by Pastor Adam Sinnett

The Issue

The history of Halloween is long, complex and somewhat uncertain. Halloween, as we celebrate it today, can be traced back to pagan, Catholic, and relatively recent American roots. It is therefore difficult to pinpoint any one single source of this over-commercialized holiday, let alone a general consensus as to what it actually means. Christians have long fell on both sides of the fence. Some choose to avoid the issue entirely and throw “Harvest Festivals” (which can be argued to be nothing more than the same thing under a different name). While others freely accept it, giving it little thought beyond watching their children’s sugar intake. Is either side right? When all is said and done, is there anything redeeming about this evening of costume-wearing and, oft times, gluttonous candy-eating? Is it possible to trick-or-treat for Jesus? Do we provide candy to neighborhood ghosts and goblins or settle for the highly unpopular and dreaded tract + Gideon Bible combo (note: please don’t do that)? Practically, how can Halloween point us and others to Jesus?

The History

Before we go there, let’s first cover a bit of the history of his sugar-coated holiday. (Disclaimer: The history of this holiday is long, complex, interwoven and often debated. This is my attempt at synthesizing my research.) There are signs that in the early 4th century the church had a day, the specific day is unknown, during which they celebrated the lives of well-known Christians. Several hundred years later on May 13th, 610 AD, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon and established that day to specifically celebrate Mary and the martyrs of the Church. Now, in the late 8th century, Pope Gregory III changed that day from May 13th to Nov 1st and names the day “All Hallows Day” (aka All Saints Day, or Hallowmas) to remember all the dead, not just the martyrs.

This change of date happened to coincide with the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain (of the Irish, Celts, Scots) that officially marked the end of summer and the beginning of the winter. Thus, Oct 31st became known as All Hallows Eve (i.e. the day before All Hallows Day, aka Halloween). In 998 AD, on Nov 2nd, Saint Odilo of Cluny established All Souls Day to commemorate souls condemned to purgatory. Therefore, up until this point we have All Hallows Eve (Oct 31st), All Hallows Day (Nov 1st) and All Souls Day (Nov 2nd). Just wait, it gets messier.

Moving ahead 600 years, Martin Luther posts his 95 theses (which were primarily against the indulgences required by the Catholic Church for those in purgatory) on the door of Wittenberg Castle on Oct 31st, 1517, appropriately on the eve of the ensuing Catholic celebration and remembrance of the dead in heaven (Nov 1st) and for those in purgatory (Nov 2nd). Thus, Oct 31st assumes the name of Reformation Day in addition to All Hallows Eve (aka Halloween). While all of this is taking place in Europe, All Saints and All Souls Days are combined into one holiday in Mexico called Dia de Muertos (in English, the Day of the Dead), which corroborated with an ancient Aztec custom of regularly remembering the dead.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that Halloween customs were brought over to America. Most historians say that “trick or treating” did not become significant in the US until the 1930s. Since then, good ole fashioned Americanism has paved over much of these former traditions. One example of this is the use of pumpkins for Jack-o-Lanterns versus the original use of Irish turnips and rutabagas. Therefore, given this long, complex, confusing, and constantly evolving history of days, cultures and customs associated with this day - what do we as Christians do with Halloween?

Statistics

• Halloween is observed in the US, Canada, UK, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and Australia.
• Halloween is the 6th most profitable holiday in the US (after Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentines Day, Easter, and Father’s day).
• Americans are expected to spend over $5 billion on Halloween.
• The top kid costumes (2005) were: princess (3.8m), witch (1.7m), Spiderman (1.4m), monster (1.3m), and Darth Vader (1.26m).
• The top adult costumes (2005) were: witch (3.9m), vampire (1.45m), actor/famous person (784k), monster (724k), and pirate (573k).

To Trick or Not to Treat?

So, what do we do with Halloween? First, we shouldn’t simply accept it nor quickly dismiss it. The history of Halloween is muddled and unclear. As scripture is unclear on the matter, each of us must give careful thought to the question. The issue we’re dealing with here is one of conscience, which means the end product may differ from Christian to Christian. This also means we have to be careful when speaking to others whose consciences may be weak in this area (1 Cor 8). Ultimately this is an open-handed issue. The Apostle Paul offers us some helpful guidelines when dealing with issues of conscience:

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful.” 1 Cor 6: 12 Principle #1: Is it lawful? “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.” 1 Cor 6: 12 Principle #2: Does it enslave (i.e. bring me under its power)? “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. 1 Cor 6: 12 Principle #3: Is it helpful – physically, spiritual and mentally? Does it hurt others? “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31 Principle #4: Does it glorify God?

