Christians and Halloween
Is Halloween a Christian Holiday? A Look at What the Bible Says
Oct 5, 2009
Halloween rituals originated with the Druid priests who made bonfires, carved skulls into turnip-like vegetables called mangel-wurzels, and made sacrifices to appease or ward off the lord of death.
Later, the Roman church renamed the holiday to honour the saints (All Saints Day), but the holiday has retained many of its Pagan roots even to this day.
What Should Christians Do About Halloween?
Many Christians wonder what to do about Halloween. As children, they may remember the fun of dressing up and the anticipation of getting free candy from neighbours and feel reluctant to withhold such fun from their own children on account of the non-Christian roots of the holi
Others may feel uneasy about participating in the festivities but worry about offending friends, neighbours and family members. Some wonder if it’s okay to throw a fall harvest party October 31 to keep the kids happy while maintaining some Christian influence over festivities.
So what should Christians do about Halloween?
Halloween's Roots in Ancient Idolatry
The Bible states in numerous places God's displeasure with the practice of idolatry. For example, the first of the ten commandments states, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3). For some Christians, this command speaks clearly against celebrating any holiday with roots in ancient idolatry.
Still, other Christians believe that because direct idol worship is no longer involved in the celebration of Halloween and other modern holidays, they are free to celebrate along with the secular world.
God Was Offended by Pagan Practices
When God commanded the Israelites to take over the land of Canaan, it was because the people of the land had desecrated it by their idolatrous, Pagan practices, according to Leviticus 18: 24, 25 which reads, "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants." This entire chapter is a listing of forbidden idolatrous practices and shows the connection between God's judgments and a nation's religious practices.
According to Deuteronomy 18:9-14, God forbade the Israelites from adopting these practices, in these words: “When you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.” (NLT)
Verses 10 and 11 list some of the forbidden practises as: fortune telling, sorcery, interpreting omens, witchcraft, casting spells, acting as mediums or psychics, and calling up the spirits of the dead.
According to Deuteronomy 18:12, “Anyone who does these things is an object of horror and disgust to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.” According to this verse, it was because He was disgusted with their practices that God was replacing the nations of Canaan with the Israelites.
Christians must decide whether keeping a holiday like Halloween, with its ancient connection to idolatry, is acceptable or not based upon principles outlined in Scripture. Interestingly, converts to Christianity who’ve come out of the occult will attest that Halloween is still a high day for witches and the occult. But generally, this is not generally the case for secular celebrations, which hold little, if any, religious meaning for those who mark October 31 with costumes, trick-or-treating and Halloween parties.
What's Wrong With Halloween? Halloween Is Just for Fun, Isn't It?
Some argue that there’s no evil intent involved in the general observance of Halloween. It’s just fun. Nevertheless, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 admonishes, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Does Halloween, with its haunted houses, horror movies, gluttony of sugar, scary costumes “appear” good or evil? This is a question that Christians must consider as they decide whether to observe Halloween.
Christians are called to a high standard of behavior and are called to pursue a life of goodness according to Ephesians 5: 9-12, which says, “(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” Some Christians believe that a holiday like Halloween does not fall on the side of "all goodness and righteousness and truth" but rather on the side of "unfruitful works of darkness."
Some Christians see no harm in allowing their children to participate in Halloween festivities. Others believe that the Bible presents clear principles regarding Halloween and other holidays that have their origin in idolatry and Paganism, and therefore, many Christians opt to abstain from Halloween. In the end, Christians must make their own decision based on their interpretation of their religion and their beliefs surrounding the significance of Halloween as a whole.
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