Christians and Halloween. Why is this even a controversial discussion?
As a Christian, do you participate in the Halloween festivities happening around your town? Do you allow your kids to dress up and go trick or treating in your neighborhood?
Should Christians celebrate Halloween and participate in the events associated with it? Is it considered going against God to do so?
When Christians don’t do Halloween, I would say they are actually going against what God has called us to do – share the Good News so that others can be saved! The importance of sharing the gospel on Halloween is just as important (if not more) than any other single day of the year!
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Sharing the Gospel on Halloween
I’ll be honest here. As a somewhat newer Christian, I was really shocked to find out that the topic of Christians and Halloween sparked such heated discussions in opposing directions! That so many Christians completely avoid any involvement in Halloween activities. I mean, I get it – Pagan roots and all that – but seriously? How many kids do you know that think the day is about anything more than dressing up and getting their fill of candy?
But let me take it a step further. Imagine if every single Christian stayed inside their homes, doors locked, completely cut off from everyone outside participating in the Halloween activities. That means there would be a whole lot of lost people outside without a single opportunity to be introduced to Jesus! How can they come to know the Father without other Believers around to show them?
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV
Isn’t that what we are called to do? Isn’t that really the only reason we are here? To let others know about Jesus so they, too, can be freed of their sinful ways and enjoy eternity? The only way they can ever know of Him is if we are out there sharing the gospel with them.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 NIV
Just before Jesus left to be with the Father in Heaven, the last thing he said was to preach the gospel to ALL creation. ALL CREATION. I’m pretty sure that includes all those people celebrating that “pagan holiday.” (That last part was said with sarcasm!).
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.” Proverbs 11:30 NIV
I love this verse because it relates to so many things in life. As parents, we always try to shield our kids from danger and steer them in the right direction. As Christian parents, we take it a step further, doing everything we can to raise up a Godly generation. But many times, in trying to keep them from danger we often don’t let them learn necessary lessons that can save them later on in life. In sort of the same way, by not allowing our kids to get out and enjoy the Halloween fun, we are not giving them opportunities to practice that one thing they are called to do – share the gospel with others.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37:38 NIV
We are called to harvest the field of lost souls here on Earth! Every single day. Not just on the Holy days. Not just on the days that don’t have Pagan origins. EVERY SINGLE DAY! Unfortunately, the lost far outnumber the saved (workers are few) so it takes every single one of us to accomplish this harvest!
Related: What Does the Bible Say About Community
Being a Light for Jesus on Halloween
Halloween and all the festivities that take over the end of October are such a perfect opportunity to shine God’s light for others to see. It is an opportunity for you to get out there, meet your neighbors, love on them, invite them to church. This is how we reach the unchurched, the lost, the broken.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NIV
The way we shine our light on Halloween will save more souls than simply “sitting this one out.” Jesus didn’t “sit this one out” when He died on the cross!
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 NIV
Halloween is a time for community. In the craziness of our hectic lives today, many people never really get to know their neighbors. But on this one night, they all come out for a night of fun and fellowship. This is the perfect opportunity to get to know them and for you to invite them to church.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 NIV
Team up with other Christian parents in your neighborhood and turn your driveway into a Halloween tailgate party. Decorate your yard so more people will stop by and say hello! Where we are gathered, He is there! And when He is there, just imagine the amazing things He can make happen!
Even before I became a follower of Christ, Halloween wasn’t something I ever associated with having Pagan roots. I probably didn’t even know what “Pagan roots” meant! It is time we stopped looking for the bad or evil in so many things. Yes – the enemy is all around us. But don’t let your spiritual warfare skills get blurred in a way that actual defeats God’s plan and helps the enemy even more.
Being out and about on Halloween isn’t the same as standing before a false God offering a sacrifice! Halloween is about family fun and being in community with others. It should be treated like any other day – which is a day that you can share Jesus with someone who doesn’t know Him. We are called to share God’s message with ALL creation. The parent of that child who would knock on your door hoping for candy. Your next-door neighbor, whom you’ve never officially met but stopped by your driveway tailgate party with their kids.
Your neighborhood has someone that needs to meet Christ – through you! And they just might be passing by your house on Halloween night! Are you just going to let them pass your locked up and unlit house?
