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| Section: Walking In The Faith |
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| Category: Biblical Teaching / Lesson |
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| Be Not Deceived |
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I stopped at a party supply store to purchase a balloon for my son’s birthday. His birthday is in the first week of September. Upon entering the store, I was confronted with all manner of displays in honor of Halloween! Hey, I ask myself, isn’t Halloween nearly two months away? Then it dawned on me how popular a holiday it had become with all ages. When I was a child growing up in the 1950s, Halloween was for the kids. We would dress up as monsters and fairy tale princesses, etc., and go around the neighborhood trick or treating, reaping a bagful of goodies. The adults were the ones answering the door, handing out the treats. But, today (as I could see from the store displays) it is no longer for the kiddies. It has become big business catering to all ages. Sadly, it has become that way with a lot of things that were traditionally for the young: those in my generation have refused to give up the rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. It made me reflect on the Biblical passage that stresses the need to grow up (1 Corinthians 13:11). As Christians, there are many things we were once childish about, even as adults, that the scriptures reveal we are to now separate ourselves from.
In Galatians 5:19 and following there is a list of things we should not do. Some, such as adultery, fornication, lewdness and murder, are obvious and not arguable. Other words, such as drunkenness, envy and revelries take on a “where is the line drawn” stand. I want to take a brief look at the word “idolatry”. Simply put, it pertains to the worship of anything or anyone other than God in Christ. To this end I would like us to take a fresh look at Halloween.
Did you know that there is an example of “trick or treating” in the Bible? Some may think it a stretch, but here goes: Turn with me to 1 Samuel 28. In a nutshell, king Saul, by God removing His Spirit and sending a distressing spirit (1 Samuel 16:14), had sunk to a new low when confronted with the enemy by consulting a medium at En Dor (can you see the irony from the old TV show Bewitched where the mother’s name was Endora?). Anyway, in order to not be recognized, Saul disguises himself (28:8) by putting on other clothes. He then goes to this female medium (some could say a witch) to have her call up Samuel the priest from the grave for advice. He promises her no harm will come to her (trick?) if she does what he asks and, when all is done, she feeds him a meal (treat?).
The point of this article is in the title. We can, even as servants of God, deceive ourselves! If someone called of God, as Saul was, can end up this way, who are we to think we can escape deception?! Possibly Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:13, was thinking of Saul (Paul’s original name) when he warned that “evil men and IMPOSTORS will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”? We need to take to heart the admonition found in Galatians 6:7-9 and not be deceived regarding the principle of sowing and reaping, especially sowing to the flesh instead of the Spirit. One will surely reap corruption while the other will surely reap everlasting life.
As we approach a holiday that is nothing more than a tribute to the Prince of Darkness, let us carefully consider what our part in this “holiday” should be (Ephesians 2:1-8). God has delivered us out of darkness and into His glorious kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Oh, if you must put on “other” clothing, let it be those found in Ephesians 6:13-18. These are the best articles that make up the only acceptable “costume” by God because it will truly result in a treat like no other: victory over the devil instead of bowing down to him. |
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| Date of Submission: 2007-10-22 11:10:02 |
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