M
MrVersatile48
Guest
From http://www.crosswalk.com
How Former Witches Want You to Celebrate Halloween
By Rebekah Montgomery, Contributing Writer
If you are looking for lurid tales of infant sacrifice or ritual rapes of
13-year-old virgins, you won't find them recounted here. Those horrors may
have happened somewhere on October 31st, but the tragedy remembered here by some former witches is that some Halloween traditions and symbols can provide too handy of a gateway to the occult. And some children are simply spiritually unprotected because no one ever prays for them
Writes one former witch on the http://www.Ex-WitchMinistries.org website: (Or http://www.ex_witch.org) - "Many kids get their first exposure to the occult at horror movies at Halloween parties.
After the initial exposure to the occult some children are attracted to the
occult because of the power it offers them. Others see it as the ultimate
means of rebelling against their parents."
Exwitch Ministries is an outreach to those who are involved in the occult
and supporting those who are exploring the claims of Christ.
But Halloween doesn't have to be a trapdoor to hell. And many former
witches don't want to see the holiday left in Satan's hands to be used for
his own purposes. They want to see the day redeemed. And if not redeemed, then they would like to see the trapdoor a lot less child-friendly.
MANY Pentecostal-style churches host Hallelujah! parties tonight - dressing brightly & joyfully, celebratring the life abundabt, the 'peace past understanding' & the 'fulness of joy' - that only Christ can give - see http://www.ag.com & click church search for your nearest
Or google "Pentecostal church HQ" & do same to find your nearest Elim, Apostolic, Church of God, etc
The Pentecostal Churches of UK & Ireland together sponsor Teen Chalenge - who know only too well the links between illegal hallucinogenic drugs & forbidden occult practices
Many know their 2 classic books/films, The Cross & The Switchblade & Run, Baby, Run!
Mark Bishop, a self-described former "eclectic witch," said in a recent
interview that when he first came to faith in Christ, he really hated
Halloween was because of his sensitivity to the occult symbolism associated
with it. "As the costumes got more and more grotesque and more celebratory of darkness, it bothered me a lot. I knew what was on the other side and I knew it was real."
Strangely enough, his son's kindergarten teacher helped him understand that God made Halloween just like He made every other day of the year.
"Satan doesn't own the day," said Bishop. "I still know what's real and what's on the other side. But God made this day just like He made all the others and we don't have to give it to Satan."
Bishop, in fact, recommends that Christian believers teach their children
to reclaim the day
"I do leave the porch light on and give out candy," said Bishop. "And if at
all possible, I give out gospel tracts and pray for every child that comes
to our door. After all, how often does the mission field come to the door?"
Other former witches recommend that Christians treat their children to a
church harvest party while the adults take turns on their knees at the
altar beseeching God for His protection over the tender souls of their
children, neighborhood children, the town and rebuking Satan in Jesus'
name.
"The Scripture says we are in a battle against principalities and powers of
the air, wickedness in high places. If Halloween isn't a reminder of that,
what is?" one former witch asked. "What better time to stand against the
night?"
Over the centuries, there have been numerous attempts to redeem the
holiday, most notably led by the organized church. Somewhere in the seventh century-although by some accounts attempts were made as early as the fourth century-commemoration of the Celtic new year celebration of Samhain was replaced by Pope Boniface IV AS All-hallows or Halloween. Remembering saints and martyrs, October 31 was passed in prayer and fasting with November 1 and 2 becoming All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, respectively.
Obviously, Halloween's redemption process still requires work. Perhaps,
ironically, former witches will be the ones to give the rest of us an
inkling of what we could be doing.
"Halloween was once a night of prayer, praise, and sacrifice," reminded one
former witch. "This is one night when the world beats a path to your door.
Be prepared to bless each and every precious child by praying God's
protection over their souls. It may be the only time all year anyone prays
for that child."
Rebekah Montgomery is the editor of Right to the Heart of Women e-zine, a
publisher at Jubilant Press, and the author of numerous books on spiritual
growth. She can be contacted for comments or speaking engagements at
rebekahmontgomery.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Be bold - be strong & very courageous!" - Joshua 1
Jesus is "FAR above all other"
He is none less than the Almighty Creator in human form - see John 1, Col 1 & Heb 1
"The devil is under your heel!"
Liverpool/Merseyside readers can link to all local evangelical church websites via http://www.tfh.org.uk - Together For Harvest
See Prayer/Praise Forum @ 'Trent Connection' & 'Midlands Network' - or simply google those names
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=18855
God bless!
