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When the day focuses on death, evil, fear, and horror, every year the question comes up:: Should Christians celebrate halloween?
Many of you have asked whether or not our family participates in halloween.
In the years we have been parents, we have treated each year differently. I am embarrassed to admit there have been some years we didn’t even think about what we would do. We joined in like everyone else. Maybe that’s why I feel it is so important to write about a topic that has already been discussed and debated and written about at length.
Now the extent of our participation is a decision we prayerfully make each year, taking into consideration our children, our circumstances, and our opportunities.
This Year ::
This year, our kids will participate, but we have boundaries.
We’re not “all in” and “everything” certainly does not “go.”
We seek to be discerning and prayerfully draw a line that we will not cross.
We participate in Halloween without celebrating it.
I have to admit my surprise at talking with so many Christians who are unaware of the associations and ramifications of Halloween.
Halloween IS a time of increased occult activity. What many see as “innocent” – ghosts and goblins and haunted houses – have their roots in demonic activity. {Click here to read a former witchdoctor’s experience when visiting a haunted house created by some college students.}
“It should be obvious from a Christian perspective that many modern practices of Halloween and days of the dead have evil intent (e.g., 1 Corinthians 10:20). There has been considerable paganism that has been associated with Halloween over the years. Even evil acts such as vandalism, fires, destructive pranks, pretending people are something they are not by dressing up (and particularly by the glorification of sensuality, death, and demons) are in strong opposition to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19–23). So, a word of caution must be given to Evangelicals who promote some of the questionable modern practices of Halloween.
All over the world and in many different cultures, halloween is associated with paganism.” {source :: Answers in Genesis}
Boundaries
The reality of halloween compels us to establish firm boundaries — one of which is no haunted houses.
I have never been comfortable with haunted houses, and the reality is – haunted houses have no redemptive value. This testimony of a friend of ours is also very eye-opening.
We will not glorify the work of the devil by participating in haunted houses or decorating our yards to match.
Additionally, I do not want to open up my kids minds and hearts to fear, barbarity, and terror. I don’t want to glorify the work of the devil, and I certainly don’t want my kids to become immune or familiar to these things.
Haunted houses and the fear, horror and demonic activity they promote may be common, but they certainly are not ordinary or acceptable. I don’t want my kids to think these things are no big deal because they are, in fact, a very big deal.
It might be hard to imagine that we could become immune to the works of the devil, but truthfully, it has already happened!
Look around at the “cute little” skeletons and the “adorable” ghosts on the decorations we set out for fall and the candy and paper plates we pick up for parties. We hardly think twice about it anymore! Our society has made evil things seem cute and appealing, and like many of you, I have fallen right into that trap.
{Case in point :: I was looking through my halloween pinterest board, and just three weeks {!!!!} ago I had pinned a “cute little” ghosts made by drawing eyes and a mouth on the string cheese package and “the most adorable” veggie skeleton! At the time, it didn’t. even. register. with me. But that is where the problem starts.}
“Put away every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
As part of our boundaries this year, I will be going through any decorations we have that desensitize us to what promotes death, and I’m purging — even if it looks cutesy. {Side note :: did you know this about jack-o-lanterns? Oh boy, praying through this one.}
My kids will see some ugly on and around halloween. They will be exposed to scary costumes in the store and witch hats on the candy bags. They might see tombstones in the neighbor’s yard or hear a classmate talk about a haunted house, and that is exactly the reason why we talk with our kids about halloween.
We don’t avoid it. We prayerfully try to talk through these issues with our kids — what to expect, how to respond, how to pray. Our goal is to equip them ahead of time and stay close as we all navigate these waters on a daily basis.
Do you have any boundaries in place for your family for halloween?
Liberties
We recognize and celebrate that God has made us a people of redemption, and we seek to redeem every day, including halloween, using it to share about the power and hope of Jesus Christ.
Halloween may have pagan roots, but our family also agrees that “Christians should not respond to Halloween like superstitious pagans. Pagans are superstitious; Christians are enlightened by the truth of God’s Word.” {source :: Grace to You – Dr. John MacArthur}
1 John 4:4 reminds us that “Greater is HE that is IN you than he that is in the world.”
Though halloween might focus on death and darkness and evil, we don’t have to be afraid or cower in fear. Jesus has already won! He has defeated death. His light pierces the darkness. The enemy is defeated. Christ has won the victory!
We want to proclaim Christ’s victory over sin and death and darkness and introduce others to Jesus — the ONLY One who can set us captives free.
This means that on halloween, we don’t just act like everyone else. To be quite honest, throughout the course of praying through these issues and writing these posts, we are quickly moving in the direction of no participation.
However, whichever side of the debate our family lands, three things mark our activity on and around halloween:
1. Prayer :: These are some of the Scriptures we are praying during halloween.
3. Activities that open our hearts and our homes to our community :: Read some of our ideas here.
We are trying to be more intentional each year when it comes to halloween. We don’t want to say we’re “redeeming halloween” as an excuse to jump in to halloween so our kids don’t feel left out or so we can simply get more candy — we actually do want to share the life and light of Jesus on halloween — and every day of the year.
