All Hallow's Eve: Should You Remember The Living?

All Hallow's Eve (Halloween) has been hijacked in some ways...
...and has been turned away from reminding you of Christ's victory over death...
...the light seems to have been dimmed, but this too shall be corrected.

The realm of religionists is, unfortunately, usually based in fear and suspicion and ignorance.

The realm of the righteous is typically bravery and faith and wisdom from understanding.

Although evil exists in the world, the righteous do not fear evil since nothing can separate them from God's love.

But, where ignorance reigns among the religious, the righteous must consider the weak faith and frailty of the suspicious....and this is why:

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

- Matthew 9: 36

When the sheep are led astray to believe in nonsense, or are overwhelmed by the world's ideas and not the things of God, they can easily become helpless and be continually harassed.

When the sheep have filled their minds with fears instead of faith, it should be no surprise so many people shame themselves as mere cowards, and not faithful servants of Christ.

Let us conduct a logical exercise.

Many ancient myths predated the Gospel testimony (circa 1 A.D.) and, where a similarity is evident, the secular mind desires to root Christ as a development originating from a legendary myth.

The idea of life after death, or the resurrection of the human body, predated Christ by many centuries in places not directly influenced (it is understood) by Hebrew / Jewish themes.

Does evidence of an idea predating Christ outside of Hebrew origins, in this instance the resurrection, nullify the testimony that Christ in fact came back to life after tasting death?

Not if you believe that God has never worked in a vacuum, but has laid some of His thoughts on the minds and hearts of mankind the world over throughout times (Romans 2).

For those who do not believe and look for any reason to support their doubt, or denial of God's sovereignty over all the earth, this is reason enough for them to dismiss pondering the resurrection miracle.

Using this same logic, if an idea or celebration predated a later Christian idea, would that previous idea be cause to reject the later Christian idea?

Not if you believe and clearly understand that nothing is impossible nor without purpose for God, even seemingly mundane and abstract details.

For those who do not believe and look for any reason to support their contentions, this is enough for them to miss the fact the church has continuously subdued the world's ideas and submitted them all to Christ.

Some protest this practice and call it bringing paganism into the church.

But is this factual or even true?

Christianity has held a practice of incorporating and reinterpreting prior ideas and turning them into Christian themes.

This is one manner the faithful have become all things to all men, by allowing what does not contradict Yeshua as Lord or pollute the inner sanctum's purity to be graduated away from mere paganism.

In this manner, the faith moved swiftly throughout the earth, developing unique cultures without compromising the walk, which is by faith.

This is why you cannot tell one Christian from another according to their wardrobe, or their cultural manners, but only when they confess the secrets of their hearts in praising the God of heaven revealed in Christ.

This is why Christianity, very unique in this way from the world's religions, is an expression of love and faith that absorbs every culture it meets.

Christianity changes people from the inside out.

Enter the divine and exit the humanity, regardless of outer appearances.

In due time, pagan ideas are extracted and replaced for Gospel doctrine.

This 'change' is not so much from the outside in (which is religion's inverted and improbably effort), but the inner holy of holies.

The clearing of one's temple is not a physical exercise as some religions can attempt through hostility or force (and sadly, Christianity had its moments of waywardness in this vein).

This is why we witness various celebrations among a variety of Christians the world over since Christ rose from the dead many centuries ago.

Although we see variety, the unity under 'Christ is Lord' has little to do with the physical world and how humans go about their daily lives.

This is why it says this:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. 

- Romans 12: 1-2

And this:

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. 

- Colossians 2: 20-23

The aim of the church (you being a part of the church if you belong to Christ) is to forever shine the light of Christ on all things and view (and teach) them according to Christ, not according to ignorance or pagan rituals empty of anything from Above.

Where pagan rituals were the cultural norm, the church started with these ideas to introduce the reality of Christ as Lord and Him resurrected; the Gospel.

This is why the church has historically and continually absorbed things strange and made them meaningful to a new people.

For those still weak in faith, having little understanding in reaching the inner things of Christ with their generationally ingrained ideas, this practice continues.

Is this historical practice that of wayward men in the church who've inflicted great harm by clouding the Gospel?

