Christians and Halloween

Let’s start off by assuming that your cultural version of Halloween is the same as mine. It revolves around things that make us uncomfortable like death, torture, spirits, the undead, curses, demons, witchcraft and yet is fondly referred to as “spooky season”. Where I live, at this time of year, the Halloween decorations are in full swing. There is literally a fake body hanging in one of my neighbour’s trees. Tombstones and skeletons litter front yards. My toddlers meld into my thighs in fear as we walk past the haunting displays for the entire month of October. The night of Halloween is culturally defined by children dressed up as ghouls, murderers, witches, demons, zombies, going door to door to receive free candy from an adult dressed up more horrifyingly than themselves. Granted, there are also a high number of “family friendly” costumes, like princesses, pirates and other characters, but in general, Halloween is supposed to be scary and dark. 

Yes, Halloween originated as All Saints Day, but the original meaning has vanished from what we now call Halloween. The holy intent by no means justifies what it has become. Even if you call it something different, it doesn’t change what it is. I grew up in a circle where my peers and their parents were divided on how to handle Halloween as Christians. Some years we participated and other years we didn’t. We even attended a few community events designed to replace the more gruesome aspects of Halloween with tamer versions. Like a candy hay bale maze instead of a haunted house, kid friendly costumes instead of witches, devils and zombies, and family movies to replace the horror films. There is nothing wrong with candy, costumes and fun events, but if we are trying to be different as Christians, why must it be so similar to how the depraved world celebrates a day that is directly associated with darkness?

As Christians we are called to be set apart. Distinctly different. Not just rebranded. God has chosen us to be different so that we might honour Him with how we act, what we say and what we do. We belong to Him and therefore, we must radiate Him and reflect His goodness.

Deuteronomy 14:2 → For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Psalm 4:3 → But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself …

Ephesians 1:4 → … we should be holy and blameless before him. 

Being a Christian comes with a high standard to keep. We must be good, acceptable, righteous, holy, light-filled, and truth filled. By rejecting the darkness that is Halloween we step closer into the calling that God has for us: to be holy and blameless. We are called to be good by God’s standard, which is perfection. Christ has obtained perfection for us, praise the Lord, but we must aim to keep it, and refrain from sin. We are not only to be set apart, but to be the stark opposite of those who walk in impurity, those yet to be saved by Jesus. 

Romans 12:2 → Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 4:17-25 → Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 

Being different is not a fashion statement. And I pray it doesn’t come across as a “holier than thou” mentality. By showing the world that we reject their ways of darkness, they may become attracted to the light. By obeying and reflecting Christ in our rejection of Halloween, I pray that our neighbours may become drawn to the reason for our actions. We seek light in a world that is attracted to darkness. This is because of the new life we have been given by Christ! If we were to participate in Halloween, we would appear to be no different from those who are unsaved, and would have wasted an opportunity to present Christ to those who need Him most. 

Isaiah 26:10 → If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness …

Ephesians 5:7-11→ Therefore do not become partners with [the sons of disobedience]; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 

Halloween is inherently dark. Because of God’s mercy on us we now belong to the light! We must do everything we can to reject darkness and pursue the light for three reasons: to fulfill Christ’s calling in our lives as Christians, which in turn will honour God with our goodness as well as draw the unbelievers near to Him because of our example. 

Rejecting societal expectations is hard. Especially if it's for the first time. But think of the peace you’ll have knowing that for the single night of worldly fun you’re giving up, you gain a fuller understanding of the purpose God has for your life. Pursue Christ and His goodness at every opportunity and He will use you for magnificent things in His kingdom.