Don't Drink Dirty Milk!

Drink Pure Milk.  Touch Nothing Unclean.

Jesus was the most joyful person on earth because He loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, according to Hebrews 1:9.  Because of the fall of man, evil has entered the world, and now life is filled with choices such as good or evil, right or wrong, life or death.  God reminds us that life and death are before us, so He clearly instructs us to choose life.  We are called to love good and hate evil.  Scripture is filled with promises and blessings on those who fear Him, which is defined in Proverbs 8:13 as hatred of evil.  It pleases God when His children reject evil.  

In the New Testament this contrast between good and evil and the need to choose good is further explained to ensure obedience.  2 Corinthians 6:14 states, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?  And what communion has light with darkness?  And what accord has Christ with Belial (the devil)?"  God then shares His Father-heart desire to walk with us as His sons and daughters and literally be in us.  What could be stronger or more important that His next statement, "Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."

With this foundational understanding, let's consider the coming holiday of Halloween.  It's origin was the 2000-year ago Celtic feast of Samhain, where ghosts of the dead were believed to come back to haunt the living.  Scripture is extremely clear in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 that "There must never be anyone among you who...consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead."  As you recall King Saul's final condemnation came when he asked the witch of Endor to call up Samuel from the dead.  In the New Testament, Paul openly states, "I do not want you to be participants with demons.  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too." (1 Corinthians 10:20-21)

The Celts were afraid of the demon spirits from the dead, so at the feast of Samhain  there were large bonfires, animal sacrifices, and people even wore the heads and skins of the sacrificed animals to scare away and hide from the evil spirits, which is where the custom of dressing up in costumes comes from.  Some people offered fruit, candy, of gifts to appease the evil spirit world to avoid their "tricks."   

An honest look at the character of what Halloween celebrates also shows the nature of Satan, not God,  Fear, evil spirits, witches, death, torment, twisted and ugly creatures, deception and openness to the demonic supernatural demonstrate the exact opposite of the beauty and love of God.  Jesus said Satan was out to steal, kill, and destroy.  He call him the father of lies.  Paul points out what a deceiver he is because "Satan, himself transforms himself as an angel of light."  All the excuses or rationalizations do not cover the truth that this holiday does not honor or glorify God, but rather is the work of darkness.  God is not mocked.   

Children are open to the supernatural because they are close to God.  Woe to those who lead them astray!  What we can excuse as innocent fun is not right in God's eyes if it opens children to demonic darkness.  Lead children to taste and see the goodness of God, His healing power, His victory over fear, death, and sin.  Jesus is so good, so beautiful, so loving, so wonderful.  Let them enjoy His presence in worship.  Give them the pure milk of the Word.  Don't drink dirty milk.