Sometimes we’re easily offended. Every one of us are guilty of this. Everyone one of us, at some point in our life, try to justify our own sins or the sins of others. But don’t let that stop you from searching for the truth. Don’t let that consume you. Don’t allow yourself to walk away from God because the truth was too hard. You don’t have to agree, just take a look for yourself…
Once a year, many Christians get together and celebrate a holiday whose origins are from pagan traditions. Even though Halloween’s origins are pagan, some Christians believe that if they celebrate it without the same amount of darkness as the world, then that’ll be okay. But is that true? If Christians aren’t supposed to celebrate Halloween, what should we do on Halloween? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he shows us Christian alternatives to the pagan traditions of Halloween in his video, What Should Christians Do On Halloween?
October 31st, Halloween
What Should Christians Do On Halloween?
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
In the Christian world, we often talk about spiritual doors. We say that the doors God has opened for us, no one can shut. We cling to the idea that the good things God has for us no one can take away, but many of us don’t like the idea that we ourselves can take away those good things by our own actions. We don’t like the idea of the possibility of opening evil spiritual doors in our lives by participating in things that aren’t of God. Many Christians believe that the occult is just foolishness. That the Devil is just a toothless lion, but the Truth is he is a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Therefore, could participating in darkness, no matter how innocent it may look, cause someone to open a spiritual door for the demonic to enter their lives? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the dangers of careless actions in his video, Can Participating in Halloween Open Spiritual Doors?
1Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:1; 9
8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
1 Corinthians 16:8–9
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20
1. Communication with spirits 2. Agreement with spirits 3. Passageway in from one place to another 4. A transition or an opportunity (either for the person or for the spiritual being – whether that being is good or evil)
Spiritually Opening Doors to Evil
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.
Genesis 4:7
Spiritual doors are opened based on what we participate in. If we participate in the things of God, then the spiritual doors to be with God will be opened. If we participate in the things of evil, then the spiritual doors of evil to be with evil will be opened. Participating in occult practices, such as Halloween, opens spiritual doors to the demonic in your life.
Every year candy companies create special packaging, marketing, and products just for Halloween. It’s a spooktacular time. Many people think this is just good business, but what if there is something more to the Halloween candy we’re indulging in every year? What if there is something sinister behind Halloween candy? Could it be food sacrificed to idols? Join ArieRashelle as she shines a light in the darkness, searching for Truth in her video, Should Christians Buy Halloween Candy?
Matthew 4:8-9 Matthew 16:26 Revelation 2:14 Revelation 2:20 Acts 15:28-29 1 Peter 5:8
Should Christians Buy Halloween Candy?
Food Sacrificed to Idols
For some reason, we, the Church, overlook the possibility of eating food sacrificed to idols. In fact, we like to pretend like that isn’t for us, but look at what the Scriptures say about it.
Warnings Against Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols
The Church at Pergamum
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
Revelation 2:14
The Church at Thyatira
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
Revelation 2:20
Warning to the Church at Antioch
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Pumpkins are a beloved fall fruit. Everything is pumpkin spice for the fall season, even air freshener. Another beloved usage of pumpkins this time of year is carving them into Jack O’ Lanterns. Many Christians carve pumpkins this time of year with Scriptures or images of Jesus or just fun kid things like unicorns or puppies. If Christians aren’t carving pumpkins to be scary Jack’ O Lanterns but instead as a fun family night or a way of witnessing to the world, then is it really the same thing? Is it still wrong to carve pumpkins if it isn’t for Halloween? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he searches through Scripture for the answer to these questions and more in his video, Should Christians Carve Pumpkins?
Jeremiah 13:23 Exodus 32:2–6 John 10 Isaiah 5:20
Should Christians Carve Pumpkins?
The Origin of Jack’ O Lanterns
The legend of Stingy Jack
The Devil heard about Stingy Jack, and one night he went looking for him to see if the stories were true. When Jack saw Satan, he realized that Satan had come to claim his unredeemed soul. So, Jack asked for one final request before Satan took his soul to Hades. His request was to have one last drink of ale at the pub.
