I'm surprised each year by the amount of concern and attention given to whether Christians should participate in Halloween, especially when the same amount of concern and attention isn't given to issues at least of equal weight and what I think have more weight. Many Christians delve into the details of the history of Halloween in a sincere effort to try to make a good decision about what's pleasing to God; I just don't see the same time and attention given to studying the details of central Christian beliefs like the Trinity or justification, or the Apostles and Nicene Creed. I dare say that many of the Christians who decide they cannot participate in Halloween, have never taken note of the fact that October 31 is also Reformation Day - and none of us Protestants would be here enjoying the grace of God as we do if it weren't for that day. Even churches that decide to opt out of Halloween or opt in for Harvest Festivals take little notice of Reformation Day, which restored the Gospel message that we treasure.
I grew up Lutheran, attended Lutheran grade school, and each year we'd have a Halloween costume parade, then change our clothes and have a Reformation Day service - and another one on Sunday at church. I don't think there was the level of worry over whether Christians should participate in Halloween back then, and certainly our parents, pastors, and teachers were no less pious or dedicated Christians. In fact, they even knew Christian doctrine quite well and passed it on to us in word and deed - without ever worrying over Halloween.
I cite the example of my own childhood at church not as a justification to celebrate Halloween - it's not an argument. I offer it as an illustration that participating in Halloween doesn't negate sound Christian living and coincided comfortably with serious Christian living. It's possible we shouldn't have celebrated Halloween at my Lutheran school (I do think it was okay), but I think it was preferable that our teachers and pastor took very seriously training us in the Christian faith even if they spent no time worrying about Haloween. I think that's better than obsessing over Halloween and neglecting the weightier things of Christianity.
I'm not talking about the decision Christians make about what to do about Halloween. That's a matter of conscience each has to make. I'm talking about the inordinate energy, attention, thought, and focus spent on what to do about Halloween and the polar opposite apathy about theology, doctrine, church history.
It's fair to be concerned and think carefully about how we participate in the culture and Halloween. It's important to evaluate how cultural practices influence us. It's essential to use wisdom and discernment how we participate in Halloween, if we do. It's, obviously, a duty to avoid any occultic involvement. What I'm talking about is the level of energy and attention given to it and the contrasting lack of it given to arguable more central issues of Christianity. Christians can be shocked that another Christian will go trick or treating, but not blink an eye of awareness or concern when another Christian distorts the doctrine of the Trinity.
I'm not sure what this inordinate worry over Halloween and apathy about doctrine says about contemporary Christians, but I think it says something - and it's not good. One friend's theory is the inordinate emphasis in modern Christianity on application and therapeutic teaching to the near exclusion of theology and Bible study (not just Bible reading). That sounds like a pretty good theory to me.
Whether you decide to opt out of Halloween, which is just fine, or whether you dress up, let's also remember it's Reformation Day and that we have a treasure and privilege of studying the Bible ourselves and learning from the rich heritage of church history and the careful thinking and love for the truth people committed to hand down the faith to us. Let's be even more diligent in learning the full teaching God has revealed through His Word than we are in investigating Halloween.
Amen!
Posted by: Robert | October 29, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Like! Like! Like!
Posted by: Sam | October 29, 2009 at 04:06 PM
great article melinda
Posted by: Chris | October 29, 2009 at 04:30 PM
As a small Christian witness I pass out ATS cartoon tracts with good candy at Halloween.
Posted by: John C | October 30, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Great post.
Posted by: Seeking Disciple | October 30, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Good point, Melinda, and I agree.
My own concern with Halloween is with influence it may have in the hearts & minds of children, especially confusion that could be wrought in them, and the weak, when they see Christians participating, and endorsing participation in, a practice over which they themselves may be conflicted. (Rom. 14)
Halloween for me as a child was not a wholly positive experience. For most, perhaps, it was harmless and fun, but I had some sort of sensitivity and felt a strong threat of fear & evil in the "scary" aspect. I sensed an "occult" undercurrent, even though my family participated "normally" like everyone else in the neighborhood & at school. I imagine that there are others, perhaps not many, but some, with this same susceptibility, and that's the reason for my concern. I do believe that current practices, if long removed and now a hodgepodge, still originate with ancient superstitious practices and ill pranks, and I'm not sure it's wise to ignore that aspect completely.
(FWIW, I have come around to allowing my kids to trick-or-treat with their friends in a neighborhood where they know a lot of people. They have a great time, of course. Yet we have also discussed the holiday together, and they are aware of the history of All Saints', which our church celebrates as well as Reformation Day.)
Posted by: Bonnie | October 30, 2009 at 08:22 AM
Great post!!
Posted by: Wendy | October 30, 2009 at 09:30 AM
It disturbs me that so many can get bent out of shape about Halloween but on matters that are worth getting upset about like the doctrine of justification and evangelicals slipping into Rome's arms again thinking its just a "little" matter . But that's what happens when you have a mass of people unaware what the reformation was all about and who's depth of doctrine comes from Hybel's,Warren and the influence of Colson with ECT foolishness. Sad , truly sad.
Posted by: Reg Schofield | October 30, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Excellent post. I grew up Lutheran too, and I don't recall any pastor who had a stance on Halloween. My current church (non-denominational) does Trunk or Treat. It seems to draw lots of people in the neighborhood who don't go to church.
Posted by: KS | October 30, 2009 at 01:54 PM
Yes, people are not learning from the churches and then are not instead teaching themselves. I think most of them would be very willing to go back to the times before the Reformation. They want to be spoonfed milk instead of getting up and grabbing the meat for themselves.
