Halloween sarbatoare pagana, demonica, anticristica
Yüklə 268,45 Kb.
|
Well, Halloween is a big deal in the marketplace. Halloween is surpassed only by Christmas in terms of economic activity. Reporting in 2007, David J. Skal estimated: “Precise figures are difficult to determine, but the annual economic impact of Halloween is now somewhere between 4 billion and 6 billion dollars depending on the number and kinds of industries one includes in the calculations.” As of 2012, that total exceeded $8 billion. Furthermore, historian Nicholas Rogers claims: Halloween is currently the second most important party night in North America. In terms of its retail potential, it is second only to Christmas. This commercialism fortifies its significance as a time of public license, a custom-designed opportunity to have a blast. Regardless of its spiritual complications, Halloween is big business. Rogers and Skal have each produced books dealing with the origin and significance of Halloween. Nicholas Rogers is author of Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. Professor of History at York University in Canada, Rogers has written a celebration of Halloween as a transgressive holiday that allows the bizarre and elements from the dark side to enter the mainstream. Skal, a specialist on the culture of Hollywood, has written Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween. Skal’s approach is more dispassionate and focused on entertainment, looking at the cultural impact of Halloween in the rise of horror movies and the nation’s fascination with violence. The pagan roots of Halloween are well documented. The holiday is rooted in the Celtic festival of Samhain, which came at summer’s end. As Rogers explains, “Paired with the feast of Beltane, which celebrated the life-generating powers of the sun, Samhain beckoned to winter and the dark nights ahead.” Scholars dispute whether Samhain was celebrated as a festival of the dead, but the pagan roots of the festival are indisputable. Questions of human and animal sacrifices and various occultic sexual practices continue as issues of debate, but the reality of the celebration as an occultic festival focused on the changing of seasons undoubtedly involved practices pointing to winter as a season of death. As Rogers comments: “In fact, the pagan origins of Halloween generally flow not from this sacrificial evidence, but from a different set of symbolic practices. These revolve around the notion of Samhain as a festival of the dead and as a time of supernatural intensity heralding the onset of winter. How should Christians respond to this pagan background? Harold L. Myra of Christianity Today argues that these pagan roots were well known to Christians of the past: More than a thousand years ago Christians confronted pagan rites appeasing the lord of death and evil spirits. Halloween’s unsavory beginnings preceded Christ’s birth when the druids, in what is now Britain and France, observed the end of summer with sacrifices to the gods. It was the beginning of the Celtic year and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. Thus, the custom of wearing costumes, especially costumes imitating evil spirits, is rooted in the Celtic pagan culture. As Myra summarizes, “Most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to the old pagan rites and superstitions.” The complications of Halloween go far beyond its pagan roots, however. In modern culture, Halloween has become not only a commercial holiday, but a season of cultural fascination with evil and the demonic. Even as the society has pressed the limits on issues such as sexuality, the culture’s confrontation with the “dark side” has also pushed far beyond boundaries honored in the past. As David J. Skal makes clear, the modern concept of Halloween is inseparable from the portrayal of the holiday presented by Hollywood. As Skal comments, “The Halloween machine turns the world upside down. One’s identity can be discarded with impunity. Men dress as women, and vice versa. Authority can be mocked and circumvented, and, most important, graves open and the departed return.” This is the kind of material that keeps Hollywood in business. “Few holidays have a cinematic potential that equals Halloween’s,” comments Skal. “Visually, the subject is unparalleled, if only considered in terms of costume design and art direction. Dramatically, Halloween’s ancient roots evoke dark and melodramatic themes, ripe for transformation into film’s language of shadow and light.” But television’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (which debuted in 1966) has given way to Hollywood’s “Halloween” series and the rise of violent “slasher” films. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff have been replaced by Michael Myers and Freddy Kruger. This fascination with the occult comes as America has been sliding into post-Christian secularism. While the courts remove all theistic references from America’s public square, the void is being filled with a pervasive fascination with evil, paganism, and new forms of occultism. In addition to all this, Halloween has become downright dangerous in many neighborhoods. Scares about razor blades hidden in apples and poisoned candy have spread across the nation in recurring cycles. For most parents, the greater fear is the encounter with occultic symbols and the society’s fascination with moral darkness. For this reason, many families withdraw from the holiday completely. Their children do not go trick-or-treating, they wear no costumes, and they attend no parties related to the holiday. Some churches have organized alternative festivals, capitalizing on the holiday opportunity, but turning the event away from pagan roots and the fascination with evil spirits. For others, the holiday presents no special challenges at all. These Christians argue that the pagan roots of Halloween are no more significant than the pagan origins of Christmas and other church festivals. Without doubt, the church has progressively Christianized the calendar, seizing secular and pagan holidays as opportunities for Christian witness and celebration. Anderson M. Rearick, III argues that Christians should not surrender the holiday. As he relates, “I am reluctant to give up what was one of the highlights of my childhood calendar to the Great Imposter and Chief of Liars for no reason except that some of his servants claim it as his.” Nevertheless, the issue is a bit more complicated than that. While affirming that make-believe and imagination are part and parcel of God’s gift of imagination, Christians should