Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
- I Peter 5:8
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
- Colossians 2:15
No one among you is to make his son or daughter pass through the fire,[a] practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery, 11 cast spells, consult a medium or a familiar spirit, or inquire of the dead. 12 Everyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and the Lord your God is driving out the nations before you because of these detestable things. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
- Deuteronomy 18:10-13
It's that time of the year again. Today is my brother's birthday. Seriously it is, but obviously from the scriptures above that is not what this is about. It's that time of year when things go bump in the night and screams fill the air. The bump in the night is usually me running into something on my way to the kitchen for more snacks on a night when the lights are left off to keep the trick-or-treaters away and enhance my wife's and my movie watching experience. It's also the time of year when Civil War comes close to breaking out in the different sects of Christianity and too many Christians go running scared, enslaved to fear and superstition.
So now you think this is about the evils of Halloween and why those who are Christians shouldn't participate in such spiritual debauchery. You'd be wrong. Oh so this must be a defense with all the reasons why not only can Christians celebrate Halloween, but it's practically our duty. Wrong again. If you're one of those folks whose biggest fear is being wrong, this must be a nightmare of Elm Street proportions. Boo.
Those two lines of thinking are precisely the Civil War I mentioned. I refuse to participate in the evil that Satan uses to keep us focused on religion and fighting one another rather than relationship with God and the love that's supposed to tell a frightened world that we are His. But what is all the ruckus about anyway?
Well, Halloween brings out three types of religion in some ways that are OK and some that are truly and seriously scary. There are those who point to the pagan aspects of this holiday and the focus on evil and darkness and refuse to participate in any way shape form or fashion. There are those who limit participation and either conform to much or reclaim the holiday for Christ. Then there are those who love this holiday almost as much as Christmas and throw themselves into celebrating with decorations, treats, costumes and perhaps even horror movies.
There is freedom in every one of these three approaches to this controversial day, and there is bondage in all of them as well. No dear reader, I am not about to argue pro or con celebrating or participating in Halloween as a Christian. There is plenty of that floating around. I am going to argue for freedom. The kind of freedom we are called to in Galatians 5:1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. It's not about which camp you are in verses which camp you should be in, but rather it's a matter of why and how you treat the folks in the other camps. Motives matter, and God looks at the heart. One of the reasons Christ came was to set the captives free, completely free, and that is how we are to live, especially on a day that so candidly points out the enemy of God is real and out there. So let's take a brief look at the options.
The first camp is the no participation view. Believe it or not this is not the traditional view of the church. This group sees the pagan and evil spiritual side of the holiday and stays out of it. Some of these folks are the same who don't celebrate Christmas and Easter for the same reasons. There are plenty of articles online about the origins of this holiday that cover both the Christian aspects and the pagan aspects of the origins of what today is mostly an American secular holiday. If you care enough to look, feel free, but this will be long enough without my expounding on the history. But I will say if refusing to observe Halloween in any form or fashion is a heartfelt act of worship to abstain from evil, to be separate from the world, to think only of whatsoever things are true, lovely and of good report, more power to you. Stand firm in the grace to walk free from those things that would hinder your relationship with God.
If on the other hand, the motivation to abstain comes from fear of evil and it's clutches or from the legalism of rules and restrictions, than run screaming from this camp. If we as Christians fear the devil and his dominion to the point where that fear controls us, we are giving him power over us that he has been denied by Christ. We do not have to fear evil, for God is with us, Satan has been defeated by Christ once and for all. Do not give him power. And do not be a slave to superstition that says if we must observe this or that law or God will let Satan eat us alive. The refusal to participate can open the door to witness the Gospel to those who question the lack of participation, but let's be careful to be sharing the Good News of Freedom from evil and fear and not the false gospel of being scared that Satan is going to somehow steal us away from Christ if we don't stay pure enough to ward him off.
On to the second camp, the compromise or reclaiming group. If you have found the freedom to enjoy the candy, fun and fellowship while avoiding the indulgences of evil, by all means enjoy. Fall festivals can be celebrations of this beautiful time of year with all the color God paints His creation with in October. Fellowship with others is a good thing we are told not to forsake. And dressing up in costumes can even be fun and Bible friendly. This camp may have the greatest opportunity to share the truth of Jesus as it provides a safe alternative to the world's debauchery. A quick reminder though, Jesus came to redeem us, not holidays, We redeem each and every day by walking in the freedom He has provided.
If however the motivation here is to get to enjoy the flesh and the world without getting too dirty, be careful. Compromise can be a slippery slope. If out heart is desiring to indulge in sin and selfishness and the middle ground is really flirting with the dark side, then you could be toying with chains that would return you to the bondage you knew before Christ.
