I grew up in a Christian household, and I never questioned why we did or didn’t do certain things. As a child, my thought process was very simple and I looked at things quite plainly. There was this unspoken understanding of light and darkness, and Halloween and things of that nature were very dark to me. But, it wasn’t until I was a young adult that I began questioning things, and not just accepting what was given to me. In life we encounter all types of people, some are believers, and some are not. There will be people that question our theology and our beliefs, and sometimes we ourselves will have doubts and questions, all of which is okay.
That is why it is important to study and show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15), for yourself first, and everyone else second. It is important to build a solid foundation, and understand why you believe what you believe, working out those questions and doubts, that you may be able to stand in the face of adversity.
I love the visual that Christ gave when He spoke in Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The Bible vs. Halloween
The Bible doesn’t specifically use the word Halloween, but the bible does speak of the essence of Halloween or the synonym words associated with Halloween, i.e. witchcraft, fortunetelling, wizardry, witches, magic, spells, divination, sorcery and so on. Below are a few scriptures that speak of these abominations.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.”
2 Chronicles 33:6 “Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.”
Leviticus 20:6 “And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.”
Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
God makes it very clear that He does not want us to take part in evil, no matter how harmless, or fun it may appear to be, the root of that thing is still wickedness, darkness, and destruction. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
Going back to Deuteronomy 18, God did not want His people to go into the promised land with the perverse culture and traditions of Babylon Egypt. He wanted them to put away or unlearn the wickedness of the pagan culture that they were exposed and custom too. In Deuteronomy 18:9 God says, “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.” and goes on in verse 13 to say “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.”
God wants the best for us, His intentions are always good. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11. In modern terms, God wants us to win and gain eternal life.
2 Peter 3:9 says “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Choose God
Ephesians 5:7-11 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Let’s talk, do you know the history of Halloween if so share it below. Do you celebrate Halloween why or why not? As Christians how can we spread awareness to those who may not know this truth, list some ways below? Does your church have events or programs that cater to the youth? Are you studying to show yourself approved? And, finally what is your why, why are you a follower of Jesus Christ?
Based on the history of Halloween according to history.com it was a Celtic festival of samhain where people would wear costumes, and light bonfires to ward off ghost. It was in the 8th century when pope Gregory 3rd incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain into all saints day which occurred on November 1. Eventually this holiday became commercialized and found it’s way into our modern culture. The bible is very clear on its position on the state of the dead Ecclesiastes 9:5 ”
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Halloween is an occult and pagan holiday, and whether society makes it into an appealing kid friendly holiday. As Christians we should not celebrate it. No matter how appealing sin is, it’s still wrong! Like the verse you menthoned 1 Thess 5:22 we must shun all appearance of evil. Very soon our faith will be tested, and we must come to the point where we obey God rather than man.