still be very concerned about the focus of that imagination and creativity. Arguing against Halloween is not equivalent to arguing against Christmas. The old church festival of “All Hallow’s Eve” is by no means as universally understood among Christians as the celebration of the incarnation at Christmas. Christian parents should make careful decisions based on a biblically-informed Christian conscience. Some Halloween practices are clearly out of bounds. Others may be strategically transformed, but this takes hard work and may meet with mixed success. The coming of Halloween is a good time for Christians to remember that evil spirits are real and that the Devil will seize every opportunity to trumpet his own celebrity. Perhaps the best response to the Devil at Halloween is that offered by Martin Luther, the great Reformer: “The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him for he cannot bear scorn.” On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther began the Reformation with a declaration that the church must be recalled to the authority of God’s Word and the purity of biblical doctrine. With this in mind, the best Christian response to Halloween might be to scorn the Devil and then pray for the Reformation of Christ’s church on earth. Let’s put the dark side on the defensive. ALBERT MOHLER I am always glad to hear from readers. Write me at mail@albertmohler.com. Follow regular updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/albertmohler Originally published Wednesday, October 31, 2007. http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/10/30/christianity-and-the-dark-side-what-about-halloween-5/ Related articles
https://ioan17.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/christianity-and-the-dark-side-what-about-halloween/ HALLOWEEN- A CELEBRATION OF DARKNESS October 30, 2012 by ioan17 | Edit
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11 Halloween is celebrated by millions of people around the world every October 31, and the vast majority of them are innocent children, unaware of its dark history, and its ungodly promotion of sin and evil, which is clearly condemned by the authority of God’s Word, the Holy Bible (Ephesians 5:11). 
The celebration of Halloween is directly connected to the pagan “Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts” (1). “In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic Festival of Samhain was observed on October 31, at the end of summer…The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day and the autumnal festival acquired cats, fairies and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature.In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes”(2). 
The same Encyclopedia continues to expose the pagan, occult roots of Halloween. “Halloween had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland. November 1 was considered the end of the summer period, the date on which the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. It was also a time when the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes. People set bonfires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. It was in these ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated with the day” (3). While it is understood and expected that many in the world unfortunately disregard the clear warnings from the Holy Scriptures pertaining to one being a partaker of Halloween, which is clearly associated with sin, darkness, and the consequences of death as a result of the wages of sin (Romans 6:23), many in the apostate church world today who should know better, reject the Word of God with arrogance and without any shame or regret. Many in the church world today disregard the clear teaching of Holy Scripture with regards to the ungodly celebration of Halloween (Ephesians 5:11;1 Thessalonians 5:22), and would argue that the celebration has so called “Christian origins,” pointing to the Roman Catholic celebration of All Hallow’s Eve on October 31, the night before All Saints Day on November 1 which was a celebration remembering the church martyrs who died in the past. 
However, the Roman Catholic celebration of All Saints Day does not remember all the genuine, godly, born again Christians who died in the Protestant Reformation. It also does not account for the false gospel preached by the Roman Catholic church that rejects the Holy Bible’s clear teaching of salvation by the grace of God alone, through repentance and faith alone in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary, in order for one to be justified and forgiven of one’s sin, to escape the wrath of God in hell, and to receive everlasting life in heaven (Romans 5:1-11;Ephesians 2:8-9). 
“In the 7th Century AD, Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day, originally on May 13, and in the following century, perhaps in an effort to supplant the pagan holiday with a Christian observance, it was moved to November 1. The evening before All Saints’ Day became holy, or hallowed, eve and thus Halloween” (4). 
“It is generally agreed that, in church history, Halloween took the place of a special day celebrated by the ancient Druids, who were the learned or priestly class of Celtic religion”(5). Therefore, Halloween is in no way, shape, or form a Christian holiday that has any association with true Biblical Christianity, because the evil fruit it has produced clearly condemns it, and identifies it as having its true roots in the “…corrupt tree…” of paganism and witchcraft that can only “…bringeth forth evil fruit”(Matthew 7:17). 
As a result of understanding the Roman Catholic holiday of All Saints Day, and All Hallow’s Eve which was a compromised attempt to replace the pagan celebration of Samhain, along with today’s promotion of evil in Halloween, and its evident connection to its pagan roots,there can be no justification or fellowship of its celebration among true born again Christians who fear and love the Lord Jesus Christ, and who will obey His commandments by having “…no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11), and who recognizes “what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). The dressing of children in costumes is in direct connection with the pagans of the past, in order to disguise one self from evil spirits, and saying “trick or treat” which was a custom of leaving a treat for the dead, so that they would not come back to the home and cause a horrible trick, or harm the individuals who resisted in distributing the treat. All of these customs clearly have their roots in the Satanic, and pagan past of Samhain. 
