Should Christians participate in Halloween?

A mixed past to “All Hallows Eve”

The name “Halloween” comes from a time of remembrance developed in the early Christian church for martyrs who gave their lives to Christ. The celebration was All Saints Day and the evening before was called “All Hallows Eve.” As Christianity moved through Europe and encountered pagan cultures and customs, the Samhain festival was prevalent in Celtic cultures which celebrated the final harvest, death, and the coming of winter. During this time, it was believed that spirits of the dead would walk among the living. In response, the Christian church challenged this pagan festival with All Saints Eve. They “christianized” the pagan festival, adopting some of its practices while rejecting what it deemed unholy or inappropriate. In America, the early 1900s brought Celtic immigrants to the US and over time, Halloween became the mainstream holiday we are familiar with. For a more full history, see this article.

Christians and cultural celebrations

Christianity has a long history of engaging, integrating, and redeeming every culture it has become a part of. Every generation of Christians in every culture has had to discern how to best represent Christ in their own context. Luther wrote hymns to common bar-song melodies. Christians adopted wedding rings (a Greco-Roman practice) in their marital ceremonies. Christians adopted “burial art” (a cultural practice) as a way of honoring martyrs, buried in catacombs. The choosing of December 25th as the celebration of Christ’s birth was an appropriation of the Roman winter solstice festival. The use of cultural styles in Christian worship (such as musical instruments, architecture, clothing, and language) have permeated missionary efforts. Much of this is a reflection of Paul’s very heart when he would say things like, “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law” (1 Cor. 9:20). In essence, Christianity has proven to be a religion able to accommodate and incarnate into various cultures more so than other major religions. 

It is a good, biblical, and historical impulse to adopt, integrate into, and redeem cultural celebrations and customs. However, we cannot do so in a way that confuses who Jesus is, what the gospel is, or how people should live before a holy God. This is the tension of Christian engagement with culture.

Of course, this “contextualization” has clear limits. Christians have been historically careful to reject unholy, evil, excessive, or unhelpful practices and traditions. As Zane Pratt states, “Contextualization is the word we use for the process of making the gospel and the church as much at home as possible in a given cultural context.” It is a good, biblical, and historical impulse to adopt, integrate into, and redeem cultural celebrations and customs. However, we cannot do so in a way that confuses who Jesus is, what the gospel is, or how people should live before a holy God. This is the tension of Christian engagement with culture.

3 ways Christians should not celebrate Halloween

Although much debate exists over how (and if) a Christian should engage the Halloween season, there are some clear guardrails the scriptures give us.

1. Responding with fearful superstition

Christians need not live in fear, anxiously warning everyone about the dangers of welcoming Demonic influence by simply carving a pumpkin. Satan is very real and there are those who dabble in the occult and witchcraft around Halloween (which is condemned in scripture); however, Christian need not live in fear. "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). God has forever "disarmed principalities and powers" through the cross of Christ and "made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them through [Christ]" (Col. 2:15). A fearful anxiety that wonders if we are “letting Satan into our homes” by handing out candy to children seems to fall prey to the same kind of superstitiousness that pagans were known for.

2. Celebrating without biblical wisdom

Although Satanists and occultists tend to be more active around Halloween, there is no evidence of increased satanic-associated crime. However, a more genuine threat on Halloween is from the social problems that come with common sinful behavior around the holiday (such as drunk driving, vandalism, and unsupervised children and teens). Additionally, Halloween encourages certain kinds of decorations and entertainment that celebrate death and fear. Christians (especially Christian parents) should be cautious, wise, and careful about what they participate in or entertain themselves with. I would discourage Christians from attending more secular Halloween parties because of the sinful and unwise behavior that often happens at them. Christians should not be ignorant or reckless in their celebration.

3. Engaging without gospel intentionality

It might be that you (and your family) develop a conviction that it is unwise to participate in any Halloween activities or celebrations. However, all Christians must admit that it is a rare opportunity to so freely be able to meet with and engage our lost neighbors. Whether you celebrate or not, Halloween often brings up conversations about death, the afterlife, and the spiritual realm with those who are not religious. We should have a spirit of gospel compassion for our neighbors that is ready and willing to engage them in spiritual conversations, share about the victory of Christ over spiritual powers, and invite them into deeper relationships after Halloween is over.

