If you grew up like me, as a child you eagerly anticipated sunset so your costume could go on and you could go door to door hoping your bag or bucket would be filled to the brim with sugary delights. So what’s wrong with that? I think it just depends on who you are and exactly what you are participating in on that 31st day of October.
Romans 16:19 tells us, “…but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”(NIV)
What is secularized Halloween about; fun, scary things? Are we justified to glorify evil things on Halloween only? No way! I am concerned way too many Christians have no holy fear of God. Dressing your young children up as demons, witches, ghosts, dead people might be cute, but 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 comes to mind, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” (NKJV)
I was appalled while working in a particular church. Their tables were decorated in the foyer with scary looking jack-o-lanterns wearing witch hats! As some ladies were sitting around the table on break, I heard them talk about those of us who don’t celebrate Halloween as making too big of deal about the evil aspects of it. I’m sure that is Satan’s hope for us too. I’m sure it’s much easier to draw us from Christ on that day if we can down play what evil means to us.
So now that I have alienated a good number of my brothers and sisters in Christ, let me clarify on where I personally stand. We should recognize that every day is a day the Lord has made and He deserves the glory. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with children dressing up, safely going door to door, eating candy, or having fun. Thankfully many churches have provided safe events for families to attend. These are often called Harvest Parties or Harvest Festivals. In addition to providing an atmosphere that is more politically correct from a Christian standpoint (even though harvest festivals are actually pagan in origin), it does get many wondering kids off the street. It’s an opportunity too to invite families into church that may not have otherwise come. My point is, who are you glorifying on Halloween?
Have a safe and blessed 31st of October!
You are invited to share your own perspective on Halloween in the General Christian forum of Families.com which is in current discussion.