Satan, seeing no reason why he shouldn’t, took Jack to the local pub and gave him some drinks. To Satan’s surprise, when the drinks were finished and it came time to pay, Jack asked Satan to pick up the tab. Jack, being the sly cheat he was, talked Satan into turning himself into a silver coin so that they could rip off the pub. Impressed, Satan agreed. Jack then took Satan, who was now a silver coin and put him in his pocket next to a silver crucifix, preventing him from changing back into his original form. Unable to change back, Satan had no choice but to agree to Jack’s demands that he would not bother him for 10 years.
When the 10 years were up, Satan went looking for Jack again. As Satan was preparing to take Jack to Hades, Jack asked for one last apple to eat to satisfy his hunger before his eternal damnation. Once again, Satan obliged and climbed up the apple tree. Jack then quickly carved a crucifix into the trunk of the tree, once again trapping Satan. Unable to go free, Satan once more agreed to Jack’s terms; this time, Satan had to agree that he would never be able to take Jack to Hades.
Eventually, Jack died from alcoholism. As his soul was preparing to enter Heaven through St. Peter’s Gates, God stopped him and would not let him in. His deceit, lies, drunkenness, and wickedness had finally caught up with him, and Jack was unable to enter Heaven. So, Jack, now without an eternal home, went to the Gates of Hades begging to enter, but Satan refused, honoring the promise he had made those many years ago.
Now without a final resting place, Jack was doomed to roam the Earth, becoming a permanent citizen of the Netherworld. Stuck in the darkness of the Spirit Realm, Jack asked Satan how he would be able to see where he was going, as he had no light. So, mockingly, Satan threw him a burning coal to light his way. Going back up to Earth, Jack took a turnip (his favorite food), carved it, and then placed the burning coal inside of it. He began his eternal punishment to endlessly walk the Earth, never finding a resting place. The once Stingy Jack soon became known as “Jack of the Lantern” or “Jack O’ Lantern.”
People In Ireland and Scotland began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them in windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the Jack O’ Lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make the perfect Jack O’ Lanterns.
Carving Pumpkins (Jack O’ Lanterns) Today
The origins of carving pumpkins (Jack O’ Lanterns) is in the occult. In other words, it’s not of God. That which is not of God is evil, and we, Christians, should take no part in it.
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
In America today, patriotism is becoming more and more common. Some believe this is positive, while others believe that this is a negative thing for our country to embrace. Many believe that Christians, especially, shouldn’t be patriots because patriotism isn’t in the Bible. But just because the word patriotism isn’t in the Bible, does that mean that it isn’t Biblical? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to answer the question, Can Christians Be Patriots?
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28
13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Many Christians believe and teach that all you have to do is repent, and life will be easier because once you are saved, you are always saved. In fact, some go as far as to believe that Christians no longer can even sin because they have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. Could this be why we Christians are held to a higher standard than the world? We’re supposed to be Christ to the world, so are we perfect as Jesus is perfect? So then are they right, and Christians are saved from sinning because Jesus said, ‘whom the Son sets free is free indeed’? Or is there something more to it? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answers in her video, Can Christians Sin?
1 John 3:9-10 Romans 6:1-2 Colossians 3:5-10 1 Corinthians 10:13 Romans 7:13-25 1 John 1:5-10 1 John 5:16-18 John 10:27-28 Ephesians 1:13-14 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Philippians 1:6 1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Can Christians Sin?
Whom The Son Sets Free
Because Jesus said that you will be free if He sets you free, does that mean Christians can’t sin?
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36
Jesus didn’t say that you would no longer struggle with sin; He said that you would be free from the bondage of sin. In other words, you would now have the tools you need in order to overcome whatever sin comes your way. But look at what Jesus tells Peter, His best friend, after finding him asleep instead of praying.
The Flesh
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41
Both of these Scriptures were spoken by Jesus before His death and resurrection; therefore, none can argue that this verse isn’t for us. Either all of Jesus’ teachings and words were for us, or none of them were. We can’t cherry-pick the Gospel.
In fact, just to prove to you nothing has changed, let’s take a look at the Church after the death and resurrection of Christ.
