Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
Intro
Today I was asked to write something about Halloween, so I decided to give you some background as to where and when it started and what it is all about. I am also going to give you some scripture, even though it is not directly related to Halloween as such, but rather the practices that comes with it. I will also give you my personal opinion whether Christians, or should I say any person, celebrate Halloween.
What is Halloween all about
Halloween doesn’t only have ancient origins but also various modern customs, but in both cases it is a celebration based on false beliefs about the dead and invisible spirits or demons. Halloween started approx. 2000 years ago, mostly in England, Ireland and Northern France, as stated in The World Book Encyclopedia. “The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time. During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead.” The Bible however clearly states that the dead are conscious of nothing at all (Ecc 9:5) and can therefore not contact the living.
Some of today’s popular celebrations associated with Halloween have pagan roots stemming from the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain. This harvest festival of the Druids ushered in the New Year, beginning on the evening of October 31, with the lighting of bonfires and the offering of sacrifices. As the Druids danced around the fires, they celebrated the ending of the summer season and the beginning of the season of darkness. It was also believed that at this time of year the invisible “gates” between the natural world and the spirit world would open, allowing free movement between the two worlds.
According to the book Halloween—An American Holiday, An American History, some of the Celts wore weird costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to the spirits to appease them. In medieval Europe, the Catholic clergy adopted local pagan customs and had their adherents go from house to house wearing costumes and requesting small gifts. It is very important to note that the Bible clearly does not permit merging false religious practices with the worship of God, as stated in 2 Cor 6:17.
In medieval Britain, “supplicants moved from door to door asking for food in return for a prayer for the dead,” and they would carry “hollowed-out turnip lanterns, whose candle connoted a soul trapped in purgatory.” (Halloween—From Pagan Ritual to Party Night). Others say that the lanterns were used to ward off evil spirits. During the 1800’s in North America, pumpkins replaced turnips because they were plentiful as well as easy to hollow out and carve. The beliefs behind this custom, the immortality of the soul, purgatory, and prayers for the dead, are not based on the Bible. (Ez 18:4)
Scripture
Now that you know and understand what Halloween is about, let us look at what the Bible says about it. Well, the Bible doesn’t actually talk about Halloween, but it does talk about the rituals and practices that comes with it. Please read these scriptures thoroughly while keeping in mind what you just learned about Halloween.
God has made it very clear in His Word that He does not like the world’s holidays, especially those that might be “borrowed” to worship him! Let’s read Deut 12:29-31 and also Deut 18:11-12: When he (God) destroys the nations in the land where you will live, don’t follow their example in worshiping their gods. Do not ask, ‘How do these nations worship their gods?’ and then go and worship as they do! You must not insult the Lord your God like that! These nations have done HORRIBLE things that he hates, all in the name of their religion.
The holiday is an entirely pagan celebration with no basis in the Bible. God reminds us, through the Apostle John, not to gravitate toward such worldly holidays. 1 John 2:15 says: Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Now let us look at it from a different angle. Let’s read Phil 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Now ask yourself these question: Is Halloween pure? Is it lovely, praiseworthy, or of good report?
Let us also read 1 Cor 10:31: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Now ask yourself this question: If you decide to partake in Halloween, will it be to the glory of God? We all know the WWJD test so let’s do it now. Ask yourself this question: If Jesus was amongst us in the flesh today, would He have taken part in Halloween?
Looking deeper into the practices of Halloween, we know that it is part of evil thinking and evil doing, such as witchcraft, witches and sorcery. What does the Bible say about this? Let’s read Leviticus 20: 27: anyone who practiced witchcraft, soothsaying, sorcery should be killed. Deut 18:9-13 adds, “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. There shall not be found among you…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.”
Let us look at some scripture from the New Testament. Eph 5:11 says: And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. This text is calling us to not only have no association with any type of dark activity BUT ALSO to shed light upon this topic to those around us.
Now let us touch on fear. Taking part in Halloween means that we also taking part in things that brings up fear in us, especially kids. Taking part in things of the “dark world” or “the other side”, talking or calling up evil or demonic spirits does bring up fear into us, again especially kids. What does the Bible say about fear: For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Tim 1:7.
The last scripture I would like to share is very short but yet so powerful, true and very important: Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thes 5:22
Should Christians partake in Halloween?
I would like to start with a question: Is Halloween based on godly themes such as the idea of peace, freedom and salvation or does the holiday bring to mind feelings of fear, obsession and bondage?
So many Christians partake in Halloween today and many parents don’t mind letting their children go into the streets, dressed up and go door to door asking for treats, in fact, many parents insist that their kids should do it as it is fun. So many adults attend parties on the 31st of October, the night during which Halloween starts, dressing up and also thinking that it is just great clean fun.
My fellow Christian, how can we do this and at the same time be in a relationship with Jesus Chirst, especially if we know what Halloween means and what it is all about? How can we go to big Halloween parties on the 31st of October and then end up again in Church on Sunday as if nothing happened?
Yes, maybe your kids don’t know the truth around Halloween and do it for fun and with no intentions and maybe you go to Halloween parties saying that it’s all for fun and you are not going to call up the dead or have anything to do with the Halloween practices. Let me tell you something today; if you partake in these holidays, parties and fun activities, whether you like to believe it or not, YOU ARE TAKING PART IN THE PRACTICES OF HALLOWEEN.
I have been working with a few people over the last few years who ended up with demons occupying their bodies, and yes it does really happen! How do you think these things happen? The majority of cases that I have dealt with were kids, but there were also adults and how exactly do you think things like these happen? Just randomly? No, it happens because we move outside of God’s will, because we keep ourselves busy with the things of this world and not with Godly things only. There are many things that we can do without really meaning to do harm, but yet causing demonic consequences and partaking in Halloween is one of them.
Col 3:2 says: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Is Halloween from above or an earthly thing? If we keep ourselves occupied with the things of this world then we are moving outside of the will of God, don’t we? If we know what we doing can cause harm, and you have seen enough proof and warnings from scripture, why do we still do these type of things? If things then go wrong in our lives and the lives of our children then we cannot blame God, especially if we ourselves kept us busy with things of this world or allowed or insisted our kids to do the same.
Then there are those that say that they don’t believe in God so they don’t care and will partake in Halloween. Well my dear friend, it makes no difference. Not believing in God does not protect you against the evils of this world. However, let me tell you this, God DOES EXISTS, and He clearly forbid indulging in evil practices.
Closure
Halloween and all its symbols, practices and believes is condemned by God and should be avoided. You now know what Halloween is about, you know what the word of God says about these practices and believes and therefore the blood is now on your hands should you wish to still partake in Halloween.
I would now like to end with these scriptures. Please read them carefully:
Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because you have rejected knowledge!
2 Cor 4:4 – In their case the god of this world has blinded the mind of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Rom 12:9 – Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good.
Ephesians 5:7-12
Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
God bless,
Jaco van As
