Supernatural Freedom

In the closing chapter of the book of Ephesians, Paul leaves his readers with these words of exhortation:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Americans have developed a significant fascination with Halloween.  Just a drive through neighborhoods or a visit to retailers show that Halloween decor is ever-present and some stores have extensive sections full of costumes and candy.

USA Today reported:

Nearly half of consumers (47%) began their Halloween purchasing before October, up from 45% last year – and much higher than in 2019 when 37% of shoppers said they started early, according to the National Retail Federation's annual Halloween Spending Survey.

Shoppers may still be choosy, however. Total Halloween 2024 spending is estimated at $11.6 billion, about 5% below 2023's record-setting spending mark of $12.2 billion, the trade association's survey found.

While many costumes that are sold are frivilous and fun, a closer look at Halloween decor shows a certain gravitation toward matters of death and darkness.  No wonder; just look at the origins of this faux holiday and you see supernatural overtones - and not in a positive way.

Christopher Reese of The Worldview Journal, wrote an extensive piece at The Christian Post recently, in which he says:

Christians hold various opinions about Halloween, but one thing it certainly points to is the human fascination with the supernatural. Although many in the West pride themselves on being secular and scientific, everyone has an innate curiosity about what may lie beyond the world we experience with our five senses. History shows humans have always acknowledged the existence of the supernatural and engaged in practices to worship or manipulate it.

Reese offers these sobering comments: "Although humankind should seek transcendence in God, because of the fall, many seek it elsewhere. If one is coming into contact with the spiritual realm apart from God, they are interacting with the only other spiritual reality that exists, that of Satan and his demons — the world of the occult."

In the piece, he describes the teachings and practices of the New Age and Paganism or Wicca.  He then offers a Christian response, including this:

...occult beliefs and activities are an attempt to circumvent God’s authority and go beyond the revelation provided in Scripture. This temptation is as old as humankind itself and was precisely what Satan offered Adam and Eve in the garden. Satan insisted that there was knowledge to be had that God was withholding and that gaining this knowledge would elevate the human couple to a godlike status (Gen. 3).

Reese also notes: "The occult is also a form of idolatry — giving ultimate allegiance to someone or something other than God. Whether it’s the Mother Goddess worshiped by some Wiccans, or a deified self-pursued by New Agers, all occult belief systems replace the Creator who has revealed himself in Scripture with some type of counterfeit deity." Plus, he says: "... participation in occult activities opens a person up to demonic influence. This is true for both Christians and non-Christians."
 

He offers six action steps in order to experience freedom in Christ from the occult:
1. Receive Christ as your Lord and Savior
2. Confess the sin of involvement in the occult
3. Destroy all occult objects
4. Break off all occult associations
5. Immerse yourself in God’s Word
6. If necessary, seek additional help.

We must not lose sight of the spiritual warfare that we are involved in.  And, it comes whether we're prepared for it or not - our choice is not whether or not to let it come but to determine how to respond when we encounter it.  We can either choose to ignore it, which doesn't make it go away, or to engage using the spiritual resources that God has given to us - the armor of God, prayer, Bible study, and the power to decide how to engage.  We also have to guard our hearts and minds so that we are strong to resist temptation. 

And, we have to avoid those practices that will weaken us spiritually.  We have to guard against dabbling in the ways of the enemy and resist the temptation to mix forms of spirituality that are inconsistent with Scripture with Biblical principles.  The Bible tells us to be strong in the Lord; so it is important that we are walking in His truth.