Mission America’s Linda Harvey is warning listeners against participating in Halloween festivities, and naturally uses Halloween to criticize the LGBT community. She explains that Halloween’s purportedly Satanic origins explain why it is a “huge celebration in the LGBT world, especially for the gender-confused folks.” Harvey explains that Halloween is an “extremely useful tool” for “Satan and his minions,” and its popularity is a sign of “spiritual deception on a grand scale.” She said that participating in Halloween festivities is “enter[ing] Satan’s territory” and “real contact with real demons is quite possible.” Last year, Harvey said celebrating Halloween represents unfaithfulness to Jesus.

Christians don’t need to cower in fear of the demonic realm and all its mischief, nor be overly pre-occupied, but neither are we to mock and scoff and cavalierly enter Satan’s territory dismissing the danger. We are especially not to enable our children to do so. Another reason for skipping Halloween is its growing influence. It’s now the second most popular American celebration right behind Christmas, what’s driving its magnetism? Spiritual deception on a grand scale may be at work and such trends call for heightened Christian discernment. We all can see it’s a huge celebration in the LGBT world, especially for the gender-confused folks. This illustrates some of the problem. The core of Halloween is glittering artificiality, you can pretend to be someone you aren’t’ for a night, you can flirt with danger, you can divine a different destiny, but it is all void of the presence of or will of God. It’s a seduction that says, ‘don’t be afraid, do whatever you want, there’s nothing to fear,’ it’s one of Satan’s oldest tricks.

Costume parties are fun but these costumes may even disguise our very souls. Most Christians with a sincere faith acknowledge that there is a demonic realm and that Satan and his minions are at work in the world to deceive humans, so why wouldn’t Halloween provide an extremely useful too. Mixed in with the fun and games are frightening and disturbing experiences that may leave some children with nightmares. Then there is the flirtation with occult practices that are forbidden in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 and elsewhere, Christians aren’t supposed to be consulting fortune tellers, Ouija boards or palm readers about our future but all are frequently a part of Halloween festivities. ‘But it’s just for fun,’ parents will say, ‘God understands my children are not serious.’ Really? Do your kids know how risky these practices are and that real contact with real demons is quite possible. Satan doesn’t care about our intentions; he will take any willing participant.