Halloween HEAVEN. and the BIBLE LESSON 3

Transcription

1 Halloween and the BIBLE

2 1.Origin - Samhain (pron: sowan or shavnah) - All Hallow s Even (evening before Catholic All Saints Day day of honoring all saints Nov. 1)

3 1.Origin SAMHAIN (Celtic festival meaning summers end ) I.E., end of light half of year, beginning of dark half. The belief existed that the border between earth and otherworld on this day was weak, allowing spirits to pass through. Good spirits were welcomed home, bad spirits were warded off by wearing masks/costumes to disguise the person as a bad spirit also. Turnips were hollowed out and carved with faces to be used as lanterns and to ward off bad spirits.

4 1.Origin ALL HALLOW S S DAY (All Saints Day -Nov. 1) Children and poor people would go door to door to receive cakes in return for prayers for the dead. Each cake eaten represented another person being freed from purgatory to go to heaven.

5 1.Origin SUMMARY OF WRONG BELIEFS/PRACTICES: 1. Deceased spirits haunting the living 2. Fear of such spirits 3. Making yourself look like LESSON an evil spirit 3 4. Belief in purgatory 5. Belief in praying for the dead 6. Belief that eating a cake frees a person from purgatory and sends them to heaven.

6 2. Truth about Deceased Spirits, Evil Spirits, Hauntings Luke 16:22,23; Luke 23:43 Philippians 1:23,24; II Corinthians 5:8 Isaiah 41:10; I John 4:4,18 Mark 5:1-9; I Peter 5:8

7 Luke 16:22,23 The poor mandied and was carried by the angels to Abraham s side. The rich manalso died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abrahamfar off and Lazarus at his side. Luke 23:43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

8 2. Truth about Deceased Spirits, Evil Spirits, Hauntings Luke 16:22,23; Luke 23:43 Philippians 1:23,24; II Corinthians 5:8 Isaiah 41:10; I John 4:4,18 Mark 5:1-9; I Peter 5:8

9 Philippians 1:23,24 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the fleshis more necessary on your account. II Corinthians 5:8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

10 2. Truth about Deceased Spirits, Evil Spirits, Hauntings Luke 16:22,23; Luke 23:43 Philippians 1:23,24; II Corinthians 5:8 Isaiah 41:10; I John 4:4,18 Mark 5:1-9; I Peter 5:8

11 Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. I John 4:4,18 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear..

12 2. Truth about Deceased Spirits, Evil Spirits, Hauntings Luke 16:22,23; Luke 23:43 Philippians 1:23,24; II Corinthians 5:8 Isaiah 41:10; I John 4:4,18 Mark 5:1-9; I Peter 5:8

13 Mark 5:1-9 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many. I Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

14 2. Truth about Deceased Spirits, Evil Spirits, Hauntings SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL TEACHING: 1. Spirits of deceased leave earth and go to punishment, or heaven. 2. AS SOON AS a person dies, they go LESSON either to punishment or 3 heaven Purgatory doesn t t exist and is unbiblical. 3. As believers, we re told not to live in fear but to trust in God and t convey the same message to others. Fear is a weapon of Satan. 4. Satan and his demons roam the earth, seeking to oppose the kingdom of God and His work.

15 3. What are Mediums, Spiritualists, Sorcerers, Witches and Necromancers? Medium Medium: a person believed to be in contact with the spirits of the dead and able to establish communication between the living and the dead. d Spiritualist: a person who believes that spirits of the dead exist on a higher plane around us and can offer guidance to us through our communication with them. Sorcerer / Witch: a person who uses the help of the (evil) spirit realm t accomplish supernatural acts. Necromancer: a person who seeks to summon the presence of a deceased spirit, as a ghost or in bodily form. Spiritualist Sorcerer / Witch Necromancer

16 3. What are Mediums, Spiritualists, Sorcerers, Witches and Necromancers? - Scripture to consider: *Exodus 22:18 *Leviticus 19:31 *Leviticus 20:6,7 *Acts 19:19,20 *Galatians 5:19,20 *Revelation 21:8

17 Exodus 22:18 You shall not permit a sorceress to live. Leviticus 19:31 Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.