One more quick note on this camp. Fall festivals to celebrate Christ and His creation and to share the Gospel are one thing, but be careful about Hell Houses and their like, First, to shock a generation that has become unshockable with the horror of the world and hell takes more and more graphic displays every passing year. Yes, there are real horrors out there like the innocent babies lost to abortion and the bondage to drugs and alcohol, but trying to display them to scare people away is often counterproductive and can be as titillating as the very haunted houses and horror movies that these events are supposedly providing an alternative to. And also remember, we are not called to scare the hell out of people. We are called to love the hell out of people.
Finally, we come to the third camp. Those who participate in observing Halloween and love it. It's just in fun, Satan doesn't own this holiday any more than he owns rock music. The I am free to enjoy it, and I don't think there's anything really evil about the celebration as it is done today group. If you are one of those who like the thrill of the surprising scare some horror movies provide, much like a roller coaster or skydiving, the fun of dressing up as something or someone else and or the freedom to make yourself nearly sick on an overdose of sugar and treats, enjoy your liberty. If participation in these things doesn't mean distancing yourself from Daddy, then no harm no foul. There is one law, love. Love God with everything you are and love yourself and others with the understanding of the great value that God esteems us with. That means that anything that takes you closer to God and brings others closer is a great thing. Anything that doesn't take you further from relationship and doesn't harm someone else's relationship or push them from God is fine to do. But anything that creates distance between you and Daddy (what wouldn't you do if you could see Jesus standing next to you) or hurts someone else's relationship with their Creator is evil and wrong. Only you can, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, examine your own heart and motives in regards to Halloween and anything and everything else to know if you are exercising liberty or walking in sin.
But a quick warning. There are a few easy ones. Costumes that would get you arrested for indecent exposure 50 years ago, not a Godly idea. Using the holiday as an excuse to get stupid and reckless with your health and the law, not a way to value yourself as God values you. Movies and activities that are watched and done in celebration of Halloween but are really a way to indulge in sex and attitudes which you know are out of line for you as one of the redeemed are not activities in liberty but mere excuses to indulge. A dangerous activity any time of the year. If you have been freed from addiction or bondage in some area that is sometimes a part of some people's celebration of Halloween don't flirt with that activity if you want to stay free.
When it comes down to it, the issue of Halloween and how to approach it is a matter of the heart and the conscience before God. Whatever camp you decide to pitch your tent in, do it out of love for and with love for God and the desire to be as close to Him as possible, not out of either fear or an excuse to sin. And wherever you stand, don't argue about it or look down on those in the other camps. Only God sees their heart and can judge where they are coming from and their level of understanding of the truth that He has revealed. If they pursue God He will lead them to or keep them in the place they need to be regarding Halloween and all other matters. But separate yourself from the world more by your attitude of love and mercy toward the lost and toward each other than by any outward display, in this and all matters and issues.
Today can be a awesome opportunity to show love and kindness and to share the good news of the freedom from fear and all other chains that is found in Christ. This is a holy message, a message that there is a place where we don't have to be afraid of the darkness and can have peace in the midst of the terror and chaos that torment this world every day. There is a merciful and forgiving God and to reject Him leads to a life more frightening than anything Halloween can produce. What a glorious day to remember that, to share that, and to remind ourselves and others that Satan has been defeated and God is not trying to kill us but save us and give us a life worth living.
The first camp is the no participation view. Believe it or not this is not the traditional view of the church. This group sees the pagan and evil spiritual side of the holiday and stays out of it. Some of these folks are the same who don't celebrate Christmas and Easter for the same reasons. There are plenty of articles online about the origins of this holiday that cover both the Christian aspects and the pagan aspects of the origins of what today is mostly an American secular holiday. If you care enough to look, feel free, but this will be long enough without my expounding on the history. But I will say if refusing to observe Halloween in any form or fashion is a heartfelt act of worship to abstain from evil, to be separate from the world, to think only of whatsoever things are true, lovely and of good report, more power to you. Stand firm in the grace to walk free from those things that would hinder your relationship with God.
If on the other hand, the motivation to abstain comes from fear of evil and it's clutches or from the legalism of rules and restrictions, than run screaming from this camp. If we as Christians fear the devil and his dominion to the point where that fear controls us, we are giving him power over us that he has been denied by Christ. We do not have to fear evil, for God is with us, Satan has been defeated by Christ once and for all. Do not give him power. And do not be a slave to superstition that says if we must observe this or that law or God will let Satan eat us alive. The refusal to participate can open the door to witness the Gospel to those who question the lack of participation, but let's be careful to be sharing the Good News of Freedom from evil and fear and not the false gospel of being scared that Satan is going to somehow steal us away from Christ if we don't stay pure enough to ward him off.