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Galatians 6:1
According to Paul, the greatest apostle who ever lived, we are going to stumble and fall. We, the Church (Christians), are going to make mistakes and therefore fall into temptation and sin. But he also gave us hope that our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will help pick us back up when we fall down, just as Jesus told Peter to do.
31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22:31-32
When we sin, we have to get back up and then go on and help others. We bear each other’s burdens because we can’t carry the weight on our own. We help each other through our struggles and trials. Iron sharpens iron.
How Do We Overcome?
We Continue The Good Fight
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:5-14
We fight temptation through the help of the Holy Spirit that has been given to us through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ that washes us clean. We have to remember we’re a work in progress, but we also have to remember to never settle for less than perfect. We are to strive for perfection so that if we miss it, we may land amongst excellence, for there is no verse to confirm the false comforts of ‘once saved always saved’.
Right now, our country is divided into parties, specifically Democrats and Republicans. This is how we think and vote and can also contribute to how we build our social circles but is this how God desires His Church to be? Is this how Christians should vote strictly based on political parties? Does God favor one political party over the other? Or is God’s ways higher than our ways? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answer to these questions and more in her video, Is God a Democrat or a Republican?
Isaiah 9:6-7 John 18:33-38a Deuteronomy 32:4 Psalms 9:7-8 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Galatians 5:19-25, Galatians 5:14 Matthew 22:35-40 Mark 10:18 1 Corinthians 1:25 Isaiah 55:8-9 Proverbs 3:5-6
Is God a Democrat or a Republican?
The Government (Kingdom) of God
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:6-7
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to Him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:35-37
How Does Jesus Rule?
God is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. He is far greater and wiser than man-made ideology. He is a God of righteousness and justice. There is no evil in Him.
13 You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, high Your right hand. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You.
Psalms 89:13-14
15 …the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
It’s easy to feel afraid to come to Jesus. A lot of us feel unworthy like He could never understand how we feel. Can anyone truly be worthy of Christ? Is anyone worthy of Salvation? We often use the phrase, come as you are, but do we actually understand the meaning of the phrase? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answers in her video, Come As You Are.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus didn’t come for those who could save themselves, otherwise, He wouldn’t have needed to come at all. Jesus came for all of mankind because none of us are good enough.
15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:16-18
None of us can save ourselves. None of us can clean ourselves enough to deserve Christ, that’s why we have to come as we are. None of us deserve the love of Christ, but that’s what grace is.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
20 years ago, the Spirit of Fear made its way to the center of every culture. In today’s world, fear has seemed to overcome all people, including the Church. The Church seems to be more afraid today than the early Church under Roman persecution. Is there anything wrong with being afraid? Is it a sin to be afraid? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answer to the question, Is Fear a Sin?
Hebrews 2:14-15 Romans 8:15 1 John 4:18 2 Timothy 1:7 Revelation 21:6-8 Matthew 8:26 Mark 4:40 Hebrews 11:6 Ephesians 2:8 James 4:8a Revelation 3:20
Is Fear a Sin?
Command Not To Be Afraid
If God commanded us not to do something, then it is a sin to do it. God commanded us not to be afraid. Therefore fear is a sin.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
How To Overcome Fear
If fear is a sin, then do not be afraid.
Know Who Your God Is
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.
John 10:27-30
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:31-37
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Don’t give into the Spirit of Fear because your God is for you, and with you.
Freedom comes at a cost, usually bloodshed. But is it worth it? Is it right? Should Christians memorialize those who gave their lives if they also took a life? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answer to the question, Can Christians Celebrate Memorial Day?
Exodus 35:16-17 1 John 3:14-15 Ephesians 6:10-12 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Matthew 26:13 John 15:12-13
Can Christians Celebrate Memorial Day?
Freedom Comes at a Cost
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Remember Past Sacrifices
When Jesus went to Bethany, a woman anointed His head with expensive ointment. Because of her sacrifice, He said her story would be told in memory of her. He memorialized her.
6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Matthew 26:6-13
This is what we are doing for our fallen soldiers. We are remembering them and honoring their sacrifice.
