Some Thoughts on Halloween
As We Wrestle Through This ... Once Again ....
Each year, the skies above darken as little ones approach our doorways, and we have to figure out the same old thing year after year. What to do with Halloween. Well, what do we do with Halloween?
And why does it matter? Does it matter?
It helps to know something of the Jehovah’s Witnesses on this one, though I know I talk about them a lot. Their doctrine has filtered down through the collective consciousness so that people don’t know that much of what passes as novel thought is really new iterations of what they have preached for years.
They are concerned on the topic of origins. What is a thing is will be determined by where it comes from and not what it is currently used for. And so, they use some of these pre-determined conclusions to get you to behave a certain way.
It comes through as a GOTCHA! Ha-ha! You can’t answer me.
Yawn.
I’ve spent my whole life fielding these kind of questions.
I find the tactic old and tired, salesmansy, and contrived. By asking you seemingly impossible inquiries you don’t have the answer to, I can make you think you’re doing something wrong. And in doing so, I can steer you to my way of thinking.
Except when speaking to atheists and pagans, which is a whole different topic right there. They are harder to make budge, because they typically have some bearing on the whole notion. We will touch on it. Just later.
The point is that the whole discussion comes about with an agenda. It isn’t pure and isn’t a search for purity but is done as a means to control and subvert others to their own way of thinking and that for monetary and other benefit.
It’s a gateway into stupidity that will leave you isolated and weary and all alone and wrecked. But few people ever see it, because they don’t have the misfortune of ever having gone through the looking glass.
And as a cult recruit gathering tactic, it sometimes works. Well enough, anyway, to keep at it again and again, year after year. That is the whole modus operandi. Tell people something they think they do not know, some peripheral thing and make it largely important when it is not.
Boom. You got yourself a new follower. Now you can sit on a pedestal and run their life and call what is theirs your own. Mission accomplished. Now on to your next attempt.
Next.
What does this have to do with Halloween?
Because.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have conversations door-to-door with unsuspecting householders and introduce discussions that are techniques meant to dismantle their current religious beliefs and connections to friends and family.
And they will use certain topics to cast society into a black and white light. Either good or bad. Right or wrong. And so, if someone is adhering to an activity deemed off-limits, it means that person is forbidden from contact. Or you may use them only as a project for conversion.
As a small child in the early 80s, their arguments were fringe. Most people had not heard them yet. But as time passed, these proliferated in the door-to-door ministry and in conversations with family members and co-workers.
Everywhere they went, Jehovah’s Witnesses were encouraged to begin these debates with others. Little is it known that every Thursday night, we had the Theocratic Ministry School as a mandatory meeting where we practice engaging in rebuttals to common objections from outsiders.
We went over these points repeatedly so as to be ready when the time comes. Therefore, the talk you are having with one of our “brothers and sisters” as they are called, are hardly spontaneous.
These have been rehearsed a thousand times.
And so.
The facts that people come up with about holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, and Halloween are often taken in their entirety from Witness material, though most don’t realize it.
These presentations given to us by people usually aim to serve one of several purposes.
One is that you may have your clever atheist or pagan tell us we are not really Christians because we participate in these traditions.
Another is that someone will tell you that God does not approve of these celebrations, because they are pagan in origin.
Still another are those who are concerned that any semblance of acceptance means we put ourselves in danger of spiritual compromise.
In the first case, that of witches or others telling you your faith is suspect, don’t believe them. They don’t really have your best interest at heart and do this only to make themselves seem smart. Often, it’s also a ruse to tell you why they aren’t Christian, pointing to the inconsistency of Christians as a reason not to join our ranks.
In the second place, the preoccupation with origins is straight out of the Jehovah’s Witness playbook. It’s meant to imbue the listener with abject fear that they are risking the Lord’s disapproval.
Often, it cuts straight to the quick of emotion, short-circuiting their thought processes.
This is intentional.
It’s why the Jehovah’s Witnesses do it. The impact is strong. We don’t want to be in league with the Devil. And so, we’re willing to cut all ties to this thing we’ve been a part of, perhaps even to the point where we’re vulnerable to starting a new religion.
The last group is probably the one I’m most sympathetic with. I understand not wanting believers to put themselves at risk. And there are hazards. I believe this is a nuanced topic and will discuss this more in a moment.
Firstly, I want to talk about origins. This is usually adopted as the end-all for any activity Christians are interested in. But where does it come from? If it’s not the holiest in its genesis, then it’s easily cordoned off as off-limits.
Because we want to be safe from whatever that is.
