Many Christians express concern year after year about the dangers of Halloween and its history to Christian values. Now, I am very much aware of the cultic implications of Halloween and have struggled with whether or not Halloween is something Christians should celebrate. More specifically, I've been conflicted as to whether Christian groups should plan activities around Halloween. I've prayed a lot about it and I have come to the conclusion that Halloween can be used as a tool to reach people for Christ. I know that many Christians disagree with me on this and I certainly don't want to offend anyone's convictions.
I feel that Halloween is such a strong part of our culture that we shouldn't ignore it. Disassociation can lead to the perception we are culturally irrelevant but even more it can lead to a missed opportunity. Most people in this country celebrate Halloween including most Christians. Therefore Oct. 31, provides an opportunity for us to bring people into the church. People are going to celebrate it anyway and Church related Halloween Activities provide an alternative to the world and Satan's version of Halloween.
In any Church sponsored Halloween activity, it is my opinion that God should be very much the focal point of the event. The event should include prayer, Christian music and involve the goal of building community with other Christians. As an outreach event, Halloween provides an opportunity for Christians to bring their friends in order to engage them in spiritual conversations. It's amazing how open people are to discussing spiritual things on Halloween. Let me be clear; we should never embrace the demonic side of Halloween. We should certainly use discretion when picking costumes. We should not have demonic decorations nor allow demonic activities or games. In this way, Halloween provides the opportunity to host a social gathering with a 2 sided goal: grow in community with other believers and engage the unsaved in spiritual conversations and expose them to the Gospel.
In Acts 17, Paul engaged the people of Athens by taking something from their own culture (the altar to an Unknown God) and using it to get them to consider the true God of the universe. I don't think Paul was truly saying that these people were worshiping Yahweh through this arbitrary temple (that would be blasphemous). It was simply an opening for Paul to present the true God. For me Halloween is an opening to present people with the truth about spiritual things. Halloween already makes people think more about the spiritual world so let's use Halloween as an opening to point them to Spiritual Truth.
Martin Luther stated that “the best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.” If Halloween be a demonic holiday in celebration of demonic values, what better way to mock Satan than to use Oct. 31 to further God's kingdom through Jesus Christ.
Hi James:
ReplyDeleteI've always approached Halloween with what I believe is the perspective Paul taught in Romans 14. The issue he wrote about was the consumption of meat previously offered to idols, but the principle he teaches can be applied to the question of Halloween.
For some, the fact that the meat offered to idols meant nothing to them. Therefore, it was fine for them to eat the meat. But for those who were convicted that the meat was unclean and therefore should not be eaten, it was wrong for them to eat it. Each one should follow their conscience. "He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God."
In other words, you honor God with your actions when you follow your conviction. It is between you and God. Where we stumble into sin is when we begin to judge each other for our convictions.
When I taught fifth grade in Christian school, we made jack-o-lanterns with tissue and construction papers. Before the craft I taught a short devotional lesson on being "lights of the world", comparing the Holy Spirit in us to the candle in a pumpkin. The metaphor worked for them. No child in that classroom thought of the jack-o-lantern as something to ward off demons.
My kids always trick or treated and have wonderful memories of dressing up and trading the loot when they got home. It was all good, clean fun and they looked forward to it every year. Demonic or Satanic meanings were not a part of our fun. In addition, going around the neighborhood with them was a chance for me to connect with neighbors-- which I worked to the fullest.
Now that my kids are grown, I am home to hand out candy and greet children and parents with love and enthusiasm. It is a chance to talk to neighbors I rarely see the rest of the year. But I want them to know there are friendly people living in this house that are interested in them. I view the holiday as an opportunity to be a positive influence for Christ.
I'll be interested in what you have to write about Santa Claus. = ) Hope you are doing well!!