18 3. What are Mediums, Spiritualists, Sorcerers, Witches and Necromancers? - Scripture to consider: *Exodus 22:18 *Leviticus 19:31 *Leviticus 20:6,7 *Acts 19:19,20 *Galatians 5:19,20 *Revelation 21:8

19 Leviticus 20:6,27 If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Acts 19:19,20 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

20 3. What are Mediums, Spiritualists, Sorcerers, Witches and Necromancers? - Scripture to consider: *Exodus 22:18 *Leviticus 19:31 *Leviticus 20:6,7 *Acts 19:19,20 *Galatians 5:19,20 *Revelation 21:8

21 Galatians 5:19,20 Now the works of the fleshare evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions. Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

22 3. 3. What are Mediums, Spiritualists, Sorcerers, Witches and Necromancers? SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL TEACHING: 1. The punishment for involving oneself with evil spirits was death. 2. The Israelites were commanded to never seek out the help of mediums m or necromancers. 3. God promised to set Himself against and cut off a person who turns to mediums and necromancers. 4. Those in Acts who turned to God immediately burned all their books on magic arts, and God blessed them. 5. Sorcery is a work of the flesh along with idolatry, murder, etc. and such people will be sent to the lake of fire.

23 4. Today s s Focus 1. Fear, Scare, Haunt Trick or Treating, Haunted Houses, Halloween Decorations 2. Mutilation, Death T.V., Movies 3. Costumes, Candy Trick or Treating 4. Ghosts (deceased spirits), Evil Spirits Trick or Treating, Haunted Houses, Decorations, T.V., Movies

24 5. Different Views of Christians VIEW #1 - It s s focus is fear, ghosts and demons, and therefore it is clearly satanic, demonic, entirely of pagan origin and so doing anything related with Halloween is evil. VIEW #2 - Costumes and asking for candy is harmless, so is carving fun designs in pumpkins. Harvest Fest and other Autumn get-together together alternatives as well as handing out Bible tracts with candy is actually good.

25 5. Different Views of Christians -- Scripture passages to keep in mind: *I Corinthians 6:12, 10:23 *I Corinthians 10:18-22 *I Thessalonians 5:22 *Romans 14: *Luke 19:10 *Mark 2:

26 I Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. I Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful, but not all things build up.

27 5. Different Views of Christians -- Scripture passages to keep in mind: *I Corinthians 6:12, 10:23 *I Corinthians 10:18-22 *I Thessalonians 5:22 *Romans 14: *Luke 19:10 *Mark 2:

28 I Corinthians 10:18-22 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 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. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.

29 5. Different Views of Christians -- Scripture passages to keep in mind: *I Corinthians 6:12, 10:23 *I Corinthians 10:18-22 *I Thessalonians 5:22 *Romans 14: *Luke 19:10 *Mark 2:

30 Romans 14:13-19 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

31 5. Different Views of Christians -- Scripture passages to keep in mind: *I Corinthians 6:12, 10:23 *I Corinthians 10:18-22 *I Thessalonians 5:22 *Romans 14: *Luke 19:10 *Mark 2:

32 Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Mark 2:15-17 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

33 5. Different Views of Christians -- Scripture passages to keep in mind: *I Corinthians 6:12, 10:23 *I Corinthians 10:18-22 *I Thessalonians 5:22 *Romans 14: *Luke 19:10 *Mark 2:

34 5. Different Views of Christians SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL TEACHING: 1. Even though there isn t t a state law or biblical command against something, it could still be wrong. 2. We shouldn t t judge what other believers do. We also shouldn t t let our own convictions or even liberties cause division in the body of Christ, or offend unbelievers that we could be reaching out to. 3. However, we certainly shouldn t t promote the works and schemes of Satan, nor should we use our freedom in Christ to cause other Christians s to stumble in their faith. 4. We should keep away from every form/appearance of evil. We shouldns houldn t participate in activities that Satan and his demons are involved in, so as not to support him/them. 5. We are to do all things with a motive to please the Lord, and build up the Body of Christ. (I( I Cor. 10:31)

35 CONCLUSION? -Is it directly sinful for us to participate in any part of Halloween? (ie,, costumes and trick or treating No.) -Are there a lot of things that ARE evil about Halloween, and should definitely be avoided? (Yes) - Keep away from the evil side of Halloween, things that promote fear and evil spirits. -Ask God for wisdom on how to use Fall opportunities to reach out to the lost in ways that won t t offend or mislead.

36 Halloween and the BIBLE