Is It Okay for Christians to Celebrate Halloween?
Share
When October arrives, we know that pumpkins and candy are coming out. Believers often debate and wrestle with the decision of whether or not to celebrate Halloween. Although costumes and carving pumpkins are fun, the origins of Halloween are dark.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/jakkapan21
3. Follow the Holy Spirit
If you enjoy the fun of dressing up and candy and feel no conviction from the Holy Spirit, then go for it. If you feel that participating in any Halloween activity would be sinning, then steer clear of it. We are each responsible to the Lord individually. There are definitely sinful activities connected with Halloween, so anything that would be sin is wrong to be a part of; but in those more gray areas, we have freedom. Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Bible Verses about Following the Spirit:
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 “But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
I believe that I cannot give an answer to this question for you personally. However, we can each examine the history and follow the conviction of the Spirit as we are making decisions. It all comes down to asking questions. Am I sinning by participating in a Halloween event? Am I causing others to sin by my choices? Can I confidently invite Jesus into what I am doing?
I think about Matthew 22:37-40 which tells us to love God and love people. Ask the question, can I love God and participate in this Halloween activity? Can I love others and be involved in this event? This is not necessarily a black and white issue. You might feel peace about being involved in one celebration, but convicted about another. We are called to test the spirits. We can each test and take every moment that we have to the Lord in prayer.
What is difficult is that there are holidays that we celebrate today in very different ways than their origins. If Halloween were being celebrated in the same way today as it was in the start of the holiday, we as believers, would absolutely not be participating. However, what makes these decisions challenging is that they are now commercialized, national holidays. I even think about Thanksgiving. Yes, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag shared meals together, but then shortly after, many of the tribe of Native Americans were killed by a disease that the Europeans brought over to America. Although the Pilgrims brought disease (likely unintentionally) onto the Native Americans, we still celebrate this holiday each year by eating a turkey meal.
We have to pose the question, has the meaning changed? What am I personally celebrating? Can I do so with a clear conscience? Whatever you decide, be on your guard from the enemy. Stand firm in your faith as you chose to participate or not. Avoid and flee from anything demonic, consider others, and ultimately follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
More from this author
5 Things You Didn't Notice in the Creation Account
Why Is Olive Oil so Precious in the Bible?
What Is the Gospel and How Can We Explain It More Clearly?
Got more questions? Click here to read our Christians parent's guide to Halloween.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/sandsun
