For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who thee by faith before the world confess,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
I am the proud dad of three little girls, and recently they have been invited to several Halloween parties, not to mention their school’s annual Halloween bash. It’s not always obvious, and I am not alone—many Christians are baffled at what to do with Halloween.
So what are we as Christians to do with Halloween? Here are a few things to take into consideration as you discern how you, your family, and your church should handle Halloween.
1. DON’T BE A FREAK
So many Christians are just downright weird when it comes to Halloween. What I mean is they retreat from the world, lock their doors, turn off their lights and get under the covers on Halloween night. Worse yet, they judge other people by whether or not they celebrate Halloween. I think some Christians can and do turn non-believers off by their attitudes about Halloween.
2. BE MISSIONAL
I think Halloween is one of the best opportunities to be missional throughout the year. Every year, my family and I get together with some other families for a meal and then we go through a small, kid-friendly neighborhood together to collect candy. It is very innocent. Every year I have a chance to talk about Christ as we walk through the neighborhood. Don’t miss the moments and opportunities that the Lord may be giving you to share and live out your faith.
3. SET BOUNDARIES
I am not advocating a wholesale celebration of Halloween. Much of it is dark and can introduce your children to the occult. I encourage you to use discernment, prayer, and set boundaries as needed. There are times when we can and should say no if it is going to compromise our faith in Christ. I can’t tell you what to do in every situation—how that plays out depends entirely on you and your context.
4. TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN
Talk to your children about Halloween. Tell them about the history behind it and warn them about the dark side that can and does so often get associated with the holiday. Children are smart, and Halloween can be a teaching time to share with your children and others the gospel of Christ.
5. DON’T JUDGE OTHERS
Lastly, don’t judge others when it comes to celebrating Halloween. Good Christians can and do disagree on this issue. Some Christians feel very strongly about not celebrating Halloween while others have no problem with it at all. I believe that it is an open-handed issue, and that each Christian must seek the Lord and obey their conscience. You have to decide what is right for you and your family when it comes to celebrating Halloween.
For further reading on the history of Halloween and more on what Christians should know about the holiday, read last year’s article from Justin Holcomb.