This is a question I am asked often so I decided to share as feelings on this subject run high in the Fall. As Christians, there are reasons our family does not celebrate Halloween.
LIGHT AND DARKNESS
Every Fall I find myself sitting around a table discussing a shared love: God’s Word. New Christians and long time believers inevitably discuss Halloween. And always the new believer sits in shock as someone speaks about their Halloween plans. The question always arises: “You celebrate Halloween? I thought Christians didn’t do that?” Nervous looks pass around the table as people feel called out. It’s a perfectly viable question. What friendship does light have with darkness? Can light and darkness come together one day a year to celebrate evil? The new believer tries to reconcile Halloween: evil, death, fear, murder, mutilation and sexual perversion with their new faith: God’s love, truth, redemption, gentleness, peace and light.
For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Satan?2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-15
DISCERNMENT
Discerning truth is becoming harder in today’s world. We live in a culture that celebrates the many shades of grey. Yet, as a Christian I am called to discern light from darkness, truth from lie, good from evil and be the arrow that points people to God. Halloween asks me to build a friendship with the unholy that will hinder my discernment and befuddle my purpose.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9 …
“[Priests] are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.” – Ezekiel 44:23
FOOTHOLD OR STRANGLEHOLD?
Satan plays dirty. We are warned not to give him a foothold in our life. He kicks us when we are down and I have seen how ruthlessly he goes after our children. We know he will always steal, kill and/or destroy. No way will I throw open the door to my family with Halloween decorations and horror movies. Fear is a high ranking spirit in the kingdom of darkness and the devastation is more subtle than most suspect. As Christians, Brian and I are charged to guard our hearts and minds. As parents we are on the front lines when it comes to protecting the lives, hearts and minds of our children.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23
FOMO
Speaking of fear, many participate in Halloween because they fear their kids will rebel later if they miss out. First, I do not live by a spirit of fear nor do I make my decisions out of fear. Some of the worst decisions sprout from FOMO or the “fear of missing out.” It is my goal to teach my children how to overcome this weakness of human nature and not be a slave to fear – of any kind. My kids love dressing up in costume. We have a huge bin of costumes they wear routinely. No missing out there. They also receive inordinate amounts of candy at what seems like every holiday that rolls around (much to my chagrin). No missing out there either. My children are not missing out. And when they are old enough to make these choices for themselves, every child will have a spirit that is honed with the sensitivity they need to discern.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ – Phillippians 1:9-10
A WITNESS FOR CHRIST
I have more honest conversations with people about why we do not celebrate Halloween than at any other time of year. It is the mark of Christ that separates us from the world. Frankly speaking, I find nothing in Halloween worthy of my time, honor, worship, attention, money or recognition. We believe in life, truth, hope, forgiveness, healing, deliverance and all things that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and noble. We do things that ignite God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Sometimes it is hard for children to miss a party, but teaching them how to stand apart from the crowd is a powerful lesson I believe all children need. Christ will be their own decision, but in any circumstance they need not ever be a victim of group think. It is a powerful gift for a child to grow up knowing what it looks like to stand firm in convictions. If you seek an opportunity to be a witness to the love of God, I urge you to separate yourself from the world. Be ready with an answer when they ask why.
Honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. – 1 Peter 3:15-17 (emphasis added)
THE DECEPTION
“It was ours first. It’s named after All Hallows Eve.”
The druid and celtic holiday far proceeds the spread of the western church by 1000s of years. As Christianity did eventually make it north, church leaders saw the pagan festivals and wanted to re-direct their attention by establishing a “Christian holiday” over the pagan one and changing the name. And let’s face it, All Hallows Day is little more than a Christianized day of the dead.
SYNCHRONIZATION
Synchronization was a common strategy employed by the Romans and perfected by Constantine, whose primary interest was political advancement and conquering territory. He would conquer, establish a new national religion, and make peace by blending elements of the native religion with his nationalized Christianity.
However the pagan activities simply continued under a new name, All Hallows Eve.” And during the potato famine, when millions died and so many migrated to America, they brought their old religion practices with them. The dark deeds became such a problem, congress thought if they legalized the holiday, the mild, playful activities of children would tame the dark behavior.
Utter delusion.
But the delusion is beginning to fade. Darkness has reigned in our nation now with its own legalized holiday. With the keys to our children legally in the hands of death, perversity, and fear, we are seeing an explosion of suicide, murder, and perversity in our schools and youth.
Church, it’s time to stop playing patty-cake with the enemy and remember who you are. Put the tootsie roll down. We have a battle to fight.