Or is this simply what was taught by the first disciples of Christ and predicted in their testimonies?

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. 

- 2 Corinthians 10: 1-6

Paul explained exactly what the church has been continually doing for two millennia: we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Does a previous pagan practice somehow forever harm the Christian ideas of harvest, death (and resurrection) and things divine?

Of course not.

Does celebrating (or not) any such thing, whether originating in the church or from without and being made subject to the church, make any difference to the believer who is found in Christ?

Of course not.

But many ideas floating around men's minds can easily convince the weak in faith to fear things suspicious.

Directly to the matter of celebrating (or not) any such thing:

Is it 'evil' for a person to dress up in a costume, or to pass out sweets to children who are dressed in costumes?

Only for those whose minds have been warped by suspicions and have been convinced that such things are 'evil'.

How can I write this?

Because... depending on where your heart and mind are situated, whether soundly on the Rock, or on loose sand, your approach to what will seem foreign or strange will determine your level of understanding.

Where your heart and mind is will show where your faith is established, or how it can be easily disturbed.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. 

- Titus 1: 15-16

In context, the verse in Titus 1 follows a sentiment about a particular people in a particular place.

That context should be the alarming issue, for when an entire culture is swept away by ill manners, salvaging the entirety of a people could be argued as impossible or improbable, and a time of harvest is at hand, but not the harvest most would desire or expect.

Sadly, there are people who do in fact participate in dark efforts this time of year...and throughout the year continuously.

I am not speaking to or about these wayward souls.

Whether you put on a costume (or not) and enjoy the company of friends and pass out sweets to children, unless you are actually doing evil or intending to cause harm, where is the harm and evil?

Those with innocent thoughts do not see evil as those who are overwhelmed with evil (most likely overwhelmed by their own personal struggles or by focusing, again, too much on the world and not on Christ).

This battle was already fought and won by Christ when the religious confronted Him about the washing of hands, the Sabbath, and other certain celebrations (or abstentions).

Harvest redeems the righteous and rejects the ignoble.

The religious zealot will be revealed to lack the more important virtues of love and peace, and may be judged as hostile and impatient with the sheep.

Those commonly condemned as 'sinful' by the religious zealots will be revealed as chosen and graced by God's protective power over their hearts, since this is the manner sheep are protected by the Shepherd of their souls.

This argument was also already resolved when Christ sought out the sinner, and the religious were besides themselves, for although they outwardly reflected what they thought was 'righteousness', their hearts were full of hate, spite, suspicion, and criticism of others not like them.

What began to disable the church's efforts in bringing all things secular under her wings and into a proper Christ-centered context?

Unfortunately, it seems what happened 500 years ago in an attempt to correct certain problems in the church, what was began to unravel this process.

What was (and still is) perceived as a reformation became an outright rebellion over time.

The rise of sects that have grown from that point in time 500 years ago in Europe have been staggering, and confusion and division has reigned in place of unity and clarity.

That time's rebellion is similar to how the work of bringing a Gaelic pagan idea under the crown of Christ has reverted back to its pagan routes, now including dark modern themes.

It is then understandable why the sheep, helpless and harassed and fearful they usually are about things unknown and misunderstood, are tempted to rebel when having been raised according to a yeast that infected the family related to the Bread of Life, and blindly misunderstanding what He has already accomplished through His body, the church of Christ.

What is All Hallow's Eve (popularly now known as Halloween), and what was the original purpose of such a day?

From the definition:

All Hallows' Eve / All Saints' Eve is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.

The definition of the pagan origins mentions how particular Gaelic harvest celebrations and ideas were eventually interwoven into what we have today as Halloween (witchcraft, blood, horror movies, etc.)...again the dark themes a more recent development.

Prior to the modern dark themes that western cultures have developed for Halloween, the church had already taken that pagan celebration and brought it into submission to Christ and given it a light theme.

Christian themes have largely been ignored in popular culture, as have many other Christian themes for almost 500 years.

Since the church is the earthly sanctuary and Christ the prime example of human activity, and these ideals have been widely rejected in the aftermath of the 'Reformation' (Rebellion), we are not surprised at the amount of confusion from the religious community and hostility from the secular communities.

