Happy Holidays?
by John Grant
Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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"I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."Â Acts 26:17-18
The cashier handed me back my credit card and gave me a receipt, while saying “Happy Holidays.� Holidays? Isn’t it a little early for Thanksgiving and Christmas. “No,� she said…… “this is Halloween.� Maybe it is my imagination, but it seems that Halloween has been ratcheted up a notch or two this year.
The stores are full of Halloween merchandise and it seems that there are neighborhood decorations like I have never seen before. Houses in my neighborhood are all decked out with orange lights and all kinds of grotesque characters adorn front lawns. One house down the street have even erected a cemetery on the front lawn complete with tombstones and an iron fence over which a witch hangs from a tree.
It is as if the Devil himself is celebrating and bragging that he now has this country in his firm grip and wants to beef up his holiday. Historically, it was a Christian holiday, known as “All Hallows Eve,� since the day following was “All Saints Day,� an official day of worship and celebration in the Catholic Church. Later, it became a day of “harvest Festival,� noting the completion of gathering in the crops before the winds and cold of winter set in.
But, slowly and meticulously Satan moved in to take over and declare it his day. It is a holiday that generally glorifies the dark things of this world, rather than the light of Jesus Christ, The Truth. Have you noticed how costumes and masks are getting generally more bloody, gory, and depraved each year? Unfortunately, the gruesome and grotesque and the occult are increasingly glorified in American society, not only on Halloween, but throughout the year in horror movies and in television programs.
Halloween has become a Satanic holiday and Christians have no place to be involved in it. Satan loves Halloween because it glamorizes the powers of darkness, drawing little kids into his realm. And it is paying off. Witchcraft is exploding among teens today. SO, I encourage you to pass this year on celebrating Halloween and find a good Christian Halloween alternative.
(a thought on life from John Grant )
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/10/28/jg_holiday/
October 28th, 2009 at 7:49 am
I am so glad that someone is finally taking a stand on this "so-called holiday" Halloween. It sickens me and makes me so very sad to see how media and marketers have glorified this day. I totally agree with Mr. Grant's assessment and opinion. We as Christians and as individuals with moral convictions must do all we can to deny the evil one. Thank you Mr. Grant for stating the truth. I applaud you and pray that your message will reach others who share your/our concern.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:28 am
While I appreciate the historical content of Mr. Grant's mesage, I am sorry, but I can't agree, and yes, I am a Christian. So we are to do exactly what? If we participate we are exhalting Satan - come on. We are to be lights in this dark world - celebrate in a manner that obviously is not a part of the wickedness and evil intent but in a manner that glorifies Him. Is this just not possible? I think it is. Do you know how many people will be coming to your door for this event? This is a great...
October 28th, 2009 at 10:43 am
opportunity to witness for Him - love thy neighbor, our actual neighbors in the neighborhood. I have decorated our front yard with pumpkins. Our home will be a place that is inviting to those who show up - not a scary place. We are in this world not to partake in the ways of man, the world and what Satan enjoys, but to counter the sinfulness that is around us with God's love. The way to make a difference in this world is not to blast all things around us and walk away but to show His love,...
October 28th, 2009 at 10:50 am
mercy and grace. "Christians have no place to be involved in it" is not how I believe Jesus would have gone about His busines in today's world. His way was to be involved - ultimately, His way would counter what the culture had to offer. An excellent example to follow, especially for those who calls themselves followers of Christ.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Well done John. It is the duty of all Christians to, as Dennis puts t, 'counter' this abomination. The devil has hijacked the wisdom of All Saint+All Souls. Time we took it back.
An alternative I discover many Jewish families counter with is to celebrate another Purim ( usually March ) and dress up and take gifts to the elderly and housebound, with prayer.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I think we should have nothing to do with what is evil. We can not use what is evil to bring good, I would not make it a habit to go in to bars always to talk to drunks because that is where they are found. It is better to seek God's face for guidance in such situations if we have a burden for those people. God could have sent Abaham into Sodom and Gomora to warn those people, yet he asked him to warn his nephew to come out; so He can distroy them. Christians I think should stand and shan what...
October 28th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
is evil in a manner that they are seen and not only heard. The word of God says "come ye out from among them- it further says don't even do the things they do". So brothers let us be careful the way we plan our strategies on how to do God's business of bringing the lost to Christ. God is not looking all inviting us to around table to map up the strategy with Him no; He has already planned it, let us get it from His word and use it- then stand and watch to see His salvation. A christian must...
October 28th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
be seen to be a christian and not be heard only. I know this practice is not in my country yet but the same Devil in America is the same one and we don't know his plans right now but my prayer is let us be standing Christians, and standing together against such evils wither you have them in your country or not. Africa, Asia and Europe let us stand with our American brothers to pray against this evil, this no single nation's fight, besides we are a global village now.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Brothers feel free to comment on my contribution. God bless.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Mr. John Grant your are so correct. It has become Satanic. The souls of the faithful departed are to be prayed for. This so called Hallowen makes fun of them. May the Lord have mercy on the dead to this World.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:04 am
Your devotional has helps me to recall my experience many years ago when my understanding about God was still shallow. My friends invited me for a club party. I accepted the invitation and join them, they told me that's was a 'haloween night' party. I was very uncomfortable with the situation but I did not understant why. behaving such a way, I was so worried that my friends were lableling me as a person does'nt know how to sosialize, but it's never again.. when my knowledge of God become...
October 29th, 2009 at 6:07 am
....deeper I knew that God did not want me to be in that kind of celebration, It's satanic. That was my 1st and last. Thanks God for guiding me and saving me from sins.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Very well said and very accurate. Thank you. I think that this Dennis person is missing the point. It's either good or it's evil. There is no gray in this area.
January 18th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Great comments from each and everyone and though I myself agreed to what
was said regarding the celebration of such event like Halloween; its not up to us to
change their traditions and beliefs but only HIM. There's always ways for them to realize the result. We are not to judge but to correct and rebuke and tell the truth guided by the holy spirit. No one can change anyone's belief but only GOD.
January 18th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
The LORD JESUS CHRIST has ALL POWER and AUTHORITY to judge the world
in RIGHTEOUSNESS, to BRING Human History to an END, and to CREATE a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH that will DISPLAY HIS GLORY. ( Revelation 5:5-10).
Godly leaders must be EFFECTIVE SERVANTS in the cause of GOD's Kingdom
while there is still TIME.