies and Britain) with respect to reinterpreting a pagan holiday."' -- Pinocchio

Sigh, just because a Pope decided to compete with Samhain does not mean he took the power away. How do we know? Halloween is still celebrated today and All-Saints Day is simply not. It was not reinterpretation. For the record, it is more than witches, warlocks and pagans that consider Halloween a high festival. Its is Satanists! It is not a festival but their High Holy Day. Altering that day into "Reformation Day" or having a "Trunk and Treat" does not redeem anything because you are still celebrating the day!

'The importance of teaching kids history. Finochio pointed out that it is also important for parents to teach their children the history of different holidays, and the real evil that takes place in the world. "Kids don't learn because parents don't talk," he added. "All of life should be a running commentary for the Christian parent."' - Pinocchio

Yes! Real evil takes place in the world! Halloween is of the world! I agree that all of life should be a running commentary for the Christian parent. Start by teaching them why Christians should not celebrate the day the world celebrates evil! This is the steaming pile of heresy that is Hillsong. To have the nerve to pretend to be standing against evil while promoting Christians take part in Halloween.

'Finochio explained that a lot of modern Christian holidays fall on or near dates that were once pagan festivals." Christianity, rather than shying from the roots of things, baptized the pagan festivals and gave them new meaning," he added. "This is the Christian tradition with which the angry secular academic world is so incensed at." "Jesus wasn't born in December," he explained. "The Winter Solstice, a festival held wide across cultures in the Northern Hemisphere, occurred around December 21, the shortest day of the year. It was believed in many pagan traditions that the birth of the next year occurred on the 22nd. And as meats had been slaughtered and cured, and ales had had time to ferment--essentially that winter stores were at their absolute peak in preparation for the coming months--a party was in order." 'Finochio also pointed out that in general, Christians are good at celebrating "The sweetness and bitterness of life at the exact same time." "Seems that the real heresy of the Age is the refusal and theological inability to do both simultaneously," he stated. "And a heresy is just a truth out of balance." "October 31 is 'All Hallows Eve.' It's when the liturgical celebration begins at Vespers that night. This is the Christian tradition. We have the fascination with death a new meaning--an awareness and thankfulness for the great Saints gone before us. The Easter Bunny and chocolate eggs have nothing to do with Easter either, but that's actually a Lutheran tradition."' -- Pinocchio

Ehh, not quite. What happened is that Christianity offered competing holidays and as it became the dominant religion, pagan holidays stopped being celebrated by the general populace. While it is true that Jesus was not born in December and that chocolate and eggs have nothing to do with the resurrection, those two Americana holidays are different in that they are firmly rooted in Christian orthodoxy. Now, I personally would not entertain Santa or the bunny but the holidays themselves are different than Halloween in that they are not celebrating evil. I love that the unbelieving world stops twice a year to celebrate the birth of Christ and His resurrection! Pay strict attention to the casual nature of Hillsong's heresy. They define heresy as simply "truth out of balance." Bzzzt! Thanks for playing! That is most assuredly NOT what heresy means. Heresy is not truthful at all! It is teachings that are opposed to Christ and His word! The real heresy here beloved belongs to Hillsong.

'Finochio's advice for parents that are nervous about the holiday. Even though Finochio does not believe trick or treating is inherently wrong, he encourages parents who are nervous about allowing their children to participate, to sit it out. "Don't teach your children double-mindedness, anxiety, and doubt," he explained. "Romans 14 teaches us to be fully convinced and to do things from faith. If you have strong faith, you eat and drink; if you have a weak conscience, you abstain. But the point is not to stay weak, is it? Get a revelation of the Gospel!" Lastly, Finochio points out that God, and one's faith in God, has the power to redefine all things. "Christianity doesn't stop feasts, it reinterprets them," he said. "God never put an end to the feasts of Israel because of excesses. Paul didn't shut down Prophecy in Corinth because of abuse of Gifts." "Historically, Christianity has this incredible ability to live in the world but not be of it by imparting strength and stability and meaning. If there is joy and mirth, we repurpose it. We drink to remember, not to forget. But by God we drink. Scrooge was converted to the punchbowl, not from it." "Joy belongs to us."' - Pinocchio

Unbelievable. Those who rightly feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit to not partake in the works of darkness are labeled "weak" by Hillsong. If Pinocchio would ever get a revelation of the Gospel he might realize the heretic he is and repent. The bible assures me however that will not happen. Hillsong's destruction was set long ago and does not sleep. Telling your kids to avoid evil and then dressing them up for Halloween is the definition of being double minded. Notice the cleverness of the ending heresy. God can redefine whatever He wants because He is God. We however cannot do such because we are not God. Our faith does not have the power to redefine whatever we want. We do not reinterpret whatever we want. It is an asinine and dangerous teaching to say we can. It is a literal license to sin and simply redefine that sin. The feasts of Israel were not about excess and were specific to the Israelites! Halloween is specific to the devil! Talk about an exercise in missing the point! Paul did not shut down prophecy but he did set parameters up. How many could and under what conditions. Without an interpreter, there was no allowance of prophecy at all! Lastly, we drink to remember and by God we drink? Beloved, Hillsong is a cesspool of heresy. Halloween is a satanic holiday. This article managed to prove both brilliantly. God uses all things for His glory and His ends. Hallelujah!

Reverend Anthony Wade -- October 23, 2019

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.