I really debated on whether or not to bring up the subject, but here goes...
Halloween.
Or All Hallows Eve, as some call it. Reformation Day aside, I'm referring to the cultural holiday we all know well.
Yes! God is going to crush Satan under OUR (believers) feet! Now that'll be cause for celebration.
Naomi writes to change the story, and her heart beats for meaningful historical fiction. Author of numerous novels and award-winning short stories, she and her husband Jeff are at home in the Wisconsin Northwoods. Her perfect day is spent writing, roaming the farm, snacking from the garden, relaxing in her vintage camper, and loving on her passel of grandchildren.
Right up front I'll tell you my personal feelings. I don't like it. Haven't liked it since I became a disciple of Jesus. Let's look back.
All Saints Day, November 1st, was set aside in the sixth century by Pope Gregory to honor and remember Christian martyrs and other faithful who had passed away. I can deeply appreciate that. At this very moment, those martyred for their faith are crying out before God's throne,
"O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:10)
So to me, a day set aside to reflect on the faith of those now in heaven and awaiting God's final restoration of all things is very respectful.
But when this tradition was brought to the Celts of what is now Ireland, the U.K. and France, it began to mingle with the decidedly un-Christian beliefs and practices of Samhain held on October 31st. It is those pagan practices of some of my Celtic ancestors passed down through the generations with which I have the problem.
On one end of the tradition, the time marked the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, when the old year ended and the new one began. It's a very understandable time to want to celebrate. Here's how I note that change of seasons. I admire my stocked pantry shelves in the basement and give thanks for the year's garden harvest. Then I put my feet up, grab a book, and enjoy a nice cappuccino to rest from my efforts.
 |
| My Harvest Safely Put By |
However, back then, Samhain or All Hallows Eve, as it became known, was also considered to be a night when a door opened between our earthly world and the spirit world, allowing both good and evil spirits to pass between.
This belief (fear) led people to dress in costumes and light bonfires in order to confuse and ward off the evil spirits. When Catholicism came to the Celts, the two events entwined--kind of like tends to happen with other holidays (Easter and Christmas come to mind). We lump the cultural with the spiritual, the holy with the traditions of men. We pick and choose which parts we want to keep and which parts we want to toss into the dust bin.
In those times, not only did the Celts believe that the ghosts of the dead were walking the earth, they also depended upon some of the roaming spirits to help their Druid priests foretell the future. There are a number of other ties that remained bound between the two celebrations. Some of them are downright gruesome, others just questionable practices.
So here's my point. I'm not saying that it's wrong to celebrate certain holidays or seasons with festivity of various kinds, but with Halloween I draw my own personal lines. It's a little harder for me to sort the profane from the godly. For me, most of what passes as "fun" feels like a blatant invitation to evil. I don't think we can reason away things that do not honor our Heavenly Father.
October's end is, nevertheless, a great time to celebrate harvest and the finality of the warm season while preparing for the long, cold one ahead. I'm not put off by that at all. If family and friends want to hold an end-of-season harvest party, fine. Dressing up for costume parties can be fun anytime of year, not just at the end of October. And how about doing it as a favorite non-scary book character or an historical figure instead of a skeleton or witch? Playing games and sharing treats is exciting for children too, but does it have to be in association with trick or treat, with roots in the historical practice of "souling", which meant going door to door offering to pray dead people out of "purgatory" in exchange for "soul cakes"? Ick!
Even more traditionally, maybe you could choose to spend time honoring loved ones and heroes of the faith departed. I absolutely endorse this. I'll be doing that in my own way.
Toying with the scary, the demonic, even the occult, and actually taking part in the practices that come from a culture of fear, death, and darkness under the guise of fun . . .well, that's just not for me. Nothing gets me out of a store and spending my money there quicker than seeing and hearing some of the giant, grotesque lawn statues they have on display. I literally can't take my grandchildren into one local store or they'll have nightmares after they leave.
I'm afraid I might have stepped on some toes in posting about this. I don't mean to offend. These are my personal feelings, and if you disagree, you're free to do that. Nevertheless, as you pick and choose what and how to celebrate all the holidays coming up in the coming season, I suggest you follow your convictions with an ear tuned to God's still, small voice telling you whether or not He is being glorified.
Remember that the devil is real, and he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Always. He tries to make evil appear innocent. He wants us to compromise our faith. If you can celebrate the holiday without doing that, more power to you.
I have a different holiday I can't wait to celebrate. It's futuristic. It regards an event that hasn't happened yet, but it will happen one day, and I'll be there. It's the one when fear, death, and hell are forever banished. The one where Satan's power to deceive and destroy is stripped away forever.
Yes! God is going to crush Satan under OUR (believers) feet! Now that'll be cause for celebration.
I hope your autumn is full of beauty and blessing. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Naomi
https://naomimusch.com/
The Love Coward is a post-WWII novel that comes to conclusion around this beautiful time of year. If you're looking for a sweet read filled with vintage nuances of the season's harvest bounty, you might enjoy Tulla's story of recapturing love and life’s simple joys.
Naomi writes to change the story, and her heart beats for meaningful historical fiction. Author of numerous novels and award-winning short stories, she and her husband Jeff are at home in the Wisconsin Northwoods. Her perfect day is spent writing, roaming the farm, snacking from the garden, relaxing in her vintage camper, and loving on her passel of grandchildren.