We don't participate in Halloween. After I became a Christian, all I had to do was walk into a store and see the displays and know that Halloween does not glorify God it glorifies Satan. Our kids do dressup and they do go to a Harvest party that is put on by churches for the community. But we don't celebrate Halloween. The Bible says in everything we do we are to glorify God and we feel we can participate this way and bring glory to our Lord instead of the enemy.
Posted by: Dona | October 30, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Thank you for this!
Posted by: Stephanie J. | October 30, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Thank you Bonnie and Dona
Posted by: Josh | October 31, 2009 at 04:35 AM
Halloween is a more honest holiday than Christmas which, IMO, is the most dishonest holiday of them all.
Halloween - it's all up front. Candy and dressing up. Done in one night, then over. We all know exactly what it's about. It's not about celebrating Satan, or evil. It's about getting the best candy, or coming up with the most creative costume. It's Theatre In the Streets.
Christmas - it's not really about Christ at all. It's got pagan origins, too. It's about greed, marketing, and boosting the economy. Phony baloney. Plus, it's the most stressful time of year for many. If you really want Christ in Christmas, jettison everything else, then I might start to take it seriously.
Posted by: Perry Shields | November 01, 2009 at 12:09 AM
Great article. Halloween is a lot different today than it was 40 years ago in my day though (actually it is the second biggest spending holiday after Christmas!)
Posted by: chuckp | November 01, 2009 at 11:55 PM
"I cite the example of my own childhood at church not as a justification to celebrate Halloween - it's not an argument. I offer it as an illustration that participating in Halloween doesn't negate sound Christian living and coincided comfortably with serious Christian living."
The danger in drawing a conclusion based on one example should be quite obvious. I would simply ask: if you lived in a cul-de-sac of hindus (or more realistically lived in India), would you condemn or condone Christians lighting up their house for Diwali? If condemn, then why not Halloween; if condone, then what if any practice is a Christian prohibited from indulging in?
Posted by: kpolo | November 02, 2009 at 01:28 PM
Hi kpolo:
I responded to your last comment on the last Halloween thread. I don't know if you read it - you didn't respond. Again, with your same example: comparing Halloween with the lighting of lamps for Diwali is not a valid comparison for the reasons I stated on the other thread.
Posted by: KWM | November 02, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Perry said:
>>"If you really want Christ in Christmas, jettison everything else, then I might start to take it seriously."
Good word: jettison. (However, it's "cool" factor doesn't really enhance your point.)
You tell "me" to jettison everything else...so YOU will take Christmas seriously.
This is the logic of an elementary-aged child: misplaced/misdirected stone-throwing to justify one’s own actions/behaviors/beliefs.
Are you somehow experiencing Christmas vicariously through the practices of your comment's readers?
You don't take Christmas seriously because others emphasize things about the holiday that you object too?
Seems like you're missing the boat here, Per. However one wants to commercialize/pervert Christmas...does not, for a single second, interfere nor affect how I (and my family) practice its celebration.
There are hundreds of things, ideas, practices a person can acknowledge honestly when others fail to do so. You’re grasping at straws. Blaming the culture for your not taking Christmas seriously? That's really all on you, Perry.
Sure it's highly commercialized, and there are greedy corporations and greedy kids. Some of the elements we see have "pagan" origins...yeah, yeah, that's pretty tired. Christ's birth is what we (me and mine) acknowledge and lift up this time of year. Hmm...How do I do that with all the commericialization and “phony baloney”? Am I superhuman?
Or....maybe I just have the ability to make an independent decision without defaulting to the misconceptions or shortcomings of the culture(s).
Why does the rampant commercialization have to impact my willingness or ability to lift up Christ? Answer: It doesn't.
Don't play the victim here, dear Perry.
It's a bit childish that you are attempting to justify your behavior towards Christmas by leveling criticism towards how others handle it. Your parameters are way off keel.
As for me, Perry...I rarely make the mistake of expecting too much from society and culture by way of hopeful behavior. However, my expectations for myself are wholly different...and I am, likewise, accountable for them.
Maybe your comment is simply for fun, in which case I apologize for every single one of my remarks to you...
Are your geniunely willing to say "Bah, Humbug! You guys aren't doing it right...so I'm not doing anything either."
How seriously Perry will take Christmas...?
...That's not on anyone but Perry.
Posted by: David Hawkins | November 03, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Now, now, David, I was being mildly facetious, yes.
Of course I believe we are ultimately responsible for our celebration/non-celebration/alternate celebration of holidays.
Culturally, though, I believe it's all top-heavy and since I am a family man with kids, I am caught up in it though I really kind of despise it. And yes, I am weak for going with the flow at Christmas. I don't care how many Jesus-in-the-Manger cards I send out, I'm still a sell-out.
My point (lost in my meandering) was a reaction to Christians who pooh-pooh Halloween for being "satanic" while upholding the pagan-inspired trappings of Christmas. My point was that Halloween is a more honest holiday because it doesn't try to hide its intentions, while I believe Christmas does.
I had just read a typical, American-Evangelical editorial in my local paper by a Calvary Chapel pastor who trotted out the same-old "Halloween celebrates witches" drivel. It got under my skin.
Christmas is tiring. Halloween is exhilarating. Long live the Universal Monsters! Karloff, Lugosi, and Chaney shall not die ! :-)
Posted by: Perry Shields | November 03, 2009 at 10:52 PM