Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? (a grace-filled response)

This post: Should Christians celebrate Halloween? A grace-filled response + 3 pitfalls to watch out for.

Just a heads up: I’m not here to tell you how or if your family should observe October 31. But I know the question is a common one + maybe for good reason.

I want to address three things to watch out for when navigating this topic, and issues like it.

I also want to share where our family lands, which is somewhere in the middle. That typically means that a lot of people might disagree with where we stand – some thinking we’re too far left, and others finding us too far right.

I’m okay with that. My husband and I don’t make decisions for our family based on what other people think or do, and I hope you have the same mantra. So read what I have to say, then prayerfully make up your own mind about works best for you + yours.

Here are three pitfalls to watch out for when navigating issues like, Should Christians celebrate Halloween?

And, for the record, I’ve wallowed deeply in each of these pits. If you realize you’ve stumbled in too, just get out + don’t look back. There’s grace for all of us.

• Don’t make everything a black-and-white issue.
• Don’t find a goblin behind every bush.
• Don’t forget the reason we’re here.
• Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? (Recap)
• Celebrate!

Don’t make everything a black-and-white issue.

Admittedly, this has been my biggest pitfall. My personality is very black-and-white, and it’s easy for me to see the world through the lens of absolutely no middle ground.

Why this is a pitfall:

• The Bible doesn’t specifically address the observance of Halloween
• Black-and-white thinking easily leads to an imbalanced lifestyle
• It’s really easy to judge others when you feel you’re the only one who’s “right”

A grace-filled response to black-and-white thinking is learning to give other people space to come to their own decisions about how they live. (A gracious mindset is also a mark of maturity, since black-and-white thinking is attributed to emotional immaturity.)

I am not “god” in anyone’s life (not even my kids). It’s okay when friends + family believe or live a bit differently. In fact, I’ve learned to welcome differing perspectives + learn from them.

In a healthy community, we all sharpen each other + no one is thrown under the bus for thinking outside the box.

Don’t find a goblin behind every bush.

This is another easy pitfall to tumble into, especially for intuitive or overly sensitive types. (My hand is raised.)

I’ve seen a lot of well-meaning Christians split hairs over holidays like Halloween, Easter, and even Christmas. What do these holidays have in common? Each has historically pagan backgrounds.

I love history + I’m a moral purist, so I understand (to a certain extent) the quibbling over demons, egg-hunting, and Christmas trees. But I’ve also come to the conclusion that I can find something “wrong” with everything, if I’m determined to find it.

A grace-filled response is to look for + celebrate the good in life, 365.

As a Christian parent, I want to gently warn my fellow believers not to exhaust your kids by always being against everything. Everything isn’t bad. Every activity doesn’t lead to sin. It’s okay to enjoy life.

In fact, as Christians, we should be known for our abundant lives, not our skimpy, frowny, isolated way of living. Who wants that? I can tell you our kids don’t.

Don’t forget the reason we’re here.

I’ve been thinking about the quote attributed to William L. Wakinson: 

It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

(source) 

It’s no exaggeration to say that our world is dark. Really dark. Many of the festivities surrounding October 31 attest rather loudly to that fact.

As Christians, we have to stand for truth, recognize + shun evil, and do our best to live in a God-honoring way. So, yes, there’s a certain amount of “cursing the darkness” that needs to take place now and again.

But when it’s all said and done?

We are to walk in joy. To live abundantly. To enjoy our people. To invest richly in others. To love freely.

It’s kind of hard to do that if we spend all our time cursing the darkness.

Light a candle and shine on, my friend.

That’s what we’re here for.  

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

-Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16)

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? (Recap)

Speaking for myself, on October 31 my porch light will be on. I won’t be hiding in a closet.

My kids will be in costume (and I likely will, too) – romping all over our six-acre yard. 

We will roast marshmallows, drink hot cocoa, carve pumpkins, attend every trunk-or-treat we can find, gaze at the moon + probably eat too much candy.

However you feel about October 31, I hope you make up your mind to enjoy the day. 

Celebrate it, even, however that looks for you. 

My stance on Halloween, and every day of the year, is this:

Celebrate!

Celebrate because God is good + life is beautiful. 

Celebrate because we’ve been given breath + time to enjoy another day with people we love. 

Celebrate because it’s fun!

And because a little candy now and then won’t kill you. 

Your turn.

What’s your take on Halloween? I value your perspective!