Halloween: To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate?

I must admit, I used to have so much fun on Halloween when I was a kid. I didn't really care about the costumes and whatnot. For me, it was all about the candy and my determination to collect massive amounts of it before the night was over. I'm sure many of you can relate! The fact of the matter is that I didn't have a clue about Halloween's origins or even why it's celebrated. I was caught up living by the standards of the world instead of by the standards of God.

This article is intended to provide you with a brief, historical overview of Halloween, as well as address some biblical truths that prove Halloween is not an occasion that should be celebrated or honored at all by those of us who are believers and followers of Christ - Christians.

Origins of Halloween

The word "Halloween" is derived from the term "All Hallows Eve" or the evening before All Saint's Day (November 1^st) which, in the ancient church, was a celebration of the lives of Christian martyrs on the anniversaries of their deaths. Other historians have traced Halloween's origin back to ancient Europe, during the time of Christ, when Celtic people celebrated the end of the summer season. The Celts were pagan Druids whose major celebrations were marked by the seasons. All Hallows Eve kicked off on October 31^st by the three day, pagan Samhain (pronounced "sow", like cow, "en") festival. The Celts embraced this time with various traditions, including occult practices - divination and communication with the dead. The day before Samhain was the last day of summer (the old year), and the day after Samhain was the first day of winter (the new year). Since they were "between" seasons or years, this was considered to be a very magical time. They believed that this was the time when spirits of the dead wandered among the living seeking to haunt and/or possess them. In turn, the Celts would dress up in ghoulish costumes and parade around the streets making loud noises attempting to confuse and frighten the spirits away. Others believed they needed to leave "treats" of various kinds to appease the spirits. Those spirits who were not properly "treated" would "trick" the people who had neglected them. Ironically, somewhere along history's way, the pagan and Christian worlds meshed creating what we have today: Trick-or-treaters, many dressed like ghouls, witches, and the like, going from house to house for goodies. If no goodies are given, that family runs the risk of having a "trick" played on their property.
A Christian's response and responsibility

What does all of this mean for us who are followers of Christ? How are we to respond? What are we to do? Here are a few scriptures that will address the above content.

1) Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (NASB)

Note to ponder: As Christians, we are called to dismiss worldly customs, practices, systems and values. How do we do this? I'm glad you asked! The scripture states that we must change our minds about the matter. We must adopt the practice of seeing things the way Christ does. Yes, this may take time for some of us, especially if we've been practicing the world's ways all of our lives. However, all things are possible through Christ Jesus. I pray that God will strengthen you in this area, and that you will put on the mind of Christ from this day forth.

2) Deuteronomy 18: 10-12 - There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. (NASB)

Note to ponder: God is very clear and specific in these passages, so there should be no confusion. It may seem intriguing to engage in the above practices, but the information you receive or the experience you encounter is likely to either be distorted or a complete lie. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44c); he is no less deceitful today than he was back in the day. I pray that you will yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit through God's word for any and all of your heart's desires. You can always count on Him to lead you in the way of truth.

3) 1 Thessalonians 5: 21-22 - But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

Note to ponder: My sisters and brothers, here God is telling us to line everything up with the Word of God. Others words may or not be the truth. We have a responsibility to accept what is true and reject what is false. Also, we are to abstain - withdrawn, give up, refrain - from every form of evil. Halloween, and all that it stands for, fits into this category. We must be proactive about avoiding tempting situations and focus on being obedient to the Lord.

These are merely a few scriptures that address my initial question. Now that you have more information, how will you respond? I can almost hear some of you saying, "But I don't want my kids to miss out...", or "We're just going around getting candy and having fun..." You must know that Satan is the force behind the occult, and Halloween, in part, represents this. Will you choose to celebrate Halloween or not?

I'm certainly not here to twist your arm or judge you, lest I be judged. On the contrary, it is my sincere hope and prayer that you have at least become a little more knowledgeable and that you choose to embrace God's truth on the matter. None of this is my opinion; these are biblical truths. Always remember, God's word speaks for itself, and in the end truth always prevails!

Alternatives to Celebrating Halloween

Here are a few ideas for those who may be interested in getting out of the house or impacting others lives in a Holy way on this day.

a) If you choose to stay home and pass out candy, why not pass out Christian "tracts" as well. My family has done this when we chose to stay home for the evening. Tracts are excellent witnessing tools that help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. They typically come in the form of tiny, easy to read booklets or pamphlets. You can find them at just about any Christian bookstore, your local church, or you can purchase them online. You never know just how many lives you may impact with a few kind words, a smile, and a tract. Try it... what do you have to lose? Click on the following links to access two cool websites where you can purchase tracts and a whole lot more!

christianbook.com

lifewaystores.com

b)Attend festivities at a local church. These typically occur on or around Halloween, and may be referred to as Harvest Festivals, Fall Carnivals, or Holy-Eve Celebrations. Let me tell you, these are soooo fun! Some children dress up as biblical or non-frightening characters (wearing plain clothes is perfectly acceptable too), there are tons of games and prizes for all, music, food, and just oodles of wholesome family fun. These celebrations are more-or-less kicking off the fall season while providing a safe, loving environment for the whole family. I suggest checking the local newspaper for churches in your area that will be hosting these types of events.

c)Go roller skating, bowling, to the movies, our out to dinner. Maybe you're the type who needs a change in atmosphere because you get tired of the "same ole same ole", so to speak. I can relate... I am that type! There are so many other things you can do besides stay at home and pass out candy. Explore the entertainment section of your local newspaper. I'm sure you'll find all sorts of things to get into. Just be sure to keep it holy!