Chapter Two – The Spirit Realm (page

Eventually some of my friends and I grew to go our separate ways and to battle (or surrender to) our own demons. Over the years those demonic forces took their toll in one way or another. One of my friends began believing she could ‘surf the astral planes’ through transcendental meditation and drugs. To this day she lives in fear of the creatures she says she can see.

Me? I’ve ventured through my share of dark places. Yet something amazing happens when the Truth enters a life. One begins to realize that those dark places aren’t “entertaining” at all. They are real. They are ancient and treacherous and a foe to every human being. Yet, darkness can no longer stand or torment a person who houses the Light. The darkness has fled from my life. And that’s really what this book is all about.

The reason I share this teaching is the hope that if you are journeying through darkness you will discover the Truth and allow the Truth to open your eyes and set you free. If you’re just playing around with the things of evil for entertainment purposes, may you be enlightened enough to understand that evil doesn’t play. And if you already know the Truth and if you are well aware of the tactics of the enemy, may this teaching reinforce and encourage you to have nothing to do with darkness and may it help you to lead others away from it.

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CHAPTER ONE

The Knowing

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14 (NIV)

Every year, with the changing of the first leaves, our country begins to anticipate and Christians begin to question Halloween. “Why can’t Christians participate in Halloween? How much can we celebrate Halloween without getting into trouble with God? Are harvest parties okay? What’s so wrong with going to haunted houses? What if someone just wants to celebrate the fun and not the bad stuff? Can I dress up as something nice?”

As youth leaders and adult Bible teachers, we found that each Biblical answer invariably brought new questions and deeper discussions. From teens: “I have a friend who’s a witch and she can really cast spells, but she’s really nice… Why are vampires so bad when their movies are about good vs. evil?” From adults: “Don’t you think you’re being too legalistic? You can’t ask us to be the bad guys and isolate our kids from the fun all the other kids are having.”

These snowballing questions and the discussions that followed drew me deeper into research and study. After much research, I compiled a teaching called, “A Historical

and Biblical Perspective of Halloween”.

For years we used this teaching in one form or another. It’s been revised a number of times as contemporary fads and interests have changed. Yet the Biblical truths and Christian concepts never change.

My intent is never to try to change a culture, but more to introduce a culture of

change to a people who call themselves according to God’s purpose. Christians have come so far from being the holy people God calls us to be. God’s people behave so much like the world that today it’s impossible to tell His people from unbelievers. Obviously the topic of Halloween isn’t being thrashed out in churches/youth groups today, unless of course the holiday is used in the context of boosting numbers or fundraising.

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My perspective has always been, “Why simply talk about an issue when we can be the instigators of change?” No Christian is supposed to merely listen to the Word – we’re to be ‘doing’ what It says (James 1:22). We can quote Scripture till we’re blue in the face, but if we don’t live it – it means nothing to those who connect with us in daily life.

Let me preface by saying that I find no joy in talking about darkness, or the enemy, or evil and demons and Satan. Nothing profits me to share scary stories and/or focus on the dark side of spirituality. I detest the types of Christians that are so demonically fixated that they believe they see and hear and feel demons everywhere they go. As Christians our focus should always be on Christ. So I don’t and won’t give audience or voice to the powers of evil. This though, is the season when evil is already being elevated and celebrated. Let’s face it; there are only a few public venues that don’t display some sort of Halloween decorations. And because this is the season when evil rises up to glorify itself – everywhere, I felt it was an appropriate time to release this teaching again with the sole intent to educate and lead others to know that Halloween isn’t at all about dressing up and pretending to be someone else, getting candy, partying, or enjoying a scare. Hovering behind the façade lays the spiritual enemy of the souls of mankind. And that enemy waits with anticipation for you to open the door and grant your permission for him to enter in to your life with the intent to steal, kill and destroy.

James 1:5-6 (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:13

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