Christianity and the Dark Side — What About Halloween?

Monday, October 29, 2012

Over a hundred years ago, the great Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck predicted that the 20th century would “witness a gigantic conflict of spirits.” His prediction turned out to be an understatement, and this great conflict continues into the 21st century.

The issue of Halloween presses itself annually upon the Christian conscience. Acutely aware of dangers new and old, many Christian parents choose to withdraw their children from the holiday altogether. Others choose to follow a strategic battle plan for engagement with the holiday. Still others have gone further, seeking to convert Halloween into an evangelistic opportunity. Is Halloween really that significant?

Well, Halloween is a big deal in the marketplace. Halloween is surpassed only by Christmas in terms of economic activity. Reporting in 2007, David J. Skal estimated: “Precise figures are difficult to determine, but the annual economic impact of Halloween is now somewhere between 4 billion and 6 billion dollars depending on the number and kinds of industries one includes in the calculations.” As of 2012, that total exceeded $8 billion.

Furthermore, historian Nicholas Rogers claims that “Halloween is currently the second most important party night in North America. In terms of its retail potential, it is second only to Christmas. This commercialism fortifies its significance as a time of public license, a custom-designed opportunity to have a blast. Regardless of its spiritual complications, Halloween is big business.”

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Is There Such a Thing as Child-Friendly Horror Movies?

Charisma News – 9/30/2012 

They’re coming. Over the next few months, parents are going to see an onslaught of horror based movies that are aimed directly at their children. Paranorman, Frankenweenie and Hotel Transylvania may look like harmless humor horror for the harvest season, but they represent more than just the Halloween creep. These movies desensitize our children to even more satanic evil and violence that they will see on the big screen later in life.

Over the past few years, Ted Baehr and the Christian Film & Television Commission have been making inroads. The transformation of Hollywood toward a more God-respecting attitude has been seen in movies like The Blind Side, The Avengers, Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides and Soul Surfer. For a brief moment we were able to see the positive trickle-down effect, but with any victory we must always expect the enemy to launch a counterattack.

Are these so called “kid-friendly” horror films really that bad for children? Movieguide, of course, can give you the best source of guidance so you are aware of the theme and content of a movie before you give your children the OK to see it. Even so, telling your child, “No, you can’t see that movie,” is never easy. For the culture-wise family, this new string of movies about to flood our theaters can sound like the drums of war.

Let’s face it. Monsters are cool. People love them. Who will ever forget the Star Wars cantina scene or the orcs from Lord of the Rings? Pixar’s Monsters Inc. is a fine example of a wholesome, kid-friendly monster movie, not because of the fear factor, but because of the “fear not” message.

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Can An Evangelical Christian Vote for a Mormon?

Dear friends and family in Christ, 1) Further to the email we sent last week about Christian Evangelical Leader Billy Graham endorsing Romney's (a Mormon) 'strong moral convictions' over Obama's…

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An Evangelical Landslide for Romney?

Mark Tooley

Although President Obama got only 26 percent of white evangelicals in 2008, according to exit polls, he got about 33 percent of young white evangelicals. The latter statistic inspired hopes by Democrats and liberal evangelicals for a generational shift away from social issues in favor of more liberal-focused causes. But a Public Religion Research Institute poll, pre-presidential debates, showed young white evangelicals choosing Romney over Obama by 80 percent to 15 percent. Hispanic evangelicals reportedly are not as strongly for Romney as they were for Bush, although they are much more pro-Romney than Catholic or non-religious Hispanics.Full-throttle evangelical support for Romney was not widely anticipated. Evangelicals do not see the former Mormon bishop as one of their own, as they did Bush. And Romney has not strongly emphasized social issues that energize conservative evangelicals. Many prominent evangelical leaders endorsed Rick Santorum during the Republican primaries.

But Obama administration policies favoring same-sex marriage, indirect abortion funding through Obamacare, and the HHS mandate compelling religious groups to offer contraceptive/abortifacient coverage have antagonized many evangelicals. Several evangelical schools have joined Catholic schools in litigating against the mandate. The Democratic convention’s awkward last minute restoration of God to the party platform likely did not help.

