Halloween: "Should I stay or should I go now?"...

*Originally posted on October 31, 2007

... "If I go there will be trouble, and if I stay there will be double…" I couldn’t help but finish that line from The Clash song! LOL! :)

The topic of Halloween can certainly divide many… I know even as I have in the past searched scripture, prayed, etc. on how we as a family should participate, it has felt divided in my own mind and heart.

I have some friends that will have absolutely NOTHING to do with Halloween… and when I listen to their reasoning, I totally understand. On the other hand, I have heard many a good pastor preach on how Christians should not “hide in their homes” on a night where many pagans are out celebrating what is rooted in an evil holiday. What a good witnessing opportunity, right?!

Some things we have done to try to find a “middle ground” (it’s not good to be luke warm, is it?) is that we never let our children dress up as anything remotely inappropriate. Nothing scary or evil or even questionable will ever be donned by my children. Not even dressing up as Hollywood stars who have a poor reputation will work. (that covers most of them, doesn’t it?)

We also started buying “Gospel candy” from Family Christian Bookstore to hand out to children. We decorate our pumpkins with crosses to try to remind people of Christ. We make sure to tell the children why we should not decorate with ghosts, witches, etc. and we’ve even thought about having them dress up as “bible heroes” to be even more of an outreach to the community.

I’m still “on the fence” about it all… I know we’re supposed to be “the light of the world” as we emulate Christ to others, and if we can go out on Halloween and be somewhat of a “light”, I think that is God-honoring. But, I also understand that we shouldn’t participate in pagan rituals so that we can “conform to the world”.

I know many people street witness to all sorts of heathens in inappropriate professions, and because they are presenting the gospel, they are doing God’s work. So, if we are out witnessing as we “trick-or-treat”, is that God’s work? I don’t know?!?

So, tonight we will be participating in Halloween… we will have “Gospel Candy” to hand out and I’ve even thought about handing out Christian tracks to all the houses we visit. (If I can’t get them in time for tonight, we’ll do it next year). Again, I’m really torn on the whole issue… come Christmas, I’ll be torn on having a tree in the house and stockings on the chimney, because those are all pagan rituals as well… not to mention the whole history on why we celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th in the first place. AAhhhh…. Being in the world and not of the world is very hard to do!! :)

Here’s a good article from John McArthur about Christians' response to Halloween:
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/1126

Have a blessed day! :)