And in the Jehovah’s Witness religion, it’s why we do not celebrate birthdays. Mother’s Day. Easter. President’s Day. And, though they tried to also cast wedding rings into the same lot as these other customs, that proved to be fruitless, as people refused to relegate this symbol to the dust bin.
And through the years, I have heard all manner of explanations as to the true meaning of Halloween. But at the base of them was this: Nimrod.
He was a mighty hunter before the Lord.
Our Bible had stated he was a mighty hunter in opposition to the Lord. Therefore, it has to be known that he was the first proponent of false religion in the land. And this is the beginning of what become the mystery religions associated with Babylon. The rebellion of The Tower of Babel is likewise associated with this person.
And so, it is part of legend that he dies around November 1 or what is considered to be that date later on. He is deified and referred to as Tammuz. In scripture, it does refer to the observance of this yearly ritual.
“Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.” * Ezekiel 8:14
This practice was linked in our literature to the Halloween festivals throughout the world that regretted the death of the one responsible for false worship. And therefore, it would stand to reason, we are not to take part.
The other point brought up has to do with dangers. Devout Christians will point and say that scary or demonic costumes or house decorations that show a fascination with the dead are playing with fire.
This argument is easier to sum up probably than any other, as the gist is that light is to have nothing to do with the dark. They would tell us that we are inviting trouble by making room one day of the year to display ugliness and “hold hands” with the world.
This is an issue that is put forth by people of any religious background affirming Christianity and is not relegated only to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
To the point of origins, I will say this: what a thing was and now is are not the same thing. The beginnings of all points of our language, for example, are not what they are now.
The purpose of words and items change over the years. Nothing stays the same. It’s why we virtually need translations when reading Shakespeare even though, ostensibly, what is spoken is English. What very often matters is a thing’s intention and the heart posture of the person.
One example is men’s and women’s clothing. How men dressed in the 1700s and styles today are different. In ancient times, men wore long robes. Women wear pants cut to their form, whereas in the past, they did not.
Even so, some will accuse women of cross-dressing when they are, in fact, not.
As times progress, the question on whether or not something is sin also changes. When Peter had been told all foods were now clean, it was no longer a violation of God’s standard to partake of pork or shrimp. The task accomplished by their prohibition had been accomplished.
Because there is so much manipulation of those among us who are likely the most sincerely motivated to serve God, I do think it’s important to note the distinction that it is what something means now that matters.
I think that others like to impart belief and intentions and worship to people who do not mean something a certain way just because maybe people once did and also maybe the witches down the street still do.
I know this would be enough for someone to declare Halloween off-limits since it can be taken that way. If you were a Jehovah’s Witness, they would scare you off Mother’s Day because, at one time, people allegedly worshipped the Mother. There were cults dedicated to admonishing the fertile wombs of goddesses and offering sacrifices.
Again, I say allegedly, because some of this is stretched thinner than pizza dough spinning on a baker’s finger.
And I doubt many Christians will follow suit and stop sending a card to their Mother once annually. But you can see where the cut-off point varies from person to person.
Many Satanists like to tell us that Halloween is their high holy day and that if we dress up for trick-or-treating that we, too, are unwittingly in sync with them once a year.
Pagans likewise may say that it’s an important day for them. And while there once was a time when I would heed these statements as evidence that I needed to turn tail, I no longer take advice about how to be a Christian from those opposed.
I do not allow others to tell me what I am intending or worshipping when they could not possibly know. A kind of legalism emerges from being constrained by those who care nothing for Christianity. I don’t do it anymore. I don’t give credence to what they do, and I see it as manipulation.
Those who once practiced Wicca and are now Christians often may shy away from Halloween, and that’s okay.
When I was first saved, I would not attend harvest parties or trunk-or-treats or any semblance of what I considered to be Halloween lite.
This is because I did formulate an interest in what witches did from the time that I was a little child. I read books on what they did and was fascinated with the abilities they were purported to have.
When I was a teenager, six months without a boyfriend was enough to drive me absolutely mad, and so, I sought out witchcraft as a solution when a friend presented me with a book on the subject.
I instinctively felt it was veering into unsafe territory and stopped before it got to the point of casting spells or preparing tools. I was simply a lonely girl who wanted love.
Later, the town I would move to was rife with occult practitioners. The natural spring waters were a magnet for those intent on divination, and our neighbors were heavily involved, performing rituals outdoors under the moon once a month.
I moved away from anything resembling what is so often done in the world of magic and spiritistic circles. And many newer believers do likewise.