Now the most revered American evangelical seems to have virtually endorsed Romney. On Oct. 11Romney met with 93-year-old Billy Graham at his North Carolina mountain log cabin. Photos of the two with Graham’s evangelist son, Franklin, were released and widely published. Graham was quoted as telling Romney: “I’ll do all I can to help you. And you can quote me on that.” A statement from Graham afterward was issued.

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Millions of Youth Pray for Awakening on School Campuses

 9/26/2012 Charisma News Staff

Before the opening bell on Wednesday, millions of students from across the country gathered at their school’s flagpole to pray for their nation, their towns and cities, and their schools at the annual See You at the Pole (SYATP) prayer gathering.

“First, how stinking awesome is it that our kids, shy or bold, were coming together as one in Christ! Peer pressure didn’t stop them…,” Sarah Downing wrote on Facebook. “We had 3 girls at the pole this morning. Christ was glorified and the school lifted to our awesome God!”

The First Amendment guarantees students the right to pray on school grounds. During any non-instructional time—before or after school, in between classes, during the lunch hour or on the playing field—students may express their opinions verbally or in writing. Prayer is a form of speech, and therefore during non-instructional time, students have the constitutional right to pray individually or in groups.

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Franklin Graham: ‘Our Nation Has Lost Its Way’

 10/1/2012 – Charisma News

After watching the political conventions of both parties last month, it’s clear that America is quickly hurtling down a road toward God’s judgment.

One party affirms a belief in the sanctity of life. The other party does not. One party supports the traditional, biblical definition of marriage between one man and one woman. The other party enthusiastically endorses and promotes same-sex marriage.

I will not—cannot—vote for a candidate, regardless of their political affiliation, who supports same-sex marriage and advocates abortion. God will judge our nation if we continue down this path.

Here in Charlotte, N.C., near our headquarters building, the Democrats held their convention and made a clear choice to leave God and Jerusalem out of their platform. They caught so much criticism from around the country that they moved to reinsert the words but needed a two-thirds majority to make the change.

The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, who was presiding at that time during the convention, asked all in favor to say “aye.” Many voiced their approval. But when he asked all opposed to say “no,” I watched in horror and absolute disbelief at the deafening roar as delegates rejected including any mention of God’s name. After the mayor called for two more votes, each with the same result, opponents shouted in protest as the mayor wielded his gavel and declared it approved.

I appreciate those delegates at the Democratic convention who stood up by saying “aye.” They were the minority, with the majority clearly rejecting any mention of God. This all happened on national television, and it sent goose bumps up my spine and shock waves across America. When the prophet Jeremiah warned the Judeans of impending Babylonian captivity, he repeatedly reminded them that their exile would take place because they had forgotten God (Jeremiah 2:32; 3:21; 13:25; 18:15).

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Jesus Moving in Muslim World Through Dreams, Visions

9/7/2012 – Charisma News – Steve Yount 

As a missionary, Tom Doyle has made dozens of trips to the Middle East. But when he first heard the stories of God working in a supernatural way there, he had trouble believing them.

Then, in the words of one of his friends, “God showed me that my theology does not determine his actions,” Doyle and co-author Greg Webster write in the just-released Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World.

Doyle fell in love with the Middle East on his first biblical tour of the Holy Land. After 20 years as a pastor in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, he felt called to full-time ministry in the Middle East in 2001 and accepted e3 Partners‘ offer to direct its ministry there. He has since become a vice president for e3, a church-planting ministry that works in more than 40 countries.

The book is a collection of never-before-told stories from the front lines of the campaign to bring the gospel to the world of Islam. In his 11 years working in the Middle East, Doyle has met former Muslims who were first introduced to Jesus through either a dream or a vision.

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E-News – A BIG THANK YOU to all those who made the effort

Dear friends and family in Christ, For your ongoing prayerful interest in changing the terrible abortion laws in Victoria and across Australia, we’re forwarding the following email from Salt Shakers…

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A weekend to remember in the Kingdom of God

Dear family & friends in Christ,

1) The weekend gone by was one of so much activity at Catch the Fire Ministries and Rise Up Australia for the Kingdom of God!

