My history: When my children were young, I confess that I compromised on Halloween. I didn't give out candy, but I allowed my children to dress up and participate in Halloween as long as they weren't dressed as anything that could be considered "evil." I even begrudgingly participated in dressing up for work. Eventually, I reached the point where I felt convicted for putting my children's feelings, and my co-workers' pleads for participation, before the Lord, so that's when I cancelled any future participation in the day altogether.
Fast forward to today: I see Christians using the day to hand out tracts at their door. They say, "What better day to share the gospel than on a day when you get people coming to you and not the other way around? They come right to your door." That's certainly the easiest way to share the gospel, but I can't help but think that it's hypocritical, and here's why.
- We're to separate ourselves from the darkness and lawlessness of this world, not participate in it.
14"Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 15Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17'Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,' says the Lord. 'AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18'And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,' Says the Lord Almighty." (2Cor. 6:14-18)
- Christians are actually making friends with the world by joyously and willingly participating in Halloween. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4)
- As Christians, we're held to a higher standard than the rest of the world. We're priests and ambassadors of Christ. We live by a different set of rules. This world is not our own, and we're instructed not to participate in it's sinfulness, so why do we throw all that out the window in order to celebrate Halloween. Admit it or not, many Christians compromise on that day, and participate, at the very least, by giving out treats. Yes, that includes a tract, but that's like going to a bar, handing out tracts, and then giving everyone a coupon for a free drink. We wouldn't do that, right? So why in this instance?
- Some people may use Romans 14:5 to justify their participation in Halloween ("One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."), but can you honestly say that the Lord was referring to participation in pagan and demonic holidays? Are you saying that Jesus is okay with your participation in Halloween because YOU esteem it above other days? Would God bless your participation in celebrations of false gods because you esteemed them as important days, because you're celebrating Satan on Halloween just by your participation, whether you want to admit it or not. I ask that you meditate on that for a moment.
- Participating in Halloween sends a mixed message to those with whom you are attempting to share the gospel. Just as I don't believe in using worldly tactics to get people in the church and keep them there (it just creates a compromised church), I also believe that mixing Christianity with paganism is a bad choice. There's not one example in the bible of Christians celebrating a pagan holiday in an effort to share the salvation message. In fact, God is very specific in calling out pagan practices as an abomination and commands that we not participate. He also never "redeemed" or reused anything that came from paganism and idol worship, because it's a cheap counterfeit of what God has established. There are those things that belong to the enemy and those that belong to God. The two aren't reconcilable, nor are they interchangeable.
- Keeping in the theme of Christians trying to "redeem" pagan symbols and practices, by participating in the giving of treats at your door, Christians are actually reinforcing the continued participation in this holiday. Christians, in an attempt to share the gospel, are actually teaching children that it's perfectly acceptable to participate in Halloween. They are helping to build memories and form deeper connections to this holiday through nostalgia. Do we really want to contribute to anyone's continued and deepening participation in this day? We can't say, "Well, if they become Christians, they won't participate in Halloween," because YOU'RE still participating in it.
- In this day of childhood obesity and diabetes, should we really be contributing to that by handing out sugar-filled treats? How can we say, "I love you, and I care about your eternal salvation, but here... have some sugar." We're not contributing to the health and physical welfare of children by giving them the very things that poison their body. God says that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so by handing out sugary treats, Christians are negatively affecting the health of these children and causing them harm. You can say, "What's a few more pieces of candy going to hurt?" The degree to which they are affected isn't relevant. It's like saying, "I lie, but they're little white lies. They don't amount to anything significant." A little white lie is still a lie, it's a sin, and we're held accountable for it before the Lord.
- Participating in Halloween sends a message of hypocrisy in the church. "Trunk or Treat," relabeled and rebranded "Harvest Festivals," etc... it all reeks of hypocrisy. It's telling people that Christians can still participate in pagan and demonic activities as long as it's rebranded and held on a day surrounding the official celebration. No wonder why so many people say that the church is filled with hypocritical people. I've learned that there are some Christians who will go to great length to justify their own sin. They deceive themselves, saying, "God knows my heart." Yeah, He knows your heart, and He knows you're trying to justify your sin and perform an end run around what He's commanded of you. Christians can fool themselves, but they can't fool God. He sees the intent of the mind and heart. Question: Has any church actually grown because of their rebranded Halloween events, or are people only coming to the events to fulfill their fleshly desires for free candy, costume contests, and fun games? Are they getting saved, or are they going home just as lost as they were when they walked in the front door of the church?
There is nothing you can do on Halloween that you can't do any other day of the year. The only difference is that instead of them coming to you, you need to make the effort to go out into your community and witness to the lost face to face, or to at least leave tracts in places where people will find them (the possibilities are limitless). I know Halloween is convenient, but we're told to go out in the world to evangelize, not wait for them to come to us.
I encourage you to leave Halloween behind and grab a friend or family member and go to the beach, park, campground, community event, busy intersection, etc... and evangelize. By doing that, you're not limiting yourself to a "one day a year" opportunity to share the salvation message, and you'll be fulfilling the great commission in ways that you never thought possible.
Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Thank you, and God bless!!!
REPENT, AND BE FORGIVEN!
BELIEVE, AND BE SAVED!
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