On to the second camp, the compromise or reclaiming group. If you have found the freedom to enjoy the candy, fun and fellowship while avoiding the indulgences of evil, by all means enjoy. Fall festivals can be celebrations of this beautiful time of year with all the color God paints His creation with in October. Fellowship with others is a good thing we are told not to forsake. And dressing up in costumes can even be fun and Bible friendly. This camp may have the greatest opportunity to share the truth of Jesus as it provides a safe alternative to the world's debauchery. A quick reminder though, Jesus came to redeem us, not holidays, We redeem each and every day by walking in the freedom He has provided.
If however the motivation here is to get to enjoy the flesh and the world without getting too dirty, be careful. Compromise can be a slippery slope. If out heart is desiring to indulge in sin and selfishness and the middle ground is really flirting with the dark side, then you could be toying with chains that would return you to the bondage you knew before Christ.
One more quick note on this camp. Fall festivals to celebrate Christ and His creation and to share the Gospel are one thing, but be careful about Hell Houses and their like, First, to shock a generation that has become unshockable with the horror of the world and hell takes more and more graphic displays every passing year. Yes, there are real horrors out there like the innocent babies lost to abortion and the bondage to drugs and alcohol, but trying to display them to scare people away is often counterproductive and can be as titillating as the very haunted houses and horror movies that these events are supposedly providing an alternative to. And also remember, we are not called to scare the hell out of people. We are called to love the hell out of people.
Finally, we come to the third camp. Those who participate in observing Halloween and love it. It's just in fun, Satan doesn't own this holiday any more than he owns rock music. The I am free to enjoy it, and I don't think there's anything really evil about the celebration as it is done today group. If you are one of those who like the thrill of the surprising scare some horror movies provide, much like a roller coaster or skydiving, the fun of dressing up as something or someone else and or the freedom to make yourself nearly sick on an overdose of sugar and treats, enjoy your liberty. If participation in these things doesn't mean distancing yourself from Daddy, then no harm no foul. There is one law, love. Love God with everything you are and love yourself and others with the understanding of the great value that God esteems us with. That means that anything that takes you closer to God and brings others closer is a great thing. Anything that doesn't take you further from relationship and doesn't harm someone else's relationship or push them from God is fine to do. But anything that creates distance between you and Daddy (what wouldn't you do if you could see Jesus standing next to you) or hurts someone else's relationship with their Creator is evil and wrong. Only you can, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, examine your own heart and motives in regards to Halloween and anything and everything else to know if you are exercising liberty or walking in sin.
But a quick warning. There are a few easy ones. Costumes that would get you arrested for indecent exposure 50 years ago, not a Godly idea. Using the holiday as an excuse to get stupid and reckless with your health and the law, not a way to value yourself as God values you. Movies and activities that are watched and done in celebration of Halloween but are really a way to indulge in sex and attitudes which you know are out of line for you as one of the redeemed are not activities in liberty but mere excuses to indulge. A dangerous activity any time of the year. If you have been freed from addiction or bondage in some area that is sometimes a part of some people's celebration of Halloween don't flirt with that activity if you want to stay free.
When it comes down to it, the issue of Halloween and how to approach it is a matter of the heart and the conscience before God. Whatever camp you decide to pitch your tent in, do it out of love for and with love for God and the desire to be as close to Him as possible, not out of either fear or an excuse to sin. And wherever you stand, don't argue about it or look down on those in the other camps. Only God sees their heart and can judge where they are coming from and their level of understanding of the truth that He has revealed. If they pursue God He will lead them to or keep them in the place they need to be regarding Halloween and all other matters. But separate yourself from the world more by your attitude of love and mercy toward the lost and toward each other than by any outward display, in this and all matters and issues.
Today can be a awesome opportunity to show love and kindness and to share the good news of the freedom from fear and all other chains that is found in Christ. This is a holy message, a message that there is a place where we don't have to be afraid of the darkness and can have peace in the midst of the terror and chaos that torment this world every day. There is a merciful and forgiving God and to reject Him leads to a life more frightening than anything Halloween can produce. What a glorious day to remember that, to share that, and to remind ourselves and others that Satan has been defeated and God is not trying to kill us but save us and give us a life worth living.
About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father.
All things are from Him,
and we exist for Him.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ.
All things are through Him,
and we exist through Him. However, not everyone has this knowledge. In fact, some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat. But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4-13
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