The Christian and Halloween
It’s a crisp Fall evening. I make sure the porch
light is on in anticipation of little visitors in
costumes, masks, and painted faces. My wife
makes sure the special sacks filled with treats
are ready. Before long we hear little voices
and a knock on the door. We open the door
to, “Trick or treat, Grandma and Grandpa!”
To which we reply, “I wonder who this could
be?” On this one evening our grandchildren
have been transformed into a dinosaur,
an M&M, a princess and Batman. We take pictures, say goodbye and wait for the next visitors to arrive. Early in my ministry a well-intentioned Christian posed this question to me, “Should Christians allow their children to celebrate Halloween? After all, it is a festival of witches, ghosts and goblins. The Bible clearly prohibits Christians from practicing witchcraft. Why would we permit our children to observe a day that historically venerates things associated with occult practices? Pastor, you should preach against this worldly, devilish holiday.” Some Christians today agree. Desiring to protect their children from the evil permeating our society, they have forbidden their family to participate in any Halloween celebration. They are to be commended for their diligence in seeking to raise their children by biblical precepts. However, there is a problem which can and does arise. Parents who are strongly persuaded that Halloween is not a holiday for Christian participation frequently pass judgment upon those parents who are not similarly convinced. Thus, Halloween can become a hotbed for division, bitterness and spiritual pride within the church. Abstaining parents can conclude, “We are doing it right. Our children are not going to be infected by the world like others. We need to instruct those wayward parents who have not spiritually matured as we have. One day all Christians will see Halloween for what it is.” Because of its potential effects on the body of Christ, it is important that we address the questions surrounding Halloween. Is it a custom we ought to avoid? Or, is it possible for Christians to allow their children to enjoy the normal customs of the day without compromising their convictions?
The History of Halloween:
One of the major arguments for those refraining from Halloween is its suspicious origin. The earliest record for a Halloween-like observance is found in the history of the Celts. The Celts, a tribe of warriors who dominated the United Kingdom by 500 B.C., were a superstitious and polytheistic people. They believed on October 31 the spirits of the dead roamed the earth. Bonfires were lit to drive them away. For three days the Celts would make sacrifices to their gods to appease them and to prevent them from being harsh and cruel. In ancient Rome the festival of Pomona occurred about this time. It was a celebration of harvest in which nuts and fruits were roasted over large bonfires. During this time spirits and witches were believed to be present. The name “Halloween” is derived from a Roman Catholic holiday called All Saints Day observed on November 1. “Halloween” actually means “the eve before holy day” (a rough translation).
Halloween practices in America have been largely influenced by the immigrants who flooded our shores from the late 1800s through the early 1900s. Does Halloween’s speckled, and sometimes sinister, past have any bearing on our decision as Christians to participate in or abstain from its traditional customs? The answer is “yes and no”. If the celebration of Halloween promotes the false ideas rooted in its origin, Christians must take a “hands off” position. However, if the contemporary practices do not glorify its history, it is possible to participate without tarnishing the biblical truths Christians hold dear.So, the real question is: What does Halloween mean today? Is it a celebration of Satan and demons? Does it desensitize us, making us more susceptible to the occult? Does Halloween have a cultish grip on America? Certainly not. It is generally viewed as a day for children to have fun and merchants to make a profit. Some may react, “How can you separate Halloween from its past? If it had evil beginnings, how could you approve it?” Simply, history is not the criteria for judging something to be good or bad. For example, few Christians question the custom of decorating trees or hanging wreaths at Christmas. Many churches have “Hanging of the Greens” services. A brief study of history will reveal both of these practices originate in pagan worship. Why, then, do we continue this holiday custom? Because we are not worshiping pagan gods when we decorate our homes and churches. Such an idea never enters our mind. History can never be used as the standard by which we conduct ourselves. The core issue is today’s meaning.
The Bible and Halloween.
There are a number of passages in the Bible which speak against witchcraft in all forms. Probably the most complete (and concise) text on the subject is Deuteronomy 18:9-13. There are seven practices prohibited to the children of Israel: sacrifices of children, divination, observer of times, enchantment, witchcraft, charmer (casting spells), consulting the dead. In order to understand this list we must set it in its scriptural context. Moses is reminding the Israelites of God’s laws. They are on the threshold of the land of Canaan ready to enter and possess what God has promised. God, through Moses, is warning them to separate themselves from the idolatrous practices of the heathen nations which inhabited Canaan. These pagans looked to fortunetellers, witches, mediums and charmers to discern the will of their gods. They believed their deities spoke through these methods. It was an integral element in their religion. Thus, to participate meant turning to idolatry and denying the true and living God. Do we have modern-day corollaries? Certainly, those who trust in astrologers, horoscopes, Ouija boards, etc. to ascertain answers for their lives. It is a form of idolatry that is motivated and promoted by Satan himself. How does this relate to Halloween? Let’s ask some questions. Are the normal customs of Halloween similar to the description of Deuteronomy 18? Are parents and children using this day to seek out witches, wizards and mediums to gain wisdom and insight for their lives? Obviously not. The typical practices of the average American family do not come close to the biblical definition of witchcraft. Today’s witches and goblins have pointed noses and fly on broomsticks. Most children dress in costumes of their favorite cartoon characters or imaginary heroes. Most parents limit “trick or treating” to family and friends. Biblical witchcraft and present day Halloween are worlds apart.
Why Discuss Halloween and Christians?
So what? What’s so important about a Christian’s view of Halloween? Aren’t there more crucial subjects to tackle? Yes, there are. But, before dismissing the topic completely, consider one possible danger facing Christians who adamantly oppose the “Halloween customs”. Such convictions run a risk of distracting both parents and children from the real evil of a satanic world system. The Apostle Paul said, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness...” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Satan and his demons are busy perverting the gospel through false teachers. The liberal pastor who denies the verbal inspiration of the Bible is the pawn of Satan. The “Christian” organization that compromises biblical principles does more damage to the Christian family than the vivid imagination of a young child who conjures up images of costumes and candy on Halloween night. Our Adversary is not interested in looking like an elderly, green-skinned woman with a pointed hat riding on a kitchen broom. Rather, he desires to mimic a teacher of righteousness by which he deceives an unregenerate world condemning them to their lost condition. As Christians we must maintain a biblical perspective on evil and how it operates in our universe. It is easy to spend our energies fighting the wrong enemy.
What should a Christian parent do?
There is biblical liberty in this matter. Some will feel more comfortable backing away from Halloween traditions. Others will enter into them as a family activity. Both need to be tolerant of the other opinion. As for me, I will be making sure the porch light is on, the treats are ready, waiting for the knock on the door and the giggles which follow when four children say, “Trick or treat, Grandpa!”
