"Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:31).
The Halloween we know today developed largely from an ancient Celtic pagan festival called Samhain, a day steeped in witchcraft and attempts to contact spirits—a day Christians should have nothing to do with.
The future of the world will largely depend on how our children turn out. And that largely depends on what the older generations are teaching and failing to teach the younger generations. We should consider this a huge responsibility.
Teaching is accomplished by words and by examples. Parents and other adults must be good role models, practicing what they preach.
Americans are frightened by the ongoing recession, but, ironically, a large percent are not afraid to spend pretty scary amounts for Halloween!
Incredibly, seven in 10 Americans plan on celebrating the holiday this year—almost 5 percent more than last year—according to the National Retail Federation’s 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.
The expected expenditures total $6.86 billion! That includes $1 billion on children’s costumes, $1.21 billion on adult costumes, and $310 million on pet costumes.
Halloween is this weekend, in case you haven’t noticed. But it’s hard not to notice. Halloween has become the second-largest retail holiday in North America. It’s second only to Christmas in sales generated by the strong consumer desire to party with the dead and macabre elements. Imitating ghosts and demons may seem like harmless fun. It’s not. Playing with the darker elements of this world is inviting strong forces into your life. You do this at your own peril.