I (Jeff) had the honor to lead a discussion with a church in Brooklyn, NY about how Christians should respond to Halloween. It’s an intriguing topic, and my own perspective has changed over the years, so I was glad to take part and even do a little scriptural digging in preparation. In general, there tend to be 3 typical postures Christians take toward the holiday: reject, receive, or redeem.
Those who REJECT Halloween see dangers lurking under the shiny surface of the decorations and parties. Some have sworn off all secular holidays, while others cite scriptures that warn us against the wickedness and witchcraft of this particular day (for those who’ve experienced that first-hand, I recommend the Steps to Freedom in Christ). They remind us to avoid the appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:22), and declare “You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too” (1 Cor 10:21).
Those who RECEIVE Halloween see it as harmless fun at worst and an opportunity to bond with family and neighbors at best. Each has their own line of comfort with candy, costumes, and creepy stuff (usually along an age scale), but those in this camp embrace the celebration, saying “If I can thank God for [the holiday] and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for [celebrating] it?” (1 Cor 10:30).
Those who REDEEM Halloween agree with both the dangers and the blessings. They don’t want to wink at evil, but they believe the light is stronger. They cite John 17 that we are not of the world, but have been sent into it to reach the lost, just as Jesus was (Matt 9:11-13; Luke 5:30-32; Luke 15). Learn more, including resources from this link, and “whether you [do Halloween], or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).
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