Reflection on the origin of Halloween
All Hallows Eve is about mocking death and proclaiming our victory in Christ over death, hell, and the forces of darkness.
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 15:55-57).
We do not give up our traditions because of how the world corrupts them.
Have you given up Christmas because the world has made it about materialism and shifted the center focus to Santa? Have you given up Easter because the world made it about candy, mall photos, and centered it on the “Easter Bunny?” Have you given up Sundays because sports teams chose to make it a game day?
If you don’t want people to glorify death and evil, I’m with you. Stop conflating our holy day with what it is not. Just as Easter is not about the Easter Bunny, Halloween is not about Satan or the glorification of the demonic.
Keep the Christ in Christmas and the Hallow in Halloween, and please don’t let the theological descendants of Anabaptists and Puritans direct the Anglican way.
Let us celebrate what is holy - our victory in Christ over death, hell, and the forces of darkness. Victory in Jesus!
Editorial note: I have copied this teaching on Halloween from my friend Bishop William Millsaps who also copied it from a friend. It is a WONDERFUL teaching, Gospel-focused and glorifying Jesus. Praise God! Copied from a close friend...
listen or sing along here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x7XfGHm7lEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x7XfGHm7lE
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;
If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post,
Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:
Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain,
And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.
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George Duffield, Jr., 1858.
Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13
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