Satan can turn even the most innocent of things into something bad. But the power of Jesus trumps all others! There is a song by Elevation Worship called “See a Victory” that sums it up perfectly:
You take what the enemy meant for evil, and you turn it for good…”
While I would never criticize anyone for their own personal beliefs, I am simply asking that you look at this one night with a different heart and a different perspective. This one night of the year is the best opportunity to show others what being Christian really means.
Be sure to also read:
- 6 Ways to Practice Biblical Hospitality on Halloween
- Teaching Kids About Community on Halloween
- Talking About Jesus – How to Share Jesus with Others
You said it! When Christians don’t do Halloween, whether its a church event alternative or a neighborhood thing, we’re hiding our light under a bushel. Or our heads in the sand.
Letting fear or self-righteousness rule the day is NOT the way to win souls or love our neighbors.
Thanks Aryn! I completely agree! When we view days or “holidays” as being of the enemy and completely avoid them, we are not winning souls for Jesus. The only way to get rid of evil is to drown it in Jesus! And that requires us to be out there shining His light on every night of the year!
Good points here.
We had this issue when our kids were small: a family who did not do Halloween, but, ironically allowed their kids to do a lot of things our kids couldn’t do.
With gray areas like this, I always fall back onto Paul’s “meat offered to idols” advice: be fully convinced in your own heart about what YOU should do according to the Spirit’s voice in your own conscience and then don’t judge others for doing likewise.
In my early Christian life, from my teens into maybe my early thirties, the churches I attended all emphasized the pagan origins of Halloween and discouraged against participating in it. When I attended a Christian college, I was stunned to observe that faculty and staff members let their kids go trick-or-treating. That was my first realization that Christians could differ on Halloween. Since then I’ve come to many of the same conclusions you mention here, that most modern people associate the day more with dressing up and getting candy than pagan origins, and it’s a great was to get to know and interact with neighbors. Romans 14 helped a lot, too, with the realization that people on opposite sides of some issues, including celebrating or not celebrating certain days, still do what they do as unto the Lord. We also used to include children’s gospel tracts made especially for Halloween with the candy we distributed. I had one friend who would have been okay with Halloween, but her faith community didn’t. She had a Fall Harvest Party for kids with a theme for dressing up (fairy tale characters one year, clowns another, what you want to be when you grow up another). That’s a great option for people who might still have qualms about the day itself.
Yes Barbara! I truly do understand where many Christians are conflicted because of the Pagan origin. But there are so many ways to still get out and be the light of Jesus on this day – even if we call it something different such as “harvest” instead of “Halloween.” At the end of the day, it is about sharing Jesus with others regardless of an evil association for the particular day. Thanks so much for your wonderful story!
I absolutely agree that this is a time of year that we NEED to share God’s light in our communities. As you said, there are many festivities that open up more opportunities. We need to seize these moments in the name of the Lord! I grew up in a more conservative church but my parents never adopted those beliefs that were taught about not participating and I’m so glad my parents didn’t because I feel i was able to remain more balanced in my daily walk. We are to be invested in sharing Jesus and so many children of God miss chances of doing this when we aren’t balanced in areas.
Halloween is just another day that we are blessed to live. We should be loving our neighbors and sharing Christ, just like we would every day! But, on Halloween, we have the added bonus of creatively standing apart from the world. For example, I don’t allow my kiddos to dress in certain costumes, like witches, ghosts, or anything evil or demonic. But, if they wanted to be “scary” by dressing up like a leviathan, a martyr, or a lion, I have no problem with that. I’ve even thought of taping good candy to mini scripture cards or something like that. What a conversation starter! It’s all about creatively participating in our culture while doing what we’re called to do.
I LOVE this! It is so true and I was one of those ‘scared’ Christians long ago. Finally woke up and realized that, as you said, kids do not know or care what the pagan origins of Halloween were. I think it’s wonderful that churches have actually become the primary place for families to bring their children because they know it’s safe! What a great way to get them to church and then let them see how happy and friendly we are instead of how grumpy and superstitious we are! Just my opinion and have nothing against those who choose not to participate.
When I was growing up, this wasn’t an issue at all. I kinda see what both sides are saying now, but I don’t have the full answers. I agree most with you that we need to be a light every day, regardless!
On Halloween, opportunities to share Christ are served up on a platter. This is great motivation to be a light in the darkness!