by Dale Reeves

Story Pastor

 

True confession: I’ve never enjoyed visiting haunted houses this time of year. As an elementary-aged kid or junior high teen, when my church youth group went to them, I often found excuses so I wouldn’t have to go. There was just something about them that didn’t seem right to me—even as a kid. Scary movies have never really been my thing either. Many adults and kids attend seasonal events at amusement parks like Kings Island’s “Halloween Haunt” or Universal Studio’s “Halloween Horror Nights.”

 

—Are these activities “family-friendly” experiences, is this all just “innocent fun,” or are there things that are actually prohibited in God’s Word for followers of Jesus?

—Should parents allow their children to go out trick-or-treating?

—Are they participating in “the devil’s holiday,” as some call it?

 

Tonight in our country, approximately 35 million children, accompanied by their parents, will turn out in droves to canvass the neighborhoods for trick-or-treat goodies. In case you were wondering, the two most popular Halloween candies are the Snickers™ candy bar and Reese’s™ peanut butter cups. But when did Halloween start and where did the trick-or-treat tradition come from? I’m glad you asked!

 

A Holy Day or a Holiday?

During the Dark Ages, in the Celtic countries of Britain, Gaul (France), and Germany, the Druids, who were the priests and teachers of the Celts, set aside October 31 to honor Samhain, their lord of the dead. They believed that Samhain summoned the souls of dead sinful men and that these witches, demons, and goblins roamed the earth on the eve of November 1, which began the Celtic New Year. They thought that these ghosts and goblins wreaked havoc, ruined crops, and caused trouble. They believed that these evil spirits might inhabit themselves in an animal, such as a black cat. The Druids offered the spirits good things to eat (“treats”) in order to protect themselves. They put on masks and costumes, made of animal skins, hoping to “trick” the spirits into following the crowd out of town—thus getting rid of the bad souls.

 

Approximately 500 years after those beginnings in the Middle Ages, the first traditions that resembled modern trick-or-treating appeared. Instead of laying out a feast to please angry spirits, the costumed people started putting on performances, and people gave them treats after they performed for them. They had to do a lot more than just say, “Trick or treat, trick or treat, give me something good to eat!”

 

In the sixth century, Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel to “all saints.” In 834, the feast of “All Saints,” or “All Hallows Day” was moved to November 1. This day was set aside to honor all the saints who had no special days of their own. The night before was known as “All Hallows Eve,” or “Hallows E’en,” and finally “Halloween.” Elements of the pagan Celtic practices and Roman Catholic practices mixed together to form the Halloween traditions that are celebrated today. Right around the Great Depression, some youngsters used Halloween as an opportunity to prank people, and sometimes caused property damage, which is when the tradition became known as “trick-or-treating.”

 

Drawing the Line Between Good and Evil

Where is the line that Christian parents should draw for their kids when it comes to Halloween and all things spooky? Well, we know that certain things are forbidden for God’s people as outlined in the Bible. Because the pagan nations that surrounded Israel were steeped in divination, sorcery, and witchcraft, God warned his people about their involvement in such things: “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people” (Leviticus 20:6, ESV).

 

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12, NLT).

 

God is very clear in instructing us to avoid the occult in all its forms. We are to be self-controlled and alert because our enemy is like a lion prowling around, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan’s ultimate goal is the destruction of the church, our families, and our children. The apostle Paul instructs us: “So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-11, NLT).

 

Shining Our Lights

I love that every year Christ’s Church hosts a great evening for families at our “Glow with God” event. Our children’s ministry director, Holly LeMaster, shares about what took place just a few weeks ago on a very rainy night:

“All week long we knew there was the chance of rain, and that it might dampen the good that comes with inviting our community to ‘Glow with God.’ I reminded our team, ‘God will do what he wants, and we are just here for the party.’ But God always goes above and beyond, and he made this year’s event even bigger than we imagined! There were over 900 people in attendance! Some people focus on the dark aspects of Halloween, but as Christians it is up to us to shine our light in all we do to glorify God (Matthew 5:16). Inviting our one mores, friends, family, and community into a safe place where people are shown love and happiness is what it’s all about!”

 

The apostle Paul instructs us to be “blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15, ESV). Regardless of how you choose to celebrate, or not to celebrate Halloween with your family, here are a few practical takeaways I would suggest that will help you share the light of Jesus during this season:

 

  1. Pray for the protection of your children during this season of the year as well as every other day. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21, NIV).

 

  1. Celebrate God’s goodness in the life of your family by thanking him for the many blessings and favors he has shown you this year. “So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead” (Romans 14:8, 9, NLT).

 

  1. Don’t let the devil get any credit for the fun you will have as a family. “Live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-11, NLT).

 

  1. The best costume you could put on is one that honors Christ. In Romans 13:14, the apostle Paul gives us these instructions: “We can’t afford to squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence . . . Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!” (The Message).

 

So, let’s be diligent for ourselves, our kids, and our grandkids, as we “put on” Christ as our shield, our protector, our provider, our Savior, and our Lord. As his saints, those who have been “set apart” for him, we can thank him on “All Saints Day” for the many blessings he sends our way every day.