Starting on Friday night, with only 24 hours’ notice, a bunch of faithful prayer warriors gathered at the steps of the Victorian State Parliament to pray and light candles in remembrance of those who lost their loved ones 10 years ago in Bali.

It was raining as we were driving to the Victorian State Parliament in Melbourne city. We started praying and the rain stopped just 15 min before the meeting started! We thank God that we were able to pray for our city of Melbourne and nation of Australia, right on the steps of Parliament. Many passing by tooted their horns in support, while others put their windows down and gave us the thumbs up. Some even joined the service.

Many were greatly impacted as they read the signs we held and saw us waving Australian flags and praying for our nation. We also prayed for the culture of violence to stop in our cities, for protection over our nation and for God’s peace to prevail. One police officer on duty commented, “It is so nice to see a group genuinely caring for our nation and praying for us.”

2) The first AGM of Rise Up Australia Party was held in Melbourne on Saturday the 13 of Oct. The RUA Party National Executive was very encouraged with the number of people who turned up for the meeting. The meeting went very well with RUAP members attending from across the country.

The National President Daniel Nalliah addressed the gathering and challenged the people to rise up to take a stand to protect Australia and ‘Keep it Australian’. He also re-enforced the vision, emphasising that the task ahead of us is very challenging, but by God’s grace Rise Up Australia Party will fight to ‘Keep Australia Australian!’

He spoke very passionately and boldly about the importance of protecting our Judeo-Christian Heritage, and ‘Keeping Australia Australian’ for generations to come, so that our sons & daughters can enjoy the freedoms we have. He also spoke out very strongly against Islamic Sharia Law and Multiculturalism. His speech was received with much applause and shouts of support by those present.

Following the National President’s speech, the four State Presidents for Vic, WA, Tas & QLD addressed the gathering. They too spoke with great passion and love for Australia, re-enforcing their commitment to ‘Keep Australia Australian!’

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Largest Faith Gathering Albania Has Ever Seen

Randal Burtis (Oct 4, 2012)

“I think it’s historic. For the first time, we have had the elites of Albanian society—the business community, the political community—being addressed in such a genuine way with the Good News of salvation.” -Toni Gogu

(Tirana, Albania)—Just over two decades after the fall of Communism and state-imposed atheism in Albania, local churches and Luis Palau collaborated to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to more than 20,000 people at Tirana’s Mother Teresa Square.

TiranaFest with Luis Palau, a massive evangelistic campaign, took Albania’s capital city by storm September 22-23. The square resounded with live music; an extraordinary stunt show by skate, BMX, and motocross athletes; a program just for kids; and clear presentations of the Good News by Luis Palau and partner evangelists.

“This was totally different . . . something that has never happened in Tirana,” Pastor Paulin Vilajeti of Albania Christian Center said. “Because people were attracted by different events. I believe and I hope that God touched different generations—from children to the old people.”

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Do Prayer Rallies Really Do Any Good?

10/4/2012 Jennifer LeClaire – Charisma Magazine

Another day, another prayer rally. That’s the sentiment of the naysayers who don’t believe intercession can turn the direction of a nation.

After all, they say, you’ve got IHOPs all over the world praying—some of them filling up the bowls 24/7. You’ve got TheCall. You’ve got TheCry. You’ve got the National Day of Prayer. You’ve got OneCry. You’ve got Cry Out America. You’ve got Broken Before the Throne. Indeed, there is a diversity of dedicated prayer warriors from coast to coast organizing solemn assemblies based on 2 Chronicles 7:14.

If all this prayer worked, the naysayers argue, why haven’t abortions ended? Why hasn’t revival come? Why hasn’t there been a long-prophesied Third Great Awakening? Why isn’t the prayer changing anything? I believe the prayers are making an impact, even though things often appear to be growing worse despite massive intercession.

Beware the Spirit of Unbelief

Still, some are skeptical. They don’t believe that God’s Word doesn’t return to Him void. They don’t believe it accomplishes what He sent it to do (see Is. 55:11). They don’t believe if two of us agree on earth as touching anything that we get what we ask for (see Matt. 18:19). Simply stated, they don’t believe.

