C.T. JOHNSON - CHARISMA NEWS
It's unfortunate and downright deplorable how so-called "Christians" willfully participate in the celebration of Halloween. This year (2023), Halloween falls on a Tuesday, which will increase congregational support of this demonic holiday. I'm sure there'll be pastors and church leaders who disagree with me concerning this article and will boldly rebut involvement in this pagan holiday.
They will boast how their ministry offers an alternative to Halloween, such as harvest festivals, Hallelujah Night and trunk-or-treat events—implying that what they're doing has no connection whatsoever to the traditional practices of the holiday. For years I've had leaders debate me over this subject, stating that there's nothing wrong with a ministry hosting the events mentioned earlier as an alternative to Halloween, as long as the costumes are appropriate.
Such a response might satisfy the majority and be considered a satisfactory reply for the babe in Christ. However, none of those reasons is scriptural nor warrants the believer's participation. As the body of Christ, we must come to know God's issue with Halloween and possess the aptitude to explain why. The problem goes far beyond that of jack-o'-lanterns, candy, black cats and costumes. If anything, those things serve as the outgrowth of the core issue.
God's issue with Halloween lies within the origin. Let's examine a few terms and definitions to assist in establishing our case, shall we?
— Origin (The etymological breakdown) is c. 1400, "ancestry, race," from Latin originem (nominative origo) "a rise, commencement, beginning, source."
— Origin (Webster's Dictionary) the point or place where something begins or is created: the source or cause of something.
Notice, the etymological origin has to do with the commencement (the beginning or start) or the source of something. As Christians, it is our responsibility to search out the basis of a practice, doctrine, belief system, organization, religion or whatever it is before supporting, aligning, implementing or ascribing to it. Understand, regardless of how you might try, you can't alter or redefine the source of existence.
Halloween's genesis (beginning) and progenitor is Satan! The modern-day, culturally modified church leaders and ministries try to justify their "alternative" services; however, the reality is their demonic union with Satan in celebration of Halloween.
According to 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (KJV), the Bible is crystal-clear in its instructions to the believer in Christ.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
The ekklesia (church) of Christ has no reason or excuse for its fellowship with unrighteousness/darkness, in which Halloween is a clear example. Forgoing the use of the term "Halloween" and replacing it with "harvest" and "hallelujah" or switching out "trick" with "trunk" doesn't negate the reality of the church's union with the idols of this pagan holiday.
God's Additional Concerns With Halloween
Let's take a closer look into the origin of Halloween, what it stands for and represents, that we may fully comprehend God's concern about His children's participation in this pagan celebration; as if Halloween being a "pagan" holiday isn't sufficient enough reason to abstain.
Terms to Study
The terms below are from The Prophet's Dictionary, authored by Dr. Paula A. Price.
— Halloween: October 31, a satanic holiday for the intermingling of occult agents and demonic spirits. Samhain comes from the Gaelic word. Those who celebrate it seek to exalt profanity, uncleanness and witchcraft. It is a high offering day for witches, sorcerers and occultists of all kinds. The time falls at a seasonal harvest time.
— Sam: A high holy day of Wiccans and witches that is traditionally celebrated Nov. 1. It worships their goddess Gaea, Mother Earth, and celebrates with most of the ancient fertility rites.
— Wicca: a) An organization of witches. b) One with knowledge of spell casting and enchantments. c) A sorceress or practitioner of magic (Ex. 22:18).
— Witch: 1) Wizard. A practitioner of the occult using sorcery, wizardry and magic to manipulate the supernatural and compel its subservience upon God's creation. b) Illegal use of the spirit creation to craft natural forms and objects from Creator God's immaterial worlds. c) Human vessels that oppose the power and authority of Christ and His church on earth with cruel assault tactics against them and God's truth (Ex. 22:18; Deut. 18:10).
The following information regarding the origin of Halloween came from history.com:
Ancient Origins of Halloween
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.
This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids or Celtic priests to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were important sources of comfort during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes.
When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
By 43 A.D., the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the 400 years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
All Saints' Day
On May 13, 609 A.D., Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs' Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1.
By the 9th century, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands where it gradually blended with and supplanted older Celtic rites. In 1000 A.D., the church made November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It's widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, church-sanctioned holiday.
All Souls' Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The All-Saints' Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse, meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
I've presented you with enough information and facts to establish Satan as the progenitor of Halloween undoubtedly; therefore explaining why Christians should have no involvement with Halloween. As I stated in part one, you cannot change the origin of someone or something.
Allow me to end by sharing this piece of vital information. Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, said, "Dressing up, either by wearing a costume or by coloring oneself in celebration of Halloween, signifies that you allow Satan to own you."
He went on to say, "When you adopt the pagan practices, you subconsciously dedicate yourself to the devil." LaVey's statements were corroborated by former Satanist John Ramirez, who said,
"When you dress up even as an angel or a mermaid for Halloween, you give the devil the legal right to change your identity." There's a much darker reality in Halloween beyond costumes and candy, Ramirez warns. (Statements quotes taken from wsimag.com, "Why Christians Should Not Celebrate Halloween," written by Nila Eslit) 
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Prophet C.T. Johnson served as the establishmentarian and senior pastor of three churches. Prophetic Voice Ministries founded August 2005 in Warner Robins, Georgia; Applying the Word Community Church, founded in January 2007 in Charleston, South Carolina; and Empowering WORD Ministries founded January 2014 in Warner Robins, Georgia. As a prophetic educator/trainer, author, radio/television and podcast host, Prophet Johnson sits as president and CEO of C. T. Johnson Ministries Int'l, a partnership-based outreach ministry headquartered in Commerce City, Colorado, mandated to declare truth & empower lives. He is a part of New Era Apostleship Restitution (N.E.A.R.), a kingdom-driven collaborative led by its founder and chief apostle, Dr. Paula A. Price, Ph.D. (best-selling author of The Prophet's Dictionary). In addition to ministry, Prophet Johnson currently serves his country through the United States Air Force in the rank of Master Sergeant for over 20 years. He's married to the love of his life, Mrs. Jessica D. Johnson, a licensed minister and psalmist of 18 years who faithfully serves with him in ministry.
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