Halloween: How should Christians respond

"Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good." Romans 12:21 NLT

Halloween is big business in the U.S. According to the National Retail Federation, "Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday, with Christmas being the first." Halloween spending in the U.S. alone reached $9 billion 2018. Halloween is too big to ignore, and almost impossible to boycott. And it's not going to go away as long as commercial business continues to reap huge profits from sales during its observance. Halloween is celebrated in many other countries around the world.

Most people who celebrate Halloween, have no idea about its pagan roots; or for that matter, its Christian connection. To those who celebrate it, Halloween simply represents a fun time for kids as well as grown ups. There is certainly a counter-culture somewhere that worships the darker side of Halloween. But generally speaking, those folks are not the ones who come knocking at your door asking for treats.

Halloween is a divisive topic for Christians resulting in spirited debates over Halloween's flirtation with evil, and whether Christ followers ought to partake in this holiday. A Gallup Poll survey found that Christians are divided over religious objections to Halloween. Asan alternative, some Christian groups compromise by hosting counter celebrations that capture the fun but not the spirit of the holiday. Some just avoid any observance whatsoever preferring to wall themselves up behind closed doors when the kids come knocking. But what purpose does it serve for Christians to isolate and cut themselves off from a potential opportunity to witness to a ready pool of potential converts?

The biggest trick played on Halloween is Christian kids and adults being bottled up inside churches or homes all night. That’s right! Hiding from the devil in the family life center and surrendering the neighborhood to little Ghouls, goblins, and witches is a victory for old Beelzebub. He’s got the church right where he wants it: inside the four walls, hunkered down behind the stained glass. ---Andy Freeman, The Enemy's Victory

There's a better way. While Halloween in no way deserves the same stature as Christmas and Easter, it does provide opportunities that are unique to this holiday. For example, Halloween gives Christians an opportunity to engage with non-Christians—literally, right on their doorstep. But if some Christians can't see beyond the costumed ghosts, goblins and witches that show up, they will likely miss an opportunity to shine "light" into the dark world of Halloween.

Are some Christians trying to remove themselves from the world? Ignoring Halloween or celebrating it with believers only is not exactly an evangelical approach. Aren't we supposed to "become all things to all men so that by all possible means" we might save some? (1 Corinthians 9:22) Halloween brings our neighbors out into the streets. I can think of various creative ways to seize this opportunity for developing new relationships and sharing my faith. —Mary Fairchild, Christians and Halloween

Perhaps it's time the Christian community develop a more evangelistic strategy toward Halloween that goes beyond avoidance and isolation to focusing on sharing the gospel . Think of it as overcoming evil with good like Jesus did.

Christians should use Halloween and all that it brings to the imagination--death imagery, superstition, expressions of debauched revelry--as an opportunity to engage the unbelieving world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. —Travis Allen, Grace to You

It may mean keeping your door open for Trick or Treaters. And as you hand out candy, put a gospel tract or card in their bag. In other words, re-purpose Halloween by transforming it into an opportunity to let your light shine even brighter for Jesus. Jesus never ran from evil. Instead, he confronted it head-on exposing it for what it was.

 God commands his people to put on the shoes of the gospel of peace daily. Christians are to have evangelism on their minds every day and  look for those opportunities to witness Jesus Christ to a dark world.—Leftbehind.com

In the past, Halloween was mostly about costumes and candy. Today, it's still largely about that, but it can also be about reaching  neighbors who may never have another chance to hear the gospel.

(Updated 10/2019) 

The battle over Halloween

"Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new."
2 Corinthians 5:17

The battle between the world’s observance of Halloween and the Christian church’s stand against it rears its controversial head every year at this time when store shelves overflow with ghoulish replicas of witches, monsters, devils, ghosts, goblins and the like.

When I was a child growing up in the 1950’s, we never heard much public objection about Halloween being something evil. My parents sent me out with a shopping bag to go door-to-door “trick or treating” in my neighborhood. Hours later I’d come home loaded down with all kinds of goodies courtesy of kind and generous neighbors.

For us kids, it was the next best holiday, after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Oddly enough back then none of us really knew about or bothered to look into Halloween's origins. We dressed in costumes and did what everybody else did because it seemed harmless and it was fun.

