Part of the Halloween activity is dressing in a costume, disguising yourself, and pretending to be somebody that you are not. Some pretend to be superheroes while others take on the persona of a sports superstar or movie character. No matter how anyone may dress though, they are not the person they pretend to be.
By biblical definition, all Christians are “saints.” Roman Catholicism, unfortunately, has created a false definition of who saints are. Their definition of sainthood requires not only an exemplary lifestyle, but having two miracles associated to the person after they have died. In other words, no one can become a saint until after death. The Apostle Paul however, wrote to the saints who were living in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1) or at Philippi (Philippians 1:1) or Colosse (Colossians 1:2) and even Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2).
The Greek word that is translated as “saint” in the New Testament has the basic meaning of being separated from something unto something else. The verb form of the Greek word is translated as “sanctify.” Its meaning contains the idea of being set apart from this world and consecrated to the service of God. Consequently, associated with this word is the concept of purity.
The Apostle Paul further defines a saint as one who is faithful (Colossians 1:2-4). All who have genuinely trusted Jesus Christ as Savior are, by definition, saints. However, there are many who dress up as saints. They outwardly pretend to be something other than what they really are at heart. Such was the case of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. Jesus had the most scathing rebuke of them in Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” While an outward costume of godliness may fool others, it cannot fool God, for He is able to look upon the heart and discern true character (1 Samuel 16:7).
But almost as equally repulsive to God is the one who genuinely is a saint but temporarily puts on the costume of anything but. Part of our Sunday evening worship service is the memorization of Bible passages. Currently we are working on committing Ephesians 5:1-4 to memory. In verses 3 and 4, Paul lists a number of actions that are unbecoming to saints. The list includes sexual impurity, impure thoughts, impure motives, and impure language. These things should not be named “even once” pertaining to the lifestyle of the Christian. It breaks my heart when I look around and see those who name the Name of Jesus Christ involved in these activities. And if it breaks my heart, how much more does it break the heart of God?
To the “trick or treater” there is a reward for impersonating someone they are not. But it only lasts a short time and it is gone. To the saint of God who lives like one, there is an infinitely greater eternal reward. Halloween saints do not get a reward, only eternal condemnation.