Redeeming The Time: Halloween

Halloween, when properly understood, is only a pagan festival if the thoughts & intents of its celebrants are directed via their own intentions (James 1:14 - 15) at/toward one or more pagan pseudodeities &/or the demons & the Demonic Realm. 

It is, in fact, an extension/outworking of Purim, not merely on the basis that traditions like wearing costumes & the distribution & consumption of candy are outwardly similar, but because there is corresponding quasi-historical/literary rationale for both. 

• Contrary to the claims of the legalism class, a redemptive-historical administration & observance of All Hallow’s Eve is a great big act of inductive & intuitive prophecy that answers any number of pagan festivals like Samhain & the Day Of the Dead. 
• Esther provides the rationale for Purim.     
• The story of Esther takes place during the time of the Jews Exile in the days when Media-Persia ruled an empire that stretched from India to Egypt & Abyssinia. 
• Haman, a descendant of Amalek decides to use his newly found favor with King Ahasuerus/Xerxes to destroy Mordecai & his people.
• After God, through Queen Esther intervenes, Haman & his worthless men meet their end, & not long after the Law & Gospel spread throughout the empire.
• Just over 500 years ago, the people of Europe were in the midst of a major cycle of ignorance, moral & theological darkness, & covenantal declension so severe that God decided to intervene by way of what we know today as the Great Protestant Reformation.
• In response to the major need for ecclesiastical reform, on October 31, 1517 ADCE, Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral. 
• Ulrich Zwingli was also at work calling for reform in the Roman Catholic Church.
• Rome responded by attempting to destroy Luther in particular, but they failed thanks to Elector Frederick’s intervention & protection. 
• It took time, but the Reformation took hold & the Law & Gospel spread through Europe & eventually the world along with the Scriptures translated into the languages common to many peoples, & God set about conquering & reconquering the world even though many peoples did suffer in fear of European conquest as a result of European empire building, just as many suffered during the days of the Persian, Greek, & Roman empires during the days of the Exile & after the Return & the beginning of 2nd Temple Judaism & beyond.

We thank the LORD for the Reformation, but the Reformation does not excuse the many evils people have suffered as a result of European conquest & colonialism.   

Today, as we stand together in this time of Great Travail, we need to collectively repent of the sins of our ancestors. & replicate, & restore to those whose cultures were suppressed by people living out Romans 1: 18 - 32’s narrative about bigotry & the perversion of justice that goes with it.   We need a 2nd Protestant Reformation—-a reformation that gets it right this time & avoids the sins of the past. 

This Is the Way!  This is Our Prayer!

O LORD, Hear Our Prayer(s)!

Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 

 

Awake, O sleeper,

  and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.