Thinking Christianly About Halloween

Of course there is nothing inherently wrong with dressing up in costumes for fun and walking around the neighborhood with our kids and their friends to get lots of candy. Most of us probably need the fun and friendly neighborly interaction and the exercise of walking wouldn’t hurt us either. However, let me ask, what are you going to do about Halloween and why? 

I’m not going to get into the pagan roots of Halloween and all that because that has been well documented elsewhere and I honestly do not think it is all that relevant to Halloween today.

Whether it is Halloween or something else I personally strive to apply God’s Word, exercise wisdom, and think Christianly in all areas of my life- particularly as I lead my family. I am not a big fan of separating everything into sacred and secular and then seeing Christians fearfully retreat away from secular culture. I do not listen to Christian radio. I actually did have a Christian bumper sticker in college, but will probably never have one again. I believe Christians should thoughtfully engage the culture around them without being engulfed by culture.

Personally, I have never been trick-or-treating because my family ignored Halloween growing up. Let me assure you that I am not reacting to my upbringing. In fact I am very thankful for the way my parents erred on the cautious/protective side in raising my sister and I. So how do we think Christianly about Halloween and what should we do about it?

Here are 8 verses from the Bible that offer broad guidance for this issue:

• The key question is not “what can I do?” but “what should I do because it will bring most glory to God?” (1 Cor. 10:31)
• Christians should not be passively conformed to the world. (Romans 12:2)
• Christian’s primary citizenship is in Heaven. (Phil. 3:20)
• Jesus prayed that his people, who are not of the world, would remain in the world and be kept from the evil one. (Jn. 17:15-16)
• Disciples of Jesus should be the salt of the earth and light of the world (Mt. 5:14).
• The Bible does not explicitly answer every question, therefore Christians should employ Biblically informed wisdom for many decisions in life. (Eph. 6:15)
• For Christians some issues are not black and white and are a matter of conscience. (Rom. 14:5)
• In matters of conscience Christians should be reasonably considerate to those who disagree with them. (Romans 14:16)

2 Key Questions You Must Think About

1.     How will you teach your kids about Death & the Gospel? This is a big question. Many of the houses/parties you go to will celebrate and/or downplay death. There will be coffins and tombstones in the yard, ghosts, zombies back from the dead with hatchets stuck in their backs, skeletons hanging from nooses in the trees, etc… How ought we to act toward death and what do we want to teach our kids about death? The Bible teaches that death is real, final, and far from funny because it is a consequence of mankind’s sin against the Creator (Rom 6:23). The Gospel (good news) declares that Jesus lived a sinless life and yet died a sinners death, namely he died on the cross as a substitute for all sinners who would place their faith in him for salvation. On the wonderful cross Jesus died the death we deserve! When he was all finished paying our death penalty Jesus powerfully rose from the grave with a new ‘physical’ resurrection body. Those who turn from their sins and trust in Jesus today will rise to eternal life with Jesus. This is why 1 Cor. 15:55 says, “O death where is your victory, O death where is your sting?” I want to carefully explain death and the wonderful news of the Gospel to my children.

2. Have you thoughtfully determined your position on Halloween? Everyone has a position. Having no position is a type of position. So here are some options:

A. Ignore Halloween- Turn your porch light off, Keep your kids home from school, don’t dress up or go trick or treating, etc…

B. Convert Halloween- Dress up, go to a church “Harvest Festival,” bob for apples, jump in a jumpy thing, etc.

C. Cautiously Participate in Halloween- Dress up, go trick or treating with your neighbors, avoid haunted houses, help your kids understand your position on Halloween.

D. Unreservedly Participate in Halloween- Just do what everyone else does and don’t overanalyze (or think).

E. Combination- Combine a little bit of A, with B & C, then prayerfully take it one year at a time

*** Note- Our family is doing “E.”