I grew up in the 60s in a Christian home. Every year on October 31, my brothers and I dressed up for Halloween and went trick or treating. We never thought of any connection with Satan or worshiping the dead with this annual holiday. I think my parents simply wanted us to have a little fun. Perhaps the greatest damage of our lives came from all the junk food and candy we collected from neighbors.
But as time passed and I was married and began a family of my own, I started to wonder about the growing "evil" I saw in this event. A couple years ago I stopped by a store dedicated to selling stuff for Halloween in order to pick up a three cornered hat (I was going to use it at a church social, where I was asked to read "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere"). When I walked through the Halloween store, it was creepy! Nothing around me was pure, lovely, noble, or praiseworthy. (See Philippians 4:8).
Then I began to read about the origins of Halloween. It really made me stop in my tracks and ask, "What is a Christian to do?" Should we close our doors and shut off our porch light and ignore what is happening in our neighborhood? Is it appropriate to offer an alternative at church (like some sort of harvest festival or social night)? Perhaps we should open our doors and give them something healthy. (instead of candy) and Christian literature. How can a Christian be in the world and not of the world on October 31?
Here are 5 guidelines that can help you through this holiday:
Follow the Bible: Teach your children plainly and clearly that the Bible does not support worshiping or honoring dead people. Whether the roots of Halloween come from the Samhain pagan beliefs in having a feast for the dead or an attempt by the Christian church to honor dead saints or praying for dead people who have not quiet made it to heaven, the Bible is clear that the dead are truly dead. (See Isaiah 8:19, 20). No Christian can honestly celebrate Halloween.
Share your faith whenever possible. Jesus encouraged his disciple to "be in" the world but "not of" the world. (John 17:15, 16). That is not always easy. Many Christians feel compelled to share their faith with neighbors at Halloween. Instead of ignoring when children happen to come to their homes, they open their doors to share something appropriate to guide them toward Jesus and the Bible. Instead of candy, one family gives miniature pumpkins along with an informative pamphlet.
Draw clear boundaries. Decide, based on Scripture what you decide to do on Halloween. Pray and study earnestly and follow the convictions of the Holy Spirit Some things at Halloween are obviously things a Christian will not participate in: watching horror movies, eating lots of junk food, playing pranks that hurt people, telling scary stories, or visiting so called hunted attractions.
Provide appropriate alternatives. When our children were little, our church attempted to guide people away from traditional Halloween activities to something better. Children came to a social at church and learned about animals and listened to an interactive talk on Noah and the ark. Even non-Sabbath keeping parents were thankful to have an option for their kids who wanted to go out and collect candy or dress up in scary costumes or attend public school events.
Refrain from a judgmental spirit. Perhaps your fellow Christians are working through how to handle Halloween m
aybe they are not as clear or convicted as you are about what to do--especially those with children. Approaching them with a angry or critical spirit will not help them. Instead of condemning parents, why not invite a few families into your home for a short, age appropriate Bible study, refreshments, and family building games. Make it a time of worship and fellowship with the emphasis that as Christians, we only thing we "hallow" is the name of our Heavenly Father to whom Jesus taught us when we pray to say, "Hallow be Your name." Matthew 6:9.
Halloween is obviously not a holiday Christians should celebrate. Yet some good-hearted Christians believe it can be an opportunity to teach others about what truly happens when people die. However you chose to tackle this dubious holiday in your home, why not make sure that in the least, you spend time sharing your faith, worshiping the Living God with your family or participating in community-building fellowship with your church. It is possible with God's help, to turn something meant for evil into something to point others to the truth about life, death, and the Heavenly Father.
By Curtis R.
Amazing Facts Staff Writer
But as time passed and I was married and began a family of my own, I started to wonder about the growing "evil" I saw in this event. A couple years ago I stopped by a store dedicated to selling stuff for Halloween in order to pick up a three cornered hat (I was going to use it at a church social, where I was asked to read "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere"). When I walked through the Halloween store, it was creepy! Nothing around me was pure, lovely, noble, or praiseworthy. (See Philippians 4:8).
Then I began to read about the origins of Halloween. It really made me stop in my tracks and ask, "What is a Christian to do?" Should we close our doors and shut off our porch light and ignore what is happening in our neighborhood? Is it appropriate to offer an alternative at church (like some sort of harvest festival or social night)? Perhaps we should open our doors and give them something healthy. (instead of candy) and Christian literature. How can a Christian be in the world and not of the world on October 31?
Here are 5 guidelines that can help you through this holiday:
Follow the Bible: Teach your children plainly and clearly that the Bible does not support worshiping or honoring dead people. Whether the roots of Halloween come from the Samhain pagan beliefs in having a feast for the dead or an attempt by the Christian church to honor dead saints or praying for dead people who have not quiet made it to heaven, the Bible is clear that the dead are truly dead. (See Isaiah 8:19, 20). No Christian can honestly celebrate Halloween.
Share your faith whenever possible. Jesus encouraged his disciple to "be in" the world but "not of" the world. (John 17:15, 16). That is not always easy. Many Christians feel compelled to share their faith with neighbors at Halloween. Instead of ignoring when children happen to come to their homes, they open their doors to share something appropriate to guide them toward Jesus and the Bible. Instead of candy, one family gives miniature pumpkins along with an informative pamphlet.
Draw clear boundaries. Decide, based on Scripture what you decide to do on Halloween. Pray and study earnestly and follow the convictions of the Holy Spirit Some things at Halloween are obviously things a Christian will not participate in: watching horror movies, eating lots of junk food, playing pranks that hurt people, telling scary stories, or visiting so called hunted attractions.
Provide appropriate alternatives. When our children were little, our church attempted to guide people away from traditional Halloween activities to something better. Children came to a social at church and learned about animals and listened to an interactive talk on Noah and the ark. Even non-Sabbath keeping parents were thankful to have an option for their kids who wanted to go out and collect candy or dress up in scary costumes or attend public school events.
Refrain from a judgmental spirit. Perhaps your fellow Christians are working through how to handle Halloween m
aybe they are not as clear or convicted as you are about what to do--especially those with children. Approaching them with a angry or critical spirit will not help them. Instead of condemning parents, why not invite a few families into your home for a short, age appropriate Bible study, refreshments, and family building games. Make it a time of worship and fellowship with the emphasis that as Christians, we only thing we "hallow" is the name of our Heavenly Father to whom Jesus taught us when we pray to say, "Hallow be Your name." Matthew 6:9.
Halloween is obviously not a holiday Christians should celebrate. Yet some good-hearted Christians believe it can be an opportunity to teach others about what truly happens when people die. However you chose to tackle this dubious holiday in your home, why not make sure that in the least, you spend time sharing your faith, worshiping the Living God with your family or participating in community-building fellowship with your church. It is possible with God's help, to turn something meant for evil into something to point others to the truth about life, death, and the Heavenly Father.
By Curtis R.
Amazing Facts Staff Writer
