FACT SHEET: HALLOWEEN

THE SUBJECT OF HALLOWEEN

This subject raises many questions among Christians. Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Should Christians allow their children to go "trick-or-treating?" Should Christian churches offer alternative activities? For the members and friends of Grace Bible Church, a more pertinent question may be, "What does our church say about Halloween?"

ISN'T HALLOWEEN A SATANIC HOLIDAY?

There is no need to provide great amounts of documentation for the fact that Halloween has become an important day to those who are either active Satan worshipers, or who are somehow fascinated with Satan and the occult. Virtually everyone knows this to be true. As Christians we are right to oppose evil, whether on October 31, or at any other time.

SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN?

If the question was asked whether a Christian should participate in the occult aspects of Halloween, the answer would most obviously be NO! But if you ask whether a Christian may go trick or treating (which in itself is not occultic), we would answer, "Some can. Some can’t. It is a matter of individual conscience."

Let us be reminded of the principle taught in Romans 14. To some a day is a day is a day. To others, certain days hold specific significance. The case in point in Romans 14 was also associated with the occult (idolatry and sacrifices to idols which the Bible calls demons). Paul’s judgment was that those who do not have freedom of conscience, should not do anything that violates their conscience. He also said they should refrain from judging those who do have freedom of conscience in these areas. Those who have liberty should be free to enjoy their liberty while not judging those who do not have the same liberties. They should also be careful not to flaunt their liberties in a way that causes others to unnecessarily stumble into violating their own consciences or into the sin of judging.

SHOULD CHURCHES HAVE ALTERNATIVE EVENTS ON HALLOWEEN?

Because a day is a day is a day, as Christians we do not need to abandon any of the 365 days created by our Lord to the devil or his followers. We are told that Christ disarmed principalities and powers of darkness when He triumphed over them on the cross. Rather than disregarding the victory that Christ won, we ought rather to seek to redeem those things the devil wants to steal and defile. While not making the things of darkness part of a Christian Halloween alternative we can seize the opportunity to reach out in the name of Jesus on what many regard to be the devil’s unholy day.

A FEW SPECIFICS ABOUT SHILOH'S ANNUAL HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL

Our carnival is definitely Christ-centered. All the game booths feature Bible theme games. Christian music is played. Every child who attends is given a Bible tract to take home. A major feature is a presentation of the gospel in an uncompromising way. We do not participate in, nor do we approve of haunted houses, or other activities that glorify the dark aspects of Halloween.

Our carnival is an outreach to the community. We advertise it and encourage people from Grace Bible Church to bring their non-Christian friends and neighbors. Besides giving the gospel to the children, we seek to make contacts with parents, inviting them to worship with us on Sundays. The carnival is an effective way to show those who are not Christians that we who know the Lord are able to have good clean fun. Our carnival has been featured in local newspaper stories. We have seen people receive Christ and join our church whose first contact with Grace Bible was through our Halloween Carnival.

We request folks from Grace Bible not dress their children in traditional Halloween costumes that glorify darkness. Rather, we encourage positive costumes. Of course, since the event is an outreach, we invite the people from our community to come as they choose.

We call our carnival a Halloween Carnival rather than a Harvest Festival because as an outreach to non-Christians, it makes more sense to call it what they know it to be. They are less likely to come to a Harvest Festival than a Halloween Carnival. We know because we used to call it a Harvest Festival and far fewer people from the community came. We started calling it a Halloween Carnival and many who do not know the Lord have come.

IN CONCLUSION

While we acknowledge the fact that Halloween is a favorite day for the devil, we choose to enjoy the victory Jesus has won, and to use the day and the event as a tool to win others to Christ.

 

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