Question for You:
What is your conviction regarding halloween? Do you lean one way or another, or are you still wrestling through the issue?
{Please be gracious in your comments below. We are a community of Jesus-followers seeking to obey His leading in our lives, and we want to encourage one another as we seek Him! Let’s allow Ephesians 4:29 and Colossians 4:6 to govern our conversation here.}
Resources for You:
- How to talk to your kids about halloween
- A Biblical and Historical Look at Halloween (from Answers in Genesis)
- Halloween alternatives that still open your home and hearts to neighbors
- How to pray during halloween
- Christians and Halloween (from Grace to You)
Children’s books for halloween
Christian tracts to use during halloween
When You’re Struggling to Become a Thankful Family
Scripture Memory for Kids :: 10 Verses about Gratitude
Thankfulness :: Books for Kids that Teach Gratitude
Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Halloween :: The Choice Our Christian Family Has Made
The Truth about Haunted Houses :: A Former Witchdoctor Recounts His Experience in a Haunted House
been going back and forth. I got rid of all halloween decorations years ago(still use fall-just no halloween specific). I have allowed them to dress up in wholesome costumes, but we try and not spend money on them to make it into a “big deal.” The other big thing that bothers me is the candy though, I have to be honest. My kids don’t need anymore reasons to give the dentist part of our paycheck!
Honestly I would rather turn my lights out and watch and movie and home and pretend it isn’t going on outside. We haven’t gotten to that point yet, but that would be my husband and I’s preference.
You should celebrate Jesus Christ on Halloween and go visit a haunted house. Don’t be afraid believe in one God who is there to show you the way. Many haunted houses are put on and run be good Christian people who use the profits to help the youth in the community. No we do not promote violence. Death or the Devil We do nothing of the sort. Just good clean halloween fun. Where is your faith?? God is stronger than all the evil. Do not shelter your children you can not protect them by making choices in life Protect them by teaching them faith in Jesus. You are Judging and Christian people are not supposed to Judge. I am a good Christian person I have been running my haunted houses for 26 years I serve my God threw the work I do with my haunted houses. I help troubled youth every year I give 100 plus youth and people jobs I pray with them I show them the power of out savior Jesus Christ. That we can be different and prove to people who’s faith is not strong enough to judge. We are doing Gods work and great things during Halloween time with our haunted houses every year. We help many charity’s and are part of a national nonprofit run and funded by a group of haunted house owners from around the country. Called. ” Don’t Be A Monster “. A national anti bullying campaign. We go into schools putting on assembly’s to help today’s youth. I think you should put your faith in God and give Halloween and haunted houses a second chance. Be the Christian who can do all things threw Jesus Christ and help people don’t Judge You can find negative or hatred in any thing in life if you choose put God first in your life and he will show you the way light and the truth. And the truth Is not all haunted houses are bad or evil. Many are built and owned and operated by good Christian people doing great things helping people and treating people as Jesus would want us to. God Bless
What is the purpose of haunted houses?
The purpose is to scare people.
If your haunted houses are not made to scare people, then, can they really be called haunted houses?
This is what Wiktionary.org says about haunted houses: (US) A Halloween amusement attraction in which a building or series of rooms is decorated to frighten the people who pass through the attraction.
Would God want us to participate in anything that is meant to frighten people?
I really don’t see anything fun about haunted houses.
I think people who participate in haunted houses are just opening the door to evil spirits.
There are many ways we open doors to evil spirits.
Traumatic experiences like fearful events are one of them.
Why would we risk offending God? I would rather not be involved with anything that has the potential to offend God. Deut. 18:9-12 gives me caution to have anything to do with Halloween or any other offending thing.
We didn’t really celebrate halloween growing up. I remember one time dressing up. As a mom, I have never celebrated halloween. Even before I became a Christian, halloween just seemed so dark and evil to me. It was a holiday I stayed away from, and I didn’t want my kids to participate in. We do nothing on that day. It is just like any other day. Please everyone, look up the origins of halloween. I was shocked at what I had learned.
my husband grew up celebrating it. I enjoy saying that I grew up not celebrating
yes it was hard. I found it difficult to see all of the people that dressed up and some were scary others were cute or sexy.
I’m not sure but part of me felt like I wanted to go out and go to a costume party one day. but I just really despised the scary stuff all over everything everywhere.
im.now struggling with it this year. I wanted to go let my kids enjoy it in our safe Neighborhood for a few hrs. so I took them. but I don’t like having to go out of my way to be extra careful and protect them from scary images and decorations or costumes either. it doesnt make sense. I did feel weak that I took them. I really don’t want to do it, but I keep trying to be understanding of where my husband is coming from or other churches. I have some great Christian friends who do it. I can’t say it is truelly for me. it’s too hRd on me to do it. just for some reason my kids did it now twice and some reason I feel like I did myself and them a dis service. God forgive if I’m wrong. I just want to do what’s right. it’s hard to tell how it is okay walking around a neighborhood with decorations for witches and warlocks. how is this fun. I hate it