The discussion around Halloween is a controversial and heated topic in the American church. Many Christians struggle with this issue of conscience when it comes to spooky season. Many Christians are wrestling with questions like…
Can Christians celebrate Halloween?
Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
Is it a sin to celebrate Halloween as a Christian?
The list of questions grows when you discover the concerning origins of Halloween, the rise and popularity of witchcraft, and the reality of spiritual warfare. So, join us as we help you answer the question: should Christians celebrate Halloween?
Different Perspectives on Halloween
When it comes to Halloween, there are many perspectives and varying opinions within Christianity. Some Christians believe that Halloween is inherently evil and should be rejected and avoided entirely. Other Christians believe that Halloween can be redeemed, noting that October 31st is a great time for evangelism and spiritual conversations. At the same time, other Christians believe that Halloween isn’t necessarily good or bad and that Christians can receive this holiday and integrate it into their routines without any second thought. You can break down these three different perspectives on Halloween into 3 categories: receive, reject, or redeem.
- Receive: Because Halloween is a matter of conscience, many Christians feel no qualms about celebrating Halloween as a Christian. People in the “receive” category believe that Halloween is a harmless holiday that exists to dress up in costumes, eat candy, and celebrate the fall. Because the Bible never condemns Halloween directly, many Christians fall into the “receive” camp concerning this holiday.
Related Post: What is Discernment? - Reject: A growing number of Christians are rejecting Halloween altogether. Those in this train of thought point to the origins of Halloween as being inherently evil and opposite to God. Because Halloween has its roots in the occult, many Christians reject Halloween as an evil holiday and see this as a black-and-white issue, rather than a spiritual gray area.
Even though the Bible never mentions Halloween directly, there are several Bible verses in Deuteronomy, Exodus, Leviticus, and Galatians that directly warn against practicing witchcraft, idolatry, paganism, or magic, and these scriptures carry strong punishments for mediums, sorcerers, and necromancers. Due to the intensity of these Bible verses, Christians are rejecting Halloween in record numbers and avoiding the holiday intentionally.
Related Post: What is Sin? - Redeem: Despite Halloween’s origins, many Christians believe that Halloween is a holiday that can be redeemed for God. Many Churches host Harvest Festivals, Trunk or Treats, or make “All Saints Day” the emphasis on October 31st. Christians who fall into the redeem camp see Halloween as a time to love their neighbors, connect with spiritually curious people, and share the love of God.
Related Post: How Encounters with Jesus Lead to Fearless Evangelism
Should I Celebrate Halloween as a Christian?
As October comes to a close, you may be wondering, should I celebrate Halloween as a Christian? The first step to discerning whether you should celebrate Halloween as a Christian is to enter into prayer.
- Pray: Whenever you don’t know what to do, simply stop and pray. Prayer is as simple as talking to God as you would talk with a friend. Through prayer, reading the Bible, and listening for God’s direction, you will discover whether you should celebrate Halloween or not.
Download our FREE e-book on prayer: Let’s Talk About Prayer: Simple Steps to Connect with God - Seek Clarity in Community: One of our pillars at the Everyday Faith Podcast is to pursue community. Individual prayer is great to jump-start the discernment process about whether you should celebrate Halloween or not, but praying in the context of community is essential to decision-making as a Christian.
Learn how to find Christian community: How to Pursue Community - What Would Jesus Do?: Whether you decide to receive Halloween, reject Halloween, or redeem Halloween, keeping Jesus at the center of your decision-making is key. One phrase to remember is, “What would Jesus do?” or WWJD for short. In your neighborhood, in your scenario, in your season of life — would Jesus reject Halloween, receive Halloween, or redeem Halloween? You may even start to ask questions like…
Would Jesus hand out candy to kids and tell them about the Bible?
Would Jesus be on the streets, ministering to the homeless and providing food for the hungry?
Would Jesus be hosting a prayer meeting to pray for the salvation of those doing spiritually dark things on Halloween?
These are some things to think about as you discern whether to reject or redeem Halloween.
How to Share The Love of God on Halloween
No matter where you land on Halloween, every day is a great day to share God’s love with others.
If you decide to reject Halloween entirely, you can share the love of God with others by taking your place as an intercessor, devoting October 31st as a time to fast, pray, and intercede for those who don’t know God. You can also share the love of God on Halloween by inviting your friends, family, or neighbors to dinner to have a fall meal or a fall bonfire. You can explain to your guests that they don’t need to dress up in costumes and that it’s just going to be a normal time to gather.
If you decide to participate in Halloween, being intentional with those around you is a great way to share the love of God. Some ideas to share God’s love on Halloween include prayer walking your neighborhood, asking those who come to your door how you can be praying for them, and inviting your neighbors to church. Remember: never underestimate the power of genuine connection, as it is a gateway to spiritual conversations.
If your church is hosting a harvest festival or trunk-or-treat, don’t be shy: now is the best time to share your testimony of how Jesus changed your life. For a quick guide on how to write and share your faith story, head to our blog: 5 Steps to Write Your Faith Story
Conclusion
Remember, whether you choose to participate in Halloween is a matter of conscience. Regardless of what you decide, prayer is essential to influencing the spiritual realm on Halloween for the better. Jesus still saves, heals, and shows people His love on Halloween. As you listen to God, obey His commands, and choose to overcome fear, you’ll find that October 31st is a great time to step out in faith and share Jesus with others.
Curious to learn more about Jesus? Discover how to be saved today: This Is For You