3 ways Christians can engage Halloween

Each of the following options have been held historically by bible-believing Christians. It is my position that each may be appropriate, depending on one’s context and convictions.

1. Gracious non-participation

There are many reasons why a Christian may come to the conclusion that the best choice is not to participate in any Halloween-related celebrations or customs. The risks and dangers seem too great compared to the potential good that may come of it. A Christian may be concerned that their involvement will confuse non-believers rather than engage them fruitfully. They would rather their kids not participate in spiritually-compromising activities (such as reading scary stories or watching videos that trivialize witchcraft). To even take their kids trick-or-treating feels like a wholesale approval of all that comes with Halloween. For those that choose to not participate at all, aim to be gracious and peaceful (not fearful). When people raise their eyebrows at you, take the opportunity to ask spiritual questions in a winsome way.

2. Redemptive alternatives

Some Christians and churches choose to take advantage of the holiday but provide a safer (or more Christian) alternative. Many Protestants celebrate Reformation Day and do a “Reformation Party” in their homes or church buildings. Others do a “Harvest Festival” where kids dress up as farmers, Bible characters, or historical figures. Still others choose to go into the community and give away food baskets, gift cards, and offerings of prayer to needy families on Halloween. Christians have often viewed secular holidays as an opportunity to redeem the secular for holier purposes. For those that choose to redeem the holiday, be thoughtful and forward-thinking. Don’t just offer something “fun” in replacement but have meaningful opportunities to think, discuss, and engage in ways that lead to future discipleship.

3. Wise enjoyment and engagement

Some Christians recognize that (in their context) Halloween is not a celebration of evil or death. Rather, in their neighborhoods and social circles, it is a time for laughter, fun, and fellowship of neighbors. We must admit that there is nothing inherently evil about candy, costumes, or trick-or-treating, per se. In fact, some Christians view all of this as a unique gospel opportunity with neighbors. Some Christians find that handing out candy to neighborhood children (provided you’re not stingy) creates a reputation in the neighborhood as a generous and fun household, which opens up doors for future gospel opportunities. As long as costumes are innocent, behavior is God-honoring, and appropriate wisdom is used in guarding ourselves from sinful or unsafe situations, Christians may feel freedom to enjoy and engage the Halloween season. For those that choose to participate, be wise and intentional. Be thoughtful about how (and where) you celebrate. Don’t be cavalier or dismissive of real concerns, but also take advantage of the missional opportunity the holiday brings.

A call for Christian wisdom, freedom, and unity

Too often, Christian develop convictions and then seek to bind the consciences of others in unhelpful or even unbiblical ways. I am saddened when I read the multitude of FB posts by Christians that unreservedly say that Halloween is incompatible with Christianity and that to engage with it in any way is to “have communion with darkness.” The ways that the Bible is manipulated and used without wisdom or nuance concern me greatly. I also am saddened when I see Christians that seem to show little wisdom or care with any and all Halloween-related things. They have no concern with what their kids wear as a costume, no discernment with what they watch as entertainment, and make fun of Christians who do. The tension we are all seeking to live with must be held with grace and understanding.

By holding to our convictions in an ungracious manner, we might be “sinning against our brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, [and thus] we sin against Christ” (1 Cor. 8:12). 

We should not divide as Christians over areas of Christian conscience and wisdom. It is a good thing to discuss these kinds of things. It is appropriate to share concerns, convictions, and beliefs in a godly and gracious way. We are not called to dismiss or ignore these kinds of things. However, the way we talk about these convictions and hold to them must be “in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3). The discourse on “meat offered to idols” in 1 Corinthians 8 is an appropriate example of how Christians should think about matters of Christian conscience. By holding to our convictions in an ungracious manner, we might be “sinning against our brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, [and thus] we sin against Christ” (1 Cor. 8:12). 

So, this Halloween, be thoughtful and wise as you live out your convictions and also show grace and understanding to those who differ with you. All Christians must seek, above all else, to glorify God in the way we live, on Halloween or any other day.