Watch the first official EVeryday EXorcism Podcast!
Strangely, the celebration/ participation of Christians at Halloween has been a trending social media topic for the past few years. Anyone knowing me knows I am as anti-bandwagon as they come, but this particular topic is a great springboard into all the shady topics perfectly fit for a blog/podcast called Everyday Exorcism.
I use the word "shady" intentionally, for the reason this topic is hot these days is precisely because of the grey area surrounding it; it's one of those socio-cultural phenomenons that Christians disagree on in regards to it's "okayness" pertaining to a virtuous, upright Godly lifestyle. The spectrum of Christian responses range from benign nostalgic family fun to a debauched satanic night of witchcraft and mayhem.
We are in a time of religious tug of war. The internet has caused great political polarization, especially since the events of 2020, though I think it really started taking off in 2016 with the Trump election.
Naturally, spiritual/religious convictions are a cord in that rope, as increased extremism on far sides of the spectrum yank at each other over a murky chasm I could liken to a junk drawer, into which all the random items, that don't seem to have a proper home, end up. The resurrection of Christ, for example, has it's place sturdily on the shelf of "Salvation Issue" in the tug, but holidays and how one *should* celebrate them seem to fall into the bin of shruggery, thus endless debate.
I have had little issue participating in Halloween in the past. In fact, being a theatrical person who loved costumes and impish play, Halloween wuz good times. it was fun to show up to a party and see how creative your friends had been with their outfits. I could take or leave the "spooky" decor, but it was legit vibe.
But Halloween was something else I always took note of and, not wanting to be a kill-joy, sloughed off: cheap consumerism; over-consumption of sugar and alcohol; children in the business or hoarding; obsessions with wicked, murderous, evil, demonic creatures and concepts; and a free pass to walk around dressed and behaving like a slut: every nun, nurse and nanny becomes "naughty."
For reasons I won't get into at the moment, Halloween 2016 was my personal darkest ever. Ironically, sickly, I dressed as Death, as did my son. Shortly after, in January of 2017, I rededicated myself to Christ. In a typical pendulum swing for converts, my YouTube/podcast playlist was heavily Christian conservative, which was the first exposure I had to believers banning the observation of holidays from their homes. Tug on that rope regarding Christmas and Easter all you want, ye Christian brethren, but Halloween is a bit different, since, as we discuss in the podcast, it has literally nothing to do with Christ, or even North American family values. I began to see Halloween in a different light, and became squirmy over whether or not I myself should participate, let alone involve my innocent son.
2020 marked our final Halloween. My last costume was pretty darn good, I admit. And sometimes I look back and miss the excitement of the theatrics. I also am not entirely sure I will never carve a pumpkin again, a deep and anticipated family tradition, at which I was also rather gifted, if I sayso myself. But increasingly, each year, I became more repulsed by the over-the-top marketing that molested me in every store with cheap plastic horror from China, and the gore and occultism that oozed through the screens. Do I really want to be complicit to this?
The final nail in the coffin was when my 11 year old son said to me, “I don’t really want to do Halloween this year - it’s too dark, and besides I hate running around collecting gross candy.” You may balk at this and accuse me of making it up for the sake of my stance, but I assure you that for two years this kid has wanted nothing to do with Halloween of his own volition, and I wonder if other children feel the same way, yet terror and tooth decay is forced upon them by culture.
The true "living dead" - baptism 2017; not a costume: my regular born-again garb with muh saint homies in the background; can you guess which pumpkin was mine that year?
But that’s just me. I don’t believe taking part in Halloween is a “salvation issue”, though in our video podcast, we discuss how perhaps it could lead to one…for that, and many more fascinating All Hallow’s Eve discussions (we're talking tangential tales about Michael Jackson and the Masons, Druids, child sacrifice then and now, Biblical prophets and Revelation, 80's movies, and more!) you’ll have to tune in…
This is the first “official” EVeryday EXorcism podcast, and I am honored to have spent it in the company of two dear friends, Heather Wathen and Ronyai Hawkins.
Heather is a mother of four from California, currently residing in Victoria, BC and helping her husband lead Mosaic Church, a Calvary Chapel. She is a visionary writer, researcher, speaker, and has presented Biblical series on the Book of Revelation and Daniel (check them out HERE!). She is currently writing and illustrating an allegorical children’s book, and is a master of all things homespun from sewing to sauerkraut. She is also currently learning Hebrew. Heather is my go-to for discussing the supernatural and interpreting dreams, through the lens of reason, research and scripture.
Ronyai Hawkins is considered "Man of Many Talents". Raised in Orlando FL, his passion for the arts lead him to dedicate his life within the entertainment industry for 15 years. Ronyai has developed multiple talents ranging for spoken word artist, actor, choreographer, speaker and more. Now, Ronyai's mission statement has changed over the years to introduce the Gospel to many creatives one set at a time. He founded the prayer group Make Him Famous ministries back in 2020 and continues use his God Given Gifts as a seer, scribe, intercessor, and teacher to heal the next generation and use their voice to address the issues of this nation.
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Praytell: What’s your position on Halloween, and has it changed at all after listening to this interview? Let me know in the comments!