Pastoral Thoughts on Halloween

It is that time of year, and I always get asked. So, here is my answer when asked if our family celebrates Halloween:

The Bible doesn't directly command us not to celebrate Halloween, and you're not evil if you celebrate Halloween. A lot of mature Christians make great use of this holiday. That is fine. However, our convictions won't allow our family to celebrate Halloween. There are several reasons for this, but we don't do it mainly because we don't want to go back any where near the ancient foes that Christ defeated on the cross—the evil spirits and death. As Christians we know the spirit world is real and shouldn't be trifled with. Additionally, death is the greatest enemy and shouldn't be celebrated. We know that not all celebrations of halloween sanitize Satan and glorify death, but many do. In fact, I think that everyone would have to admit that the celebration of Halloween has grown spiritually darker over the years, not more innocent. As people of the light, we want to avoid anything that would promote a return to spiritual darkness.

All that being said, we buy lots of candy to give out at our house because we are also against our house being egged.

As a side note, almost every time I give this answer the response is "you are missing an evangelistic opportunity; the world comes right to your door." To be honest, I think this is a lame response. If you want to celebrate Halloween that is fine, but this response is not persuasive to me for a few reasons:

1. I think there are better evangelistic opportunities. I actually know my neighbors by name already. People know us and they know we are Christians because we talk to them about Jesus. I don't think we are less of an influence to our community because we stay home and watch a movie on Oct 31.

   
   

2. I've never gone out to trick-or-treat. Are there really that many deep spiritual conversations that happen while the kids are going to the door? I am just asking.

   
   

3. I've had a lot of opportunities to explain to unbelievers why we don't celebrate Halloween. I've never told anyone they were sinning by celebrating Halloween, because I don't believe they are. But I've tried to explain why I think our way is better, which always includes the Gospel. This has been far more evangelistically opportunistic than preaching from my front door to masked children who just want to get to the next candy distribution center.

   
   

4. Here is the big one, you don't go against conscience for pragmatics. A lot of really bad ministry is done under the guise of "it will help us reach the community." I am not saying that Christians using Halloween for evangelistic purposes is inherently compromising, I am just saying that it is not enough to persuade me to violate my conscience on this issue. The way the world celebrates Halloween, demonic beings and darkness are glorified while death is trivialized. That is just a fact, and it is substantiated by the zombie cemetery my neighbors set up for halloween this year. Frankly, I don't want anything to do with that. Christ conquered demons and death. I hope that Christians celebrating Halloween do so in a way that glorifies God and celebrates spiritual life.

Bottom line, we don't celebrate Halloween because we think there are wiser ways to honor the Lord on the 31st. However, there are people in my community and my church who do celebrate it. Here's what I say to them, "whether you trick-or-treat, or not, whatever you do, do all to the Glory of God. ”In fact, here is my advice for all Christians on the issue of Halloween:

• For Christians to fight over this issue on either side is silly.

• Think through your position on the issue biblically.

• Inform your conscience with truth

• Develop truth-based convictions.

• Hold to your position graciously with love for your brothers and sisters, especially toward those conscience differs from you on this issue.