Speaking to the point of believers who warn against the uglier aspects of Halloween, the glorification of the gory and partnering with the demonic to the showing of horror movies and slasher films, I 100% believe they have a valid concern.
Though many Christians negate the spiritual aspects of the world we inhabit in attempts to appear less archaic or stodgy, the Bible is clear. We do have an enemy that stops at nothing to impair us, raging about like a roaring lion and seeking to devour.
It’s not a thing to play with, yet people often do, thinking it funny or harmless. Make no mistake, the forces of evil hate you and would see you torn to shreds, your entire life destroyed and ripped apart like the limbs of animal on the African Sahara.
It therefore makes sense for Christians to abstain from supernatural entities that have nothing to do with Christ and are the adversaries of God.
I think it’s common to make fun of people who go too far in seeing evil everywhere so that real pitfalls are left unheeded. And it does need to be said.
After saying all of this, I want to say that I am tired. I am exhausted. It has been a long three years for many, if not, most of us. I am not into the occult but am vehemently against.
I know that I am not a Satan worshipper. I am not into witchcraft. I am not an idolater nor do I venerate gods or goddesses. I don’t care what Anton LaVey has to say nor am I putting any gods before the Lord.
A wedding ring on my finger or a dinner on Mother’s Day does not change that. I don’t weep over Tammuz nor claim allegiance with those who supposedly are upset that early forms of false worship were not allowed to flourish.
I do not believe that a non-scary costume on a little child is the gateway drug into witchcraft. I do not think that a community activity or social gatherings at school are going to corrupt.
Unless a person, in their heart, is directing these activities this way.
Anything can be anything if you really want it to.
The way a witch may intend this day is not the same way I am.
I know there may be newer believers who don’t see it like this. I was one such person at an earlier time. If it’s not going to put a stumbling block in front of those near to us and our conscience is truly clear before God, that’s all that matters.
To me, it is a day to have a break from all the dreary circumstances imposed by Covid and to get together with people and smile at little children dressed like Princess Peach and Barbie.
It needs to be said that not everything is everything. Some of us are just normal people doing normal things that would be more harmful to our little ones if we took it away when so much else beyond our control has been removed already.
There is a time to be mirthful and simply neutral in the daily battleground that is drawn between this side and that. With so much shrapnel flying overhead, I simply want a break. I am asking people to understand. To be see that we can do all things in moderation.
I am not inviting the demonic into our home nor am I letting occultists dictate my actions. I am not enforcing additional constraints on my child nor am I going to shut them off further from socialization.
I am not a heretic nor am I unorthodox. I believe there is often a lack of grace from others or an assumption as to what we are really up to, and I understand. I was once the same.
I would turn off the lights to make sure no one knew I was up here hiding out. I get that we’re not all at the same place, and that’s okay.
I know that I am within parameters and also can give space for an 8-year old to not have to suffer exclusion during a time when shutdowns and protocol demand so much distance from each other as it is.
I am, after all, modeling Christianity to her as well.
I no longer suffer the explanations from people repeating Jehovah’s Witness rhetoric, because it does not stop. Blood transfusions and Christmas are also on the chopping block, and when it’s your life on the line, God’s grace is the one thing you really need — a provision that is sorely lacking in all the twisting of language to prove a point.
We never used to hear Christmas’ origins cast in doubt in the public sphere, but I grew up hearing it regularly. Only in recent years has this reached a tipping point where the mainstream wrings its hands over the celebration. I can assure you that those who bring this forth also do not partake of communion, the Lord’s Supper, or believe that Jesus is God.
Cults stop at nothing, and all is not as it appears on the surface of these questions, as they lead to some very dark places. The conclusion is pre-arranged to supplant God and His Spirit as your directors with their own doctrine until you are under man’s control.
It’s important to not take every accusation to heart, or else people can stop you from doing literally anything. This tactic particularly works with the sincerely zealous who do not wish to offend God. It takes some practice to see when you are simply being manipulated by people who don’t take into account what severe sanction from the world entails.
There are those who would eschew every form of enjoyment even when not necessary.
The Lord knows the heart and understands all the mind’s thoughts. People may view one day above another, but that which is not done is faith is sin. We should not destroy one another with our freedom when they are of weaker conscience and must be cognizant of this. It is a balance and one that can be carried forth with peace when it is approved of God and done in faith.
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About the Author
Rosa A. Hopkins has hosted radio shows on 11 Christian stations, is a writer of gospel songs, has promoted Heartbeat legislation, and is a singer and songwriter. Her writings can also be found on her Facebook page. Join 29,000 other readers here.