Fast forward to a more enlightened age, Evangelical Christians today have brought the whole question of the observance of Halloween to the forefront of our collective conscious. Many churches have begun teaching its members about the dark and sinister meanings behind the observance of Halloween and what’s really behind it.

Here’s what some in Christian circles are saying about Halloween.

Elliott Watson in his article, “Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?” says:
“The origins of Halloween are Celtic in tradition and have to do with observing the end of summer sacrifices to gods in Druidic tradition. In what is now Britain and France, it was the beginning of the Celtic year, and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. The waning of the sun and the approach of dark winter made the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks. Believe it or not, most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions.

“Shock” is the only word to describe what I found. Halloween is a real, sacred day for those who follow Wicca. In fact, it is one of two high and holy days for them. The Celtic belief of spirits being released is current, along with the worship of Samhain (the lord of death) – both are promoted as something to embrace on that day. There is no question in my mind that to those who believe and follow the practices of witchcraft, Halloween represents an opportunity to embrace the evil, devilish, dark side of the spiritual world.”

Weighing in with another viewpoint William J. Schnoebelen says:
“If you are a Christian parent, God has given you a precious responsibility in your children. Remember, their ability to resist spiritual wickedness is much less than yours. If you allow your children to participate in Halloween (Trick or Treating, costume parties, etc.) you are allowing them to play on "the devil's turf," and Satan will definitely press his home court advantage. You are opening up doorways into their young lives for evil by bringing them into a kind of "fellowship" with these ancient "gods."

We are commanded not to become involved with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11). Both from my experience as a witch, and since getting saved, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have seen far too many examples of how breaking this command works out in lives. Remember, while we have God's promise of protection for ourselves and our children, that promise may not hold if we allow our children to celebrate this dark holiday. Case after case has come to us of children in rebellion. In many of these families, the problem can be traced back to the children being exposed to Halloween at a young age. It is hard enough to raise children these days in a Godly way without exposing them to Satan's realm. “

Others say Christians should simply turn this “hollow” day back on itself and emphasize the good that can come out of it.

Grace Communion International church suggests another approach to Halloween:
“The issue of whether to celebrate Halloween in any way is usually only a question for parents who have small children. Retailers advertise Halloween as a time of great fun for kids, so they naturally want to participate in trick-or-treat walkabouts, don spooky clothing and visit local “haunted house” stations provided by some merchants or involve themselves in other related activities.

For parents who don’t want their children involved in such things, they might consider having a home party with other parents and children that don’t involve Halloween-type festivities. Some churches offer an evening get-together for children and parents, with fun Bible-centered games and party snacks.”

The Care Ministry of Christ’s Journey Church offers another alternative viewpoint:
“Jesus teaches that evil is a personal matter rising from within a person’s heart, not ingested through participation in a practice deemed demonic. Without doubt, for those who believe in witchcraft and follow evil practices, Halloween represents a day to celebrate the demonic and dark spiritual forces, which scripture teaches are in the world and also in people’s hearts. Because of Christ, those dark spiritual forces are not alive in my heart, which is why I see no problem in participating in an alternate Halloween celebration of pure, innocent fun. Why ignore a major holiday that exists around us? Let’s take the perspective of Joseph in Genesis 50: What Satan intends to harm, we will “use for good to accomplish the saving of many lives.”

We can counter the evil influences of Halloween by joining together in an alternative environment to celebrate the joyous, fearless life we live in Christ. As Bill taught this month, “the company of the committed” can mount an offensive strategy, intentionally using Halloween to invite others who may not be in a personal relationship with Jesus to UBC’s Block Party or a Neighborhood Block Party you host. In summary, I believe Christians are free to use Halloween as an opportunity to promote relationships with those inside and outside of our faith, while modeling the abundant life Jesus came to give us.”

Regardless of which position you hold on the subject, this truth is certain --- Jesus stood up to evil and won. The Bible tells every Christian to overcome evil by doing good. When we stand our ground against Satan, he will flee from us. As Christians, we have the authority and the power to overcome whatever Satan throws at us. Halloween and all it represents is no exception. Instead of shunning it, why not transform October 31^st, into a day where Jesus Christ is the center of attention. Let’s lead by example by honoring Jesus in all we do every day.