Halloween and the Christian Conscience

This is certainly a Christian “hot topic” and seems to be discussed annually. Although, it feels odd to write about “after the fact” perhaps there is the benefit of not being distracted with preparations in order to pray, think, and consider for the year ahead. I feel it worthwhile to say that I believe holidays are largely a matter of Christian conscience and personal conviction. Our salvation is not tied up with these matters. However, I believe it should also be our joy and duty to continually test all things against the truth of scripture. “Though all things are lawful not all things are beneficial.” So where do we stand with Halloween? (And in the spirit of integrity, how do we handle other holidays that have not been documented in the Bible?) I’m not going to delve into the roots of Halloween (or Christmas or Easter etc.), suffice to say that a quick google search of “X roots and historic traditions” will take you deep into a rabbit hole of little ‘G’ gods, sacrifices and all manner of human depravity.

I’m sharing my perspective as a fellow believer for those who may not be sure about what to do, in order to provide things to consider.

To keep things simple and avoid unnecessary entanglements with traditions and beliefs I will present the scripture we have looked to and general biblical insights that informed our decision. Then, we'll look at the common arguments we have faced in support of Halloween and our response.

Halloween or “spooky season” is a celebration of the dark and macabre. Witches, demons, devils, ghosts, bloody limbs, and all manner of darkness is the overarching theme. People enjoy movies and shows featuring witches, magic and other forms of darkness, and some even partake in delighting in fear or dark practices; playing with ouija boards, tarot cards etc. Before I became a believer I celebrated this time of year by searching for the scariest films I could find, and delighting in dark “haunted” walk-throughs where I would get an adrenaline high by seeing all manner of darkness up close and personal. I understand this is not how most modern day Christians observe this season, but I’m addressing Halloween as it is understood and celebrated without the “moral adjustments” Christians often apply. All of this to say, even if a Christian does not observe it in such a way, the spirit and celebration of Halloween is undeniably rooted in darkness.

What do the scriptures say? Well, nothing explicitly about Halloween in the modern sense, but it does say an awful lot about pagan forms of worship and the traditions of man, such as:

• “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

• “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11

• “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? ...Therefore go from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-15&17

I understand that I am not defiled by what I eat or drink but what comes from my heart and inner being. All days belong to the Lord and he has full dominion over all the earth. While I may not sin in eating meat offered to idols because I understand these to be fake and having no power, I am still mindful of my witness and that we are called to be representatives and ambassadors. The way we conduct ourselves should mirror the kingdom, Christ and His church, his goodness, light, hope and mercy. We should be seeking to walk out our lives with Jesus' life as the prime example.

Okay, so If I’m not condemned by celebrating, why give it up?

My question to myself is “Why not? What is there in my heart or in this day that I would first seek to justify myself rather than readily abstain?” If this is a day that largely celebrates darkness and “all things spooky” why should I seek to partake?”

Here are some of the reasons we've heard and examples of our response to each:

• Well, It’s an opportunity to minister to my neighbors! (The ones we live near and have access to 364 other days of the year.) “Am I using this as an excuse to justify or even as a crutch to neglect presenting the gospel and building a relationship the rest of the year?”

• It’s reformation day! Then let it be reformation day! Why the costumes and trick-or-treating? Perhaps instead a potluck dinner with friends, uplifting conversations of the reformation, prayers, hymns and music from our heart to the Lord. Again, looking to see if I’m merely using this to justify myself or ease my conscience?
  

• We can redeem this day for God! We can redeem this day in sharing the gospel, eating a meal together in prayer and thankfulness to the Lord, and in doing the good works God has prepared for us. I don’t see anywhere in scripture where the apostles partook in pagan rituals in order to share the gospel and redeem their festivals. (But please message me with scripture references if you have!) More often I see examples of separating, a form of holy ostracism and rebuke.
  

• I use it as an opportunity to share the gospel! This one is a great reason. I would be careful to make sure I’m not using this to justify myself in decorating and dressing up or associating with the appearance that I celebrate this particular day. Also, remembering that I have an opportunity to bless others and share the gospel in doing a free neighborhood lemonade stand or carwash. This is not my only outreach opportunity.

Here‘s the great and glorious deal- we can look through the whole of scripture and see that God isn’t vague in the matter of how we should worship Him. From the Old Testament to the New Testament he does not leave us guessing!

The bottom line is: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Finally, I leave you with: Romans 14:5-7 “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes in the honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains abstains in the honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself.”

May we not grow weary in doing good, being careful in how we walk, “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Because, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”