Prayerfully answering these questions will help develop personal biblical convictions regarding Halloween. The end result will likely not be the same for each person. Let’s walk through them:

• Principle #1: Is Halloween legal?
  Yes.
• Principle #2: Does Halloween enslave or bring me under its power?
  The answer to this will depend, like anything, on how you celebrate it and what your background is. For those with backgrounds in the occult this may be a difficult holiday for you to celebrate with a clean conscience.
• Principle #3: Is it helpful? Does it hurt others?
  It’s neither inherently helpful nor harmful, though it may be depending on your own background.
• Principle #4: Lastly, does it glorify God?
  Not inherently, but it could depending on how you celebrate it.

Now, does this mean that we shouldn’t celebrate Halloween? As it is, maybe. However we have another option – redeeming it. As Christians, there are some things that we are called to blatantly reject (i.e. things in scripture that are clearly outlawed), other things that we freely receive (i.e. things in scripture that are by God to be enjoyed), and yet others that we must redeem (i.e. things created good, but marred by sin). Halloween is to be neither wholly rejected nor wholly received, but redeemed.

Therefore, we can redeem this holiday by answering the following questions: How could Halloween be helpful? How could I ensure that Halloween did not bring me under its power? How could I ensure it did not hurt others? How could I possibly glorify God through how I practice Halloween?

As Christians, we reject any sort of worship or glamorization of satanic or demonic spirits. We also believe that each and every Christian is a “saint” not merely Christians that have gone varsity. We also recognize that it may very well be good to have a day to remember friends and relatives that have passed away, hopefully to be with the Lord, but not to pray to them or worship them.

Given this, I submit to you the following six ways, which are by no means exhaustive, by which to redeem the holiday for the glory of God:

First, Halloween reminds us that Jesus created candy and taste buds so that we could understand what it means to “Taste and see that the Lord is good”.

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that my it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Candy and taste buds exist so that these verses make sense. Without taste buds we’d be completely unaware of what it means to taste. Without candy, we’d be unaware of how strong this metaphoric language is. What is more delicious than your favorite candy? The most delicious of candy should remind us in a very tangible way of how truly good Jesus is. Yet, unlike quickly dissolving candy, Jesus is ever present. Compare this to John 6:35, where Jesus states “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” The very way in which God created us is meant to point us to him, including such basic functions of being thirsty and hungry.

Second, Halloween reminds us that Jesus created creativity and humor.

Gen 1:1, 27 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Col 1:15 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

We are created in the imago dei – image of God. Just as God is a creative God that enjoys humor (I submit to you the hippopotamus), so we are creative and enjoy humor. Just as God has created all things, we are a creative people and Halloween provides an opportunity to express that shared quality with God.

Third, Halloween provides an opportunity to provide hospitality.

Romans 12:13 Practice hospitality.
Heb 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Scripture encourages us to remember that all that we have and possess is ultimately from God. Thus, we should share that which God has given us with others, which includes opening our homes and welcoming strangers. Halloween provides an opportunity to love your neighbors and welcome them to your home.

Fourth, Halloween provides an opportunity to practice self-control.

Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
2 Peter 1:5-7 For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Scripture frequently lists self-control (or, control over one’s own actions) among the essential character qualities that Christians should possess and develop. To prove this is lacking in our culture, I submit to you the following statistics: The average American consumes 20 teaspoons of sugar per day (which is roughly 2-3 pounds of sugar per week, or 100 to 150 pounds per year). The average teenage male eats 34 teaspoons per day. America accounts for only 5% of world’s population but consumes 33% of world’s sugar. Halloween is a prime opportunity to exercise self-control in eating, in particular.

Fifth, Halloween reminds us that Satan and his servants also disguise themselves.

2 Cor 11:14-15 Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.
1 Peter 5:8 Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Halloween may also serve as a reminder that our enemy rarely comes and knocks on our door dressed in a devil or witch costume. He is much more subtle than that. Thus, Halloween reminds us that our enemy also disguises himself and that we should be on the lookout for subtle ways in which he may be attempting to tempt or lure us to sin, which is his primary strategy.

Sixth, most importantly, Halloween reminds us that Jesus conquered Satan and demons.

John 12:31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
Col 2:9-10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
Col 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

God created two worlds, one visible and one invisible. Satan and demons are fallen angels that chose to follow their own pride instead of following God. They now stand accusing and condemning us, but they have been defeated. D-day has occurred, V-Day is ensured (i.e. the decisive battle has been won on the cross, victory is ensured upon Jesus return). The enemy knows this and attempts to take down as many with him as he can. However he has no power over those who are in Christ. Halloween is a great day on which to remember these central gospel truths.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God.
1 Cor 10:31