Ian
How Former Witches Want You to Celebrate Halloween
By Rebekah Montgomery, Contributing Writer
If you are looking for lurid tales of infant sacrifice or ritual rapes of
13-year-old virgins, you won't find them recounted here. Those horrors may
have happened somewhere on October 31st, but the tragedy remembered here by some former witches is that some Halloween traditions and symbols can provide too handy of a gateway to the occult. And some children are simply spiritually unprotected because no one ever prays for them
Writes one former witch on the http://www.Ex-WitchMinistries.org website: (Or http://www.ex_witch.org) - "Many kids get their first exposure to the occult at horror movies at Halloween parties.
After the initial exposure to the occult some children are attracted to the
occult because of the power it offers them. Others see it as the ultimate
means of rebelling against their parents."
Exwitch Ministries is an outreach to those who are involved in the occult
and supporting those who are exploring the claims of Christ.
But Halloween doesn't have to be a trapdoor to hell. And many former
witches don't want to see the holiday left in Satan's hands to be used for
his own purposes. They want to see the day redeemed. And if not redeemed, then they would like to see the trapdoor a lot less child-friendly.
MANY Pentecostal-style churches host Hallelujah! parties tonight - dressing brightly & joyfully, celebratring the life abundabt, the 'peace past understanding' & the 'fulness of joy' - that only Christ can give - see http://www.ag.com & click church search for your nearest
Or google "Pentecostal church HQ" & do same to find your nearest Elim, Apostolic, Church of God, etc
The Pentecostal Churches of UK & Ireland together sponsor Teen Chalenge - who know only too well the links between illegal hallucinogenic drugs & forbidden occult practices
Many know their 2 classic books/films, The Cross & The Switchblade & Run, Baby, Run!
Mark Bishop, a self-described former "eclectic witch," said in a recent
interview that when he first came to faith in Christ, he really hated
Halloween was because of his sensitivity to the occult symbolism associated
with it. "As the costumes got more and more grotesque and more celebratory of darkness, it bothered me a lot. I knew what was on the other side and I knew it was real."
Strangely enough, his son's kindergarten teacher helped him understand that God made Halloween just like He made every other day of the year.
"Satan doesn't own the day," said Bishop. "I still know what's real and what's on the other side. But God made this day just like He made all the others and we don't have to give it to Satan."
Bishop, in fact, recommends that Christian believers teach their children
to reclaim the day
"I do leave the porch light on and give out candy," said Bishop. "And if at
all possible, I give out gospel tracts and pray for every child that comes
to our door. After all, how often does the mission field come to the door?"
Other former witches recommend that Christians treat their children to a
church harvest party while the adults take turns on their knees at the
altar beseeching God for His protection over the tender souls of their
children, neighborhood children, the town and rebuking Satan in Jesus'
name.
"The Scripture says we are in a battle against principalities and powers of
the air, wickedness in high places. If Halloween isn't a reminder of that,
what is?" one former witch asked. "What better time to stand against the
night?"
Over the centuries, there have been numerous attempts to redeem the
holiday, most notably led by the organized church. Somewhere in the seventh century-although by some accounts attempts were made as early as the fourth century-commemoration of the Celtic new year celebration of Samhain was replaced by Pope Boniface IV AS All-hallows or Halloween. Remembering saints and martyrs, October 31 was passed in prayer and fasting with November 1 and 2 becoming All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, respectively.
Obviously, Halloween's redemption process still requires work. Perhaps,
ironically, former witches will be the ones to give the rest of us an
inkling of what we could be doing.
"Halloween was once a night of prayer, praise, and sacrifice," reminded one
former witch. "This is one night when the world beats a path to your door.
Be prepared to bless each and every precious child by praying God's
protection over their souls. It may be the only time all year anyone prays
for that child."
Rebekah Montgomery is the editor of Right to the Heart of Women e-zine, a
publisher at Jubilant Press, and the author of numerous books on spiritual
growth. She can be contacted for comments or speaking engagements at
rebekahmontgomery.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Be bold - be strong & very courageous!" - Joshua 1
Jesus is "FAR above all other"
He is none less than the Almighty Creator in human form - see John 1, Col 1 & Heb 1
"The devil is under your heel!"
Liverpool/Merseyside readers can link to all local evangelical church websites via http://www.tfh.org.uk - Together For Harvest
See Prayer/Praise Forum @ 'Trent Connection' & 'Midlands Network' - or simply google those names
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=18855
God bless!
Ian