Although the clear pagan, and Satanic past alone should be sufficient for one not to partake of the evil, wicked, celebration of Halloween, its present association, promotion, and glorification of evil would utterly condemn it to be a clear work of darkness, that promotes sin, evil, and Satanic witchcraft. Therefore, apart from its ungodly roots, Halloween today is clearly the promotion of evil. Promoting witchcraft, witches, demon spirits, murder, blood and dismembered body parts, skeletons, ghosts, haunted houses, horror, pain, violence, death, and many other areas of evil that cannot be denied by any one who has eyes, ears, and a clear understanding of the facts. Witchcraft, murder, contact with the dead or in reality with demons, along with all the works of darkness are all sin, and an abomination to God that is utterly condemned by the Word of God the Holy Bible (Deuteronomy 18:9-12;Galatians 5:19-21). The Bible says, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). The true Bible believing born again Christian has no choice but to hate Halloween and to have absolutely no fellowship, or association with it, for to do so would demonstrate a love for this dark, and ungodly world of sin (1 John 2:15-17), a clear hatred for the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:24), and friendship with this ungodly world of sin, thus making one “…the enemy of God” (James 4:4). The Bible says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11), and to “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Halloween is a clear celebration of evil, and the promotion of Satanic darkness, that is not an innocent time for children, but a clear indoctrination of witchcraft and every form of evil in the hearts of precious children who are being sacrificed “…to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). To celebrate Halloween is to celebrate Satanic darkness, and no genuine Christian can be saved and have fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ and have fellowship with darkness and sin at the same time. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 John 1:6). Halloween is clearly one of the many “…devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11) from Satan to damn as many precious souls to hell as possible (1 Peter 5:8). There must be no apology in reproving the darkness of Halloween, for reproving such darkness is obedience to the authority of Holy Scripture (Ephesians 5:11; 2 Timothy 4:2), and clearly demonstrates a genuine love for precious souls deceived by Satan, that need to receive God’s love, forgiveness, and salvation only through repentance and faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to escape hell and receive everlasting life (Luke 13:3; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 13:6). If you are reading this article, and you are not truly saved through the Lord Jesus Christ, you need to repent of your sins, and receive God’s love and salvation only through the Lord Jesus Christ by faith alone to escape hell today (Luke 13:3;John 3:16;John 14:6;Acts 4:12;Acts 20:21). Halloween is a celebration of darkness, evil, and sin that must not be celebrated by the true Bible believing born again Christian but rejected, reproved, and rebuked, for we are commanded by the Holy Ghost to “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9). 
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11. Evangelist/Pastor Sean Bonitto http://www.internationaldeliveranceministries.org 1.History.com, “Halloween.” Retrieved October, 27, 2011 from http://www.history.com/topics/halloween. 2.Q.v.“Halloween,” Encyclopedia Britannica, Macropedia, vol.4. Retrieved from John Ankerberg & John Weldon, “The Facts on Halloween” Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1996, pg.8). 3.Encyclopedia Britannica eb.com, “Halloween.” retrieved October 26, 2011from Encyclopedia Britannicahttp://m.eb.com/topic/252875/Halloween 4.Encyclopedia Britannica eb.com, “Halloween.” retrieved October 26, 2011from Encyclopedia Britannicahttp://m.eb.com/topic/252875/Halloween 5.John Ankerberg & John Weldon, “The Facts on Halloween” Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1996, pg.5. International Deliverance Ministries P.O. Box 25208 Halifax, NS B3M 4P2 http://www.internationaldeliveranceministries.org http://www.internationaldeliveranceministries.org/Halloween%20A%20Celebration%20of%20Darkness.html 
Related articles
https://ioan17.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/halloween-a-celebration-of-darkness/ « ARE YOU DANCING WITH DARKNESS ? HALLOWEEN » October 31, 2014 by ioan17 | Edit 
THE TRUTH ABOUT HALLOWEEN 
Do some major Deliverance on yourself for ever celebrating halloween. Burn any left over halloween stuff in your home. Don’t even open your doors to pass out “tracts”. If you do, then you are celebrating this unholy day. No matter what you think of halloween, know that it is the very highest satanic holy day. As a Christian, you should not be observing it in any way, especially IN your church. The catholic church is responsible for this day to be placed in the church. Halloween has never been a Christian holiday, and it has no place in the life of a born again Believer in JESUS CHRIST. In fact, it is an abomination to God, and we should take our stand firmly against it. As we look at its history, we find that its roots go deep into heathenism, paganism, satanism and the occult; and its modern expression is no better. Yüklə 268,45 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
|
