Halloween Sermon

Charley West

We are about to be besieged by ‘trick or treaters.’ No, I’m not talking about another election campaign. Halloween occurs Monday. Most neighbourhoods have houses that have been decorated for the event – for weeks. Store displays have been out for most of the last month. The world is in readiness for the annual celebration of death, pagan rituals and Satanism!

All Hallow’s Eve, or Halloween, originated in the seventh century AD. It was first observed May 13 as a night for remembering deceased saints and martyrs. So – in essence, a night for celebrating – death! The Bible tells us to celebrate – life – Jesus’ life IN us.

That May 13th date was soon changed to November 1st in order to Christianize the pagan holidays of Beltane and Samhain, or festivals of summer, winter and fire. Throughout Europe Halloween is a night that marks the transition from autumn to winter, and is also that time of the year when the souls of the departed revisit their homes to ‘warm themselves by the fire.’ The folklore goes that these “ghosts” would wander the countryside retrieving the offerings of food and drink (treats) supplied by living family members. There were still darker forces that roamed the night as well. Demons, hobgoblins, witches on broomsticks all haunting the night with acts of mischief (tricks).

The Titan Earth mother of wizards and witches, Hecate, illustrates better than any other ancient goddess, the connection between Wicca, the Celtic Halloween traditions, and evil supernaturalism. Hecate was the goddess of witchcraft, and was worshipped as Isis, with impure rites and much magical incantation. Her name was derived from the ancient Egyptian word “Heka” which means ‘sorcery’ or ‘magical.’ Heka is also the name applied to the Egyptian frog goddess, a fact that also explains why frogs are associated with witchcraft, and why they are shown as evil and demonic in the Bible.

Hecate’s devotees practised their magic wherever 3 roads, or paths, joined, so the Romans referred to her as “Trivia.”  ‘Tri’-- meaning three and ‘via’ – roads; later when the Latin church fathers compared the magic of the goddess Trivia with the power of the Gospel, they found it to be inferior, and thus the pursuit of Hecate’s ways became known as Trivial Pursuit, or inconsequential. However, Hecate’s followers sincerely believed in and feared her magic. Her presence was legendary. It is still worshipped to this very day, and this year it will be celebrated on Monday, Oct.31. The connection between ancient paganism and modern day Halloween customs and costumes is pretty easy to trace. The Celtic occultists’ adoption of Hecate’s ways, show up as part of pop culture, symbolism and traditions.

• People showing up on Halloween night at neighborhood homes represent the dead in search of food (treat).
• Masks of devils and hobgoblins represent evil spirits seeking mischief (tricks).
• Those who pass out candy represent the homes of those visited by the dead, or may also represent worried individuals seeking to appease Hecate and other night time terrors
• The Jack-O-Lantern (will- o-the wisp, fox fire, fairy fire, etc.) is the wandering soul stuck between heaven and hell. Others say Druids left Jack-O-Lanterns on doorsteps to ward off evil spirits.

Granted most children who put on the masks and go door to door are only interested in the candy they are going to receive. They could care less about the symbolism; however, parents should know what this time of year means. Adults, recently, have become more involved in the Halloween festivities through house and club parties, and need to consider the spiritual implications before participating in these occult rituals.

Right now, society has opened itself up to the celebration of the wickedness of this event in more ways than have ever been prevalent. It is because we are in the end times. Satan’s realizes his reign is ending and he is intent on deceiving and taking with him as many as he can to the ‘dark side.’

Read all Charley’s sermon’s notes HERE…