That unbelief leads to questions, arguments and declarations.  They ask, “Why even bother praying anymore?” They argue, “This nation is going to hell in a hand basket no matter what we do!” They declare, “It’s too late for America.”

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Media Release: Candlelight vigil for the 88 Aussies and the others who were tragically killed in Bali

Media release For immediate release Candlelight vigil for the 88 Aussies and the others who were tragically killed in Bali We still enjoy our holidays, but 88 Aussies never came…

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Millions of Global Christians United in Prayer on October 7 During The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem

Millions of Christians united across denominational, cultural, and political differences on Sunday, October 7, as part of The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ) to intercede for the city God calls His own and to invoke God’s blessing, purposes, and provision upon all of Jerusalem’s people. From over 175 nations, believers gathered to pray in their worship services, in their homes, on college campuses, in regional gatherings, and on a 24 Hour Prayer Conference Call.

Broadcast by GOD TV to over 200 nations, Christians were also able to join the special DPPJ Celebration at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. It was co-hosted by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem ( ICEJ), who had gathered more than 5,000 believers from nearly 90 countries for that week. Its Executive Director – Dr. Jürgen Bühler – told the packed audience: “We have to pray for Israel like never before and stand with Israel like never before. We have to pray for all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, both Jew and Arab…and as we pray for Israel, we must pray for the Arab nations too.”

Special guests and speakers participating in the Jerusalem event included the Israeli Hip Hop artists “Lions of Zion”, as well as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, MK Danny Danon; Chief Rabbi of Efrat, Dr. Shlomo Riskin; International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the AJC, Rabbi Dr. David Rosen; and other Jewish and Evangelical Christian leaders.

This multinational, multi-denominational DPPJ global prayer movement was started in 2002 by Evangelical Christian leaders with Dr. Jack W. Hayford and Rev. Dr. Robert Stearns serving as co-chairmen. Rev. Stearns, Founder/Director of Eagles’ Wings, explained: “We are gathering together in Jerusalem during the season of the High Holidays and declaring that Christians will continue to pray for G-d’s peace to come to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. We will remind G-d of His promises, and we will remind Israel’s detractors that Israel is not alone.” (more…)

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God Is on Your Side

Excerpted from Higher Ground (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1995) by R.T. Kendall

If the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us … they would have swallowed us alive. … Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. —Psalm 124:2-3, 6

Do you know what it is like to have somebody physically attack you? The trauma is one that, humanly speaking, you don’t overcome easily. Or perhaps you have been verbally attacked. You know the awful feeling when somebody points a finger of blame at you.

The Lord’s people in this psalm were the objects of anger. It is very frightening to be near someone who is angry. Perhaps you live in constant fear of a co-worker’s temper or the angry outbursts of a loved one. You know how it feels to live in a situation from which you wish you could be delivered.

The truth is, your real enemy is the devil. The devil’s work is to cloud your mind. He can come as an angel of light; that means that he will work through someone who has the appearance of being very righteous, a person of integrity, a person who is believable. Or he may come as a roaring lion.

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Study: Most Churchgoers Don’t Read Bible Daily

Charisma News – 9/12/2012 Russ Rankin/Lifeway

While the majority of churchgoers desire to honor Christ with their lives and even profess to think on biblical truths, a recent study found few actually engage in personal reading and study of the Scriptures.

“Bible engagement” is one of the eight attributes of discipleship identified in the Transformational Discipleship study conducted by LifeWay Research. The study produced the Transformational Discipleship Assessment, which measures an individual’s spiritual growth in each of these areas of development.

The survey found 90 percent of churchgoers agree “I desire to please and honor Jesus in all I do,” and 59 percent agree with the statement: “Throughout the day I find myself thinking about biblical truths.” While the majority agree with both statements, there is a significant difference in the strength of agreement. Nearly two-thirds of churchgoers (64 percent) strongly agree with the first statement, but only 20 percent strongly agree with the second.

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