The questioning of everything regarding the church gave rise to the so-called 'enlightenment' that further rejected the yoke of Christ in all areas public, even challenging what one does in their home.

It should be no surprise that what was previously turned from darkness to light has once again been pushed into darkness.

And the church is blamed for this, when in fact it was not the church but those protesting the church and the secular desire to remove Christ's yoke over public life.

In reading both definitions of All Hallow's Eve and the Gaelic celebrations, one can see the church's effort to syncretize the prior with the eternal reality found in Christ regarding His death and resurrection and what this means for us and those who have passed away before us.

What did the church purpose in turning a pagan idea regarding death?

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For He “has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under Him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, who put everything under Christ. When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be all in all. 

- 1 Corinthians 15: 20-28

The rest of that chapter goes on to discuss the resurrection and some people's doubt about Christ's resurrection.

Ancient cultures have acknowledged death due to its finality and its factuality, and the idea of resurrection was mostly myth since no factual evidence was ever realized...until Christ!

Death instills fear in some people still today, for it clarifies man's immortality.

This is why it was such a revelation for Christ to have come back to life after death.

Some people desire not to think about death, and the religious may sometimes only desire to speak of Christ's death and no other person's death.

Some desire not to remember the dead, or to not even think about praying to God about the dearly departed.

Why?

Because they doubt...for they have already passed judgment on others whom they 'thought' they knew, but do we know anyone's heart other than our own heart?

Because they were taught such things...yet what do we read in Scripture regarding death and remembering the dead?

Precious in the sight of the Lord 

   is the death of His faithful servants. 

- Psalm 116: 15

The death of God's faithful servants (those sanctified and brought near to Him) is “precious” in God's sight.

What does it say about death in the age of Christ?

Then I heard a Voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” 

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” 

- Revelations 14: 13

God calls those who die in the Lord as “blessed”.

The day called All Saint's Day, and the days preceding and following it reflect the reality these Scriptures speak to.

The patterns of this world is to be faithless when it comes to death, but Christ vanquished death.

This is the hope that is recalled and celebrated from the 31st of October through the 2nd of November in the churches of Christ.

At least this is what the faithful are to have in mind and heart.

Regarding those who pursue dark themes and dark ideas, do their ideas have anything to do with what the righteous believe and hold in their hearts?

The wayward, confused, and rebellious would desire to convince you that thoughts of others somehow hinder yours...or their dark activities somehow contaminate your good work.

Yet, the teaching received from Above is to recognize those who have died in the Lord as blessed and precious in His sight.

Is it then, a sin, to remember the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 11 and 12) that have preceded us before and after Christ?

Only the religiously confused would argue against such things.

The pattern of this world is to fear death and avoid talking about it, and in some cultures, to not even mention those who have died.

The world makes up rules for itself all the time (called pagan or worldly), and some may sound reasonable while some others utterly ridiculous.

When it comes to righteousness for the faithful, anything done not out of love can be questionable.

Love is the fulfillment of God's law.

The law of God is upheld through love for God and one's neighbor, even one's enemies.

Regarding what the world calls something, whether 'good' or 'bad', should such ideas from the world capture the attention of those who pursue life through God's love?

Brothers and sisters, take back the proper celebration of the resurrection of the faithful from the ideas of the wicked.

Your celebration and remembrance of Christ's victory over the death of the faithful who preceded us has been hijacked by dark themes...but they are not lost unless you let them go and grant darkness victory.

You are free to participate (or not) in commemorating the blessed and precious faithful found in Christ after they pass from this material plane.

Be careful not to condemn people who desire to remember the blessed and precious souls whom God has rescued from death.

Be careful not to call 'evil' that which the pure in heart enjoy as a fun past time and who, according to their hearts and minds, are not practicing nor endeavoring to participate in any evil activity.

Be careful to see things for what they are and not as they've been suspiciously presented to you, to beguile you and intrigue you to the point of tempting you to fail loving others, and thus bringing judgment on yourself for your heart's condition despite your strict religious views.

Realize the memorial I am speaking of in this article is not remembering the dead per say, but the living:

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Yeshua, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Yeshua. 

- Ephesians 2: 4-7