I. INTRODUCTION

A. In 1Thessalonians 5:21-22, the apostle Paul gave a wise instruction with a broad application. He wrote, "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil."

B. Because the observance of Halloween is upon us again, let us take a moment to place it under our spiritual microscope for a careful examination. If it passes our examination as something good, then let us hold fast to it. However, if it is a form of evil, then let us abstain from it.

C. Before we begin, let's consider a few points.

1. Each person has to decide for himself or herself about days such as Halloween, and none of us can judge one another. We have a careful set of guidelines for such days in Romans 14:5-12:

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

2. Origins matter, so we will consider the origins of Halloween in order to understand what its observance means. By this study, we can determine whether Halloween is a "form of evil."

II. THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

A. The origin of Halloween is traced to a time before the birth of Christ in the druid culture of Western Europe.

1. The druids were a pagan people who celebrated the festival of Samhain (meaning summer's end) beginning on October 31, which corresponds to the last day of the Celtic year.

a. The druids believed that the god of the dead overpowered their sun god at the end of summer, so they sought to appease this god by observing a festival.

b. They offered sacrifices in great bonfires (lit. bone-fires) around which they would dance. The druid priests went from house to house demanding subjects for these bonfire sacrifices as they promised prosperity to those who gave and cursed those who refused.

2. During this time, the druids believed that the barrier between the living and the dead was opened.

a. As a result, they believed that evil spirits, fairies, witches, and goblins could escape and harass them.

b. They also believed that the spirits of the dead returned to their former homes to visit the living at this time.

c. To ward off the evil spirits, the druid people would disguise themselves in costumes and masks.

B. Centuries later, the observance of Samhain continued among the druid descendants.

1. Samhain was prominent enough that the Catholic Church sought to eliminate it by overshadowing it with a new holiday.

a. Pope Gregory IV ordained the Catholic holiday of "All Saints' Day" or "All Hallows' Day" on November 1 in A.D. 837.

b. This made October 31 into "All Hallows' Eve," which we now know as "Halloween."

2. The intention of the Pope was to replace Samhain and its pagan traditions, but this effort failed.

a. Samhain became Halloween and continued to evolve through the Middle Ages with an increase of witchcraft and the worship of Satan.

b. Today, this day is still celebrated by Celtic pagans, Satanists, and wiccans.

III. HALLOWEEN TODAY

A. The modern observation of Halloween pays homage to these ancient origins.

1. Images of ghosts, witches, goblins and monsters adorn houses, schools, stores, and businesses throughout our nation.

2. Children wear masks and costumes while they unknowingly imitate the trickery of evil spirits as believed by the druids. They mimic the druid practice of going from house to house declaring "trick-or-treat."

3. Even the jack-o-lantern originates from the candle-lit skull that served as a signal to mark those homes that supported the druids' religion.

B. Certainly, most people who observe Halloween today are unaware of the details of its history, and they simply consider Halloween as a time for fun. Children enjoy an opportunity to dress up in costumes and to get candy. However, it would be dishonest to say that we are unaware of the evil that is attached to this celebration.

1. Witchcraft, evil spirits, ghosts, demons, murderers, and many other wicked persons are exalted on this day.

2. In particular, the glorification of vampires is a current fad that is especially disturbing.

a. These characters that drink blood and commit murder have been made into heroes in many books, television programs, and movies aimed at young people.

b. This is happening year-round, but it becomes magnified for Halloween.

3. All of this may seem like fun because the world portrays it that way, but our careful examination reveals that it is simply a celebration of evil.

C. Christians may not intend to endorse or embrace any of these evil things by observing Halloween, but we must be careful.

1. If we want to know God's mind on the issue of witches, spiritists, and sorcerers, then let us consider that He described them as abominations in Deuteronomy 18:10-12:

"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you."

2. We all know that there are no such things as vampires, monsters, or goblins, but we must be careful of our influence on others and our representation of Christ to the world.

a. Not all men have the knowledge we possess (1Cor. 8:4, 7). To them, anyone observing Halloween is celebrating the evil it traditionally represents.

b. Possessing the liberty to observe Halloween does not mean that it is good, right, or wise. If we would influence others for evil by doing so, then we must abstain (1Cor. 8:9-12).

c. As members of the body of Christ and ambassadors for Him to the world, we cannot have fellowship with evil.

i. 1Corinthians 10:21 -- You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

ii. 2Corinthians 6:14-18 -- Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty.

IV. CONCLUSION

A. It is evident that the things involved in Halloween are not good in the eyes of God. Why then should we consider a day that celebrates such things to be a good thing?

B. After examining Halloween as directed in 1Thessalonians 5:21-22, we cannot rightly say that it is a good thing. Therefore, we may not hold fast to Halloween, but rather we must abstain from it.

C. If you disagree, then do your own examination. If you can find honest, godly reasons for observing Halloween, then do so. Otherwise, "do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them" (Eph. 5:11).