Tis autumn. It's the most wonderful time of the year. The chill of the morning air, the early fog rolling over the hilltops, sweaters, fires, and soups abound. I absolutely love autumn with all it's sights, sounds, and smells. Creation lays vibrant, the harvest is bountiful, the air revives a weary soul, and there is rejoicing in the feasts of the Lord. There is however one blot of this glorious season of coziness, and that is the glorification of darkness.
Before I continue, I want to acknowledge that this post will send the defenses up for some people, and I want you to know that I understand. Back in the day, some of my favorite movies were horror movies and anything to do with witches and magic. I watched them all and I loved them. I myself was involved in the new age, the occult, and practiced some forms of witchcraft. After seeing The Craft movie in 5th grade, I checked out a spell book from the library and brought it to my friends house down the road to practice. If I had read this blog post 10 years ago, I would have thought that it was an overreaction, annoyingly religious, and dramatically trying to ruin the fun of it all. So, I understand your perspective If that is your reaction to what I am going to say here today.
If you call yourself a believer, and you are having a negative reaction to this information, you really need to seek the Father on your face about this, because we worship a Holy God who will not be mocked. Eight years ago, God brought me out of darkness, and into His marvelous light, and we are commanded not to participate in darkness, but rather to expose it.
I have seen the craze beginning lately over the release of the remake of the movie Hocus Pocus. The original movie was very popular when I was growing up and I remember loving it. I think that it is easy to become sentimental over things that are a big part of our childhoods, and that attachment can blind us to the reality of what we are watching or participating in. I have seen many Christian influencers and YouTubers posting the hype over this movie and doing countdowns in excitement to being able to sit down and watch it with their children.
I want to step back from the childhood sentimentality, and break down a few things about this movie that need to be seen for what they are. It is odd to me now, that I could have been so oblivious to the deep evils in this movie, but they cover it with the humor and storyline.
In this movie, The Sanderson sisters come back from the dead after having been hung for witchcraft and vile evil acts against children. The movie alludes to the fact that all around the grounds of their home, hundreds of children are buried who they sacrificed over the years to gain more power and youth. They suck the life force from children so that they can be young and beautiful forever.
One of the teenagers in the movie, becomes allured with the Salem witches and goes to the old Sanderson house to find their spell book. This spell book by the way, was given to them 'by the devil himself', and the spell book is bound in human skin. After the book is found, the teenager uses an incantation to bring the witches back from the dead so that they can continue sacrificing children. Of course, the movie uses humor and creates a positive association with magic and occult activity. This is always par for the course. There is one notable scene from the movie where the witches fly through the sky singing a beguiling song to lure the children of the town to their home so that they can suck the life from them and continue living and having youthful beauty.
Some songs from the movie include: “I put a spell on you” “Children, I Smell Children, Come Out My Children Wherever You Are – Why Don't You Stay for Supper?”
Before you say that it's just fun and I am a party pooper, really think about what you just read. When we look around the world today at the physical and spiritual battles that are raging, particularly against the souls of the youth, does this seem like fun and games to you?
The other thing that becomes popular this time of year is the use of 'dark cottage core' or dark aesthetic' If you have followed our channel, then you know that I am a lover of the cottage core aesthetic and of the poetic beauty of creation in all its seasons. There is light and dark in all that surrounds us. Some of the contrast is from God. The foggy mornings on the lake, the moonlight against a midnight sky, the mountains in November, and the trees against a twilight landscape. I love the moodiness of this time of year and how the Lord fills the seasons with an array of emotions and beauty. However, we have to be aware of when these things are taken out of their rightful context and the darkness becomes glorified in the name of aesthetics. When the contrast of light and dark is used to create an eerie atmosphere, to glorify witchcraft, to evoke fear, or to stir the darkness that we are all prone to fall into, then it is to be marked and avoided.
I know that some people may think I am exaggerating, but all of these things are not innocent. Halloween is not innocent fun for children. There is a real and present darkness and enemy that seeks entrance into your life through whatever means necessary. It is up to us to guard the gates of our home, our eyes, ears, and souls. It is up to us to protect our children from that which prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. You may think it's innocent fun, but anyone who had been involved in the occult will tell you differently.
The good news is that no matter what we have allowed in or done in the past, there is a God and Savior who is mighty to save and deliver. He brought me out of darkness into His marvelous light, and He desires to make you new as well. If you are a believer and have been allowing things into your life that you shouldn't, today is the day of repentance. Today is the day to run to His marvelous throne of grace. Today is the day of deliverance.
John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
1 Thessalonians 5:5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
Ephesians 5:8 For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?