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Halloween
Article by Richard T. RitenbaughHalloween is the second-most popular holiday. This night not only lacks biblical foundation, but the Bible warns us against participating in such activities.
Crazy or Christmas
Sermonette byIf Christmas is Christ's birthday, it is strange that everybody else except Christ receives a gift. All of its symbols derive from pagan sources.
Hating Evil, Fearing God
'Ready Answer' by David C. GrabbeVampires appear in the material as one of the imaginative elements associated with Halloween, listed alongside witches and werewolves as figures that modern Israelites indulge in annually, even if only in imagination. This indulgence is presented as evidence that many have no problem engaging with the occult, at least in a make-believe sense, despite the fact that Halloween's roots trace back to the pagan festival of Samhain, described as a mixture of drunkenness, revelry, licentiousness, vandalism, treachery, superstition, anarchy, and rank demonism. Though today this festival is dressed up as harmless, creative fun for children, its essence remains unchanged, and figures such as vampires represent that continuity with its demonic origins. The mention of vampires functions within a larger argument about the nature of evil as defined in Proverbs 8:13, which states that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Since the seed from which Halloween grew was paganism, which is described as simply a softer term for demonism, the fruit produced by that seed will also be evil, even when presented in an entertaining or festive way. Vampires, along with witches and werewolves, are thus categorized as elements of Halloween that, regardless of the guise they take, are contrary to eternal life with God. Those who genuinely fear God are said to instinctively and earnestly loathe those things that harm life and liveliness, even when the harm is not immediately apparent, and Halloween imagery, including vampires, is presented as harmful because of its connection to the evil one and his subservient evil spirits. The broader point being made is that if one truly respects God and what He stands for, one will also oppose all that He is against, which includes anything associated with demonism, however trivialized or normalized it may appear in popular culture. The illustration of the haunted house advertisement, "The Necropolis," which promotes gore and death-themed imagery, is used earlier in the discussion to demonstrate the same principle of double-mindedness, where supposed righteousness casually coexists with the celebration of evil. Vampires, as part of this cultural celebration of dark and destructive imagery, serve as a specific example of how evil can be repackaged as fun, illustrating the necessity of discernment and the cultivation of godly fear so that what is truly harmful to life and liveliness is recognized and rejected rather than embraced under the guise of harmless entertainment.
Halloween
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughVampires appear among the pre-Christian Celtic practices retained in Halloween, listed alongside fairies, witches, ogres, goblins, evil spirits, demons, ghouls, and goats as entities whose recognition fills the streets on that night. This element stems directly from the ancient festival of Samhain, observed around November 1 as a transitional period when the boundary between the physical and spirit worlds was believed to lift, permitting such beings to cross over. Participants sought to appease or contact these spirits through offerings, divination, and rituals, practices the material identifies as forms of idolatry and spiritual prostitution. The presence of vampires in contemporary observances therefore continues the same spiritism and chaos that God condemns as detestable, defiling both land and people, and producing separation from Him rather than the holiness He requires of His children.
Testing the Spirits (Part 1)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsVampires appear in a sales catalog titled One Spirit Resources for the Spirit, Mind, and Body as the title Vampires, Werewolves and Monsters, grouped with other entries on paranormal phenomena, animal wisdom, astrology, magic, goddesses, and similar subjects. The catalog presents these topics as resources under a single unifying spirit that draws from multiple sources, including shamans, yoga, Buddhism, Gnostic texts, and occult practices. This listing illustrates the catalog's version of one spirit as a collection of chaotic demons supplying knowledge and information. The material connects vampires directly to Satan's counterfeit unity through diversity, which operates as one spirit through chaos and carries the core motivation and characteristic of being antichrist. Such offerings stand in opposition to the true Spirit of God, confirming the broader warning that many false spirits have gone out into the world and must be tested against scripture to distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error.
The Not-A-Problem Folk
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles WhitakerThe Comics Code of 1954 prohibited any scenes dealing with or instruments associated with vampires and vampirism. This rule formed part of a larger set of standards that also banned depictions of the walking dead, ghouls, cannibalism, werewolfism, excessive bloodshed, torture, horror, depravity, lust, sadism, and masochism. The code required that evil never be presented alluringly and that crime appear only as a sordid activity, while forbidding any content that might create sympathy for criminals or disrespect for lawful authority. Publishers voluntarily submitted material for review so that approved issues could carry the association's seal. These restrictions reflected an industry response to moral challenges posed by increasingly graphic and explicit comic books. Over subsequent decades the code was progressively weakened to accommodate lower cultural standards until the major publishers withdrew in 2011 and the enforcing body ceased operations. The disappearance of such prohibitions, including those concerning vampires, illustrates the broader pattern of inadequate or absent responses to genuine moral issues that the material identifies as contributing to societal decline.
Hiding in Plain Sight
Sermonette by Mike Ford59% of 'Christians' do not believe in Satan, but we see his hand in the transgender movement, the obsession with climate change, and the abortion plague.
When the Trumpet Blows
Sermon by John O. ReidIn the biblical history of Israel, the sound of the trumpet often signified an immediate warning of imminent war, death, and destruction, heralding severe punishment for the people's disobedience. Jeremiah 4:19-22 expresses deep anguish over the alarm of war, with destruction upon destruction cried out as the land is plundered, reflecting God's judgment on a foolish people who do not know Him and are wise only in doing evil. Jeremiah 6:1-8 calls for the children of Benjamin to flee Jerusalem as disaster looms from the north, with God commanding war against the city for its oppression and wickedness, warning that without instruction, Jerusalem will be made desolate. Further, Jeremiah 6:9-10 portrays God's intent to thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel, lamenting their uncircumcised ears and rejection of His word, which has become a reproach to them. Jeremiah 6:11-17 reveals God's fury poured out on all, from children to the aged, due to widespread covetousness and false dealings, with the people refusing to walk in the old paths or listen to the trumpet's warning, thus facing inevitable punishment. Zephaniah 1:14-18 describes the great day of the Lord as a time of wrath, distress, and devastation, with the trumpet sounding alarm against fortified cities, bringing distress upon men for their sins against the Lord, as neither silver nor gold can deliver them from His jealousy and wrath. Zephaniah 2:1-3 urges the undesirable nation to gather and seek the Lord in humility before His fierce anger comes, hoping to be hidden in the day of His anger. Ezekiel 33:1-5 emphasizes the role of the watchman who blows the trumpet to warn of the sword; those who hear but do not heed the warning bear their own blood, while those who take warning save their lives, underscoring the personal responsibility of Israel to respond to God's call to repentance amidst impending punishment.