Recently, I felt the Lord put it on my heart to write this post. With October 31st around the corner, I thought it was time I share my thoughts on the topic and, from a Biblical perspective, talk about why I grew up not celebrating Halloween and why my children won't be either.
I'll start by saying that as believers in Jesus, we are called to live up to a higher standard. Although we live in this world, we are not to be of it because our citizenship is ultimately in heaven (John 15:19, 1 John 2:15-17, Philippians 3:20-21). I'm sure we can agree on this, right? Colossians 3:2 calls us to set our minds on things above, not earthly things. Clearly living set apart is important to the Lord because this topic is all throughout scripture. This is so that we are walking examples to those who are lost. So that we can be shining lights in a dark world. So that others will see Jesus through us that we might have an impact on the Kingdom, which is ultimately the main reason we're here!
But what does this have to do with dressing up in a fun costume and getting candy on one day of year?
Well, let's talk for a second about the history of Halloween. I don't think most Christians even know where Halloween came from and its pagan origins because it has been so widely accepted in the church. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica,
"In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic Festival of Samhain was observed on October 31, at the end of summer…. The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, goblins, black cats, fairies and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes."
Fun fact: Halloween wasn't even celebrated in early American history due to our country's strong Christian heritage and it wasn't until the 20th century when thousands of Irish migrated here that it started to trickle into our culture. In addition, Halloween is also one of the top two high, holy days for those who follow Wicca. It is a day solely revolving around and honoring witchcraft, death, darkness, and evil for them. There are even Wiccan websites that make fun of Christians for celebrating this day at all.
Wow.
How about trick-or-treating? It originated from the idea that ghosts would go around the homes of the living and be greeted with a banquet table. The people would dress in masks and costumes representing the souls of the dead and, after the feast, would parade to the outskirts of town driving the ghosts away.
"In Ireland especially, people thought that ghosts and spirits roamed after dark on Halloween. They lit candles or lanterns to keep the spirits away, and if they had to go outside, they wore costumes and masks to frighten the spirits or to keep from being recognized by these unearthly beings."
You may say that you only allow your children to dress in more "innocent" costumes like pumpkins, princesses, or superheroes or that you don't entertain the "haunted" elements of the holiday. What I would say then is this...
Ephesians 5:11 says, "Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them." 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 says, "You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?"
Satan is a deceiver and he will do whatever he can to disguise evil as good. He is the ruler of this dark world and we are called to be a light. In fact, Jesus calls us the light of the world.
Romans 12:1-2 says, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
With this in mind, I cannot justify celebrating a holiday that glorifies death and darkness, even in the "light" form that the church has packaged it in today. I believe that when we obtain knowledge or revelation, we are then responsible for what we do with it. Halloween has become almost impossible to avoid, but our family chooses to not take part in it, not because we think we are better, but because we know we are called to a higher standard than that. Copying the behaviors and customs of the world is easier and more comfortable, that's for sure. But I want to know God's perfect will for my life and if that means missing out on a day filled with candy, I'm okay with that. I choose to offer myself as a "living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable."
What is most pleasing to the Lord? I think that is the question we ultimately have to ask - regarding any decision we make or action we take.
I'll start by saying that as believers in Jesus, we are called to live up to a higher standard. Although we live in this world, we are not to be of it because our citizenship is ultimately in heaven (John 15:19, 1 John 2:15-17, Philippians 3:20-21). I'm sure we can agree on this, right? Colossians 3:2 calls us to set our minds on things above, not earthly things. Clearly living set apart is important to the Lord because this topic is all throughout scripture. This is so that we are walking examples to those who are lost. So that we can be shining lights in a dark world. So that others will see Jesus through us that we might have an impact on the Kingdom, which is ultimately the main reason we're here!
But what does this have to do with dressing up in a fun costume and getting candy on one day of year?
Well, let's talk for a second about the history of Halloween. I don't think most Christians even know where Halloween came from and its pagan origins because it has been so widely accepted in the church. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica,
"In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic Festival of Samhain was observed on October 31, at the end of summer…. The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, goblins, black cats, fairies and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes."
Fun fact: Halloween wasn't even celebrated in early American history due to our country's strong Christian heritage and it wasn't until the 20th century when thousands of Irish migrated here that it started to trickle into our culture. In addition, Halloween is also one of the top two high, holy days for those who follow Wicca. It is a day solely revolving around and honoring witchcraft, death, darkness, and evil for them. There are even Wiccan websites that make fun of Christians for celebrating this day at all.
Wow.
How about trick-or-treating? It originated from the idea that ghosts would go around the homes of the living and be greeted with a banquet table. The people would dress in masks and costumes representing the souls of the dead and, after the feast, would parade to the outskirts of town driving the ghosts away.
"In Ireland especially, people thought that ghosts and spirits roamed after dark on Halloween. They lit candles or lanterns to keep the spirits away, and if they had to go outside, they wore costumes and masks to frighten the spirits or to keep from being recognized by these unearthly beings."
You may say that you only allow your children to dress in more "innocent" costumes like pumpkins, princesses, or superheroes or that you don't entertain the "haunted" elements of the holiday. What I would say then is this...
Ephesians 5:11 says, "Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them." 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 says, "You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?"
Satan is a deceiver and he will do whatever he can to disguise evil as good. He is the ruler of this dark world and we are called to be a light. In fact, Jesus calls us the light of the world.
Romans 12:1-2 says, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
With this in mind, I cannot justify celebrating a holiday that glorifies death and darkness, even in the "light" form that the church has packaged it in today. I believe that when we obtain knowledge or revelation, we are then responsible for what we do with it. Halloween has become almost impossible to avoid, but our family chooses to not take part in it, not because we think we are better, but because we know we are called to a higher standard than that. Copying the behaviors and customs of the world is easier and more comfortable, that's for sure. But I want to know God's perfect will for my life and if that means missing out on a day filled with candy, I'm okay with that. I choose to offer myself as a "living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable."
What is most pleasing to the Lord? I think that is the question we ultimately have to ask - regarding any decision we make or action we take.
