Cheryl Birch

Should we Celebrate Oct 31st?

My answer may surprise some of you, but I believe there is a lot for a Christian to celebrate on October 31st. Though many calendars note November 1st, it was October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther, a Catholic priest, obeyed the promptings of the Holy Spirit of God and posted his 95 Theses on the church door. This action birthed the Reformation and the Protestant branch of the church sprung up out of the revelation God gave to Martin Luther that “the just shall live by faith” as well as many other truths that were kept from the common folks of that day. Martin Luther knew his action would put his life in peril. He knew that many people would perish without knowing the Savior if he did not take action.

It was one of the darkest times ever for the body of Christ. The church was overtaken with corruption. It was led by false teachers and power hungry profiteers who withheld the Word of God from the people, charged them money to pray for them, and they silenced anyone who spoke against them. In effect they withheld the Gospel and thus the Lord Jesus’ saving work and replaced the truth with man made doctrines and dogmas. The people suffered in darkness during that time. When Martin Luther obeyed the Lord and posted the truth for all to read, the darkness broke, the church was reformed over the coming years, the people once again heard the word of God and many were set free.

At the time it was the greatest awakening ever of the world to the truths of God, save the resurrection of Jesus Himself, and it still blesses us today!

It is because of this obedient act of Martin Luther that the Devil hates October 31st.

Ever since that day in 1517, he has worked overtime to spread pagan practices, to twist, distort, pervert and choke this day with evil.

But, I declare to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that this is a day that the Lord has made!

We who know the Lord should be celebrating our freedom and rejoicing in the fact that this is the day the Reformation was birthed. But, we should not be celebrating evil.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11 (NRSV)

I am saddened, even at times outraged, at the blatant flaunting of evil and celebration of death in our culture. The folks who don’t know the Lord and celebrate concerns me. They need to hear the truth. What really grieves me is the church condoning and the body of Christ celebrating evil that truly hurts my heart. This time of year is suppose to be a glorious time to celebrate not only the Reformation, but Harvest and remembrance of the provision and abundance of our God. It is a time to reflect on our relationship with Him and how good He is to us and how He has cared for our families and loved ones. It’s suppose to be a celebration of life abundant. Instead, as we go about our business we are greeted with witches, black cats, skeletons carved pumpkins, and myriads of grotesque and evil images, grave stones, ghosts and goblins.

Of course, there is evil with us constantly as the pagans and heathens do not understand holiness and the devil goes about doing his worst. To me the real problem is that the evil portrayed during October is more and more permeating the lives of those who profess to be believers in Christ Jesus. I hear all too often from my brothers and sisters in Christ that this celebration of evil and death is “just for fun” or “it’s family tradition” or “it’s for the children.”

I have to say those are poor reason indeed!

According to the Word of God, there is no excuse for a born again believer to glorify or condone evil.

There is no debate about October 31st Halloween celebrations – plain and simple they lift up evil and the Lord condones nothing evil for His church. This holiday opens the door for Satan to torment you and your family with fear, anxiety, strife, illness, insanity and more. It most assuredly is not a thing that anyone should teach their children or keep as a family tradition.

Read the following scriptures. It is very clear that believers are not to imitate evil. Not even for “fun.” These are just a few of the scriptures that deal with evil things like Halloween.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; Romans 12:9 (NRSV)

Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Amos 5:14 – 15 (NRSV)

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8 – 9 (NRSV)

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12 (NRSV)

For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servantsof God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.1 Peter 2:15 – 16 (NRSV)

For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil. The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:19 – 20 (NRSV)

And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”John 3:19 – 21 (NRSV)

As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is important that you do not come into agreement with evil. The more the devil can get Christians to agree with him, even in jest, the more entrenched the evil is. Especially if you are a prayer warrior or in leadership in the church, you must take a stand against the infiltration of occult, witchcraft, sorcery, and the celebration of evil and death in every form. Until we root out every vestige of pagan celebrations, such as the one on October 31st or the “Day of the Dead,” from the church and teach all believers the truth about this time of year, we will see gross darkness every October.

It’s important that you repent if you have been complacent toward evil. Repent if you have participated in any activities celebrating Halloween or the Day of the Dead. Ask for the Lord’s forgiveness and then renounce your participation. Then don’t take the kids trick or treating, don’t put up Jack- o- lanterns , black cats and skeletons or ghosts. Don’t participate in Day of the Dead parties or vigils.

Be the light you have been called to be. As the Lord gives you opportunity, share the truth about the evil of these days with your family, church friends and others that you know love the Lord.

Arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

If we as believers can come into unity and agree in prayer that there is no place for evil in our own camp (the church and our families), then we can stand against the gates of hell and begin to help all people get free through salvation. If we stand together whole cities can be redeemed. We should be sharing the good news of Christ with all who will listen. Remember “Where darkness abounds, His grace abounds that much more!”

Celebrate the Reformation!!! Celebrate our Freedom!! Become a safe harbor for your neighborhood or let your church be a safe place for families to gather that night. Share the love of Christ along with lots of fun and some treats for the kids. 3 John 1:11 Be not imitators of evil, but of good!

Bless you as you overcome evil with good on this very special night!

With love
Rev Cheryl

Watch Rev Cheryl’s testimony “Stepping Out of Darkness” – Click Here – You will be taken to Youtube