In church circles, few questions are more sensitive or controversial than this one. Opinions run deep. Emotions run high. And few who have strong beliefs on this topic are interested in reading anything or hearing anything that might push back on them.
Regardless of what the Bible says about wisdom, listening, not jumping to conclusions, etc.
So, let me make a few things clear up front…
- Should Christians celebrate death? No.
- Should Christians celebrate evil? No.
- Should Christians encourage paganism or the occult? No.
- Should Christian kids dress up as witches (as one is doing in the image above)? No.
- Should Christians be entertained by demonism or demonic imagery? No.
The Bible is pretty clear on the above.
But Christians often step BEYOND what the Bible teaches, and then impose those extrabiblical teachings on other Christians – and sometimes even non-Christians. And I have a big problem with that.
Case in point: Halloween.
To go from “The Bible is against paganism, witchcraft, and the occult” to “Children shouldn’t go Trick or Treating” or “Churches shouldn’t do Trunk or Treat” is quite the leap!
And, sadly, Bible-believing Christians are quite skilled and experienced at taking leaps like that. 🙁
I believe that Christians should approach Halloween in the same way Paul encouraged believers to see and approach meat being offered to idols in the first century. And that is with holiness of heart, wisdom, discernment, and sensitivity to “weaker” brothers and sisters in Christ.
That’s how Christians should approach a lot of things, frankly, including fantasy entertainment. Or for that matter, entertainment in general. In my opinion, it’s not a sin to read a fantasy novel. But I digress.
For Halloween specifically, I encourage you to read the following statement from Marcia Montenegro, founder and head of Christian Answers for the New Age.
Halloween Statement for Christians by Marcia Montenegro
You can’t question or dispute Marcia’s bona fides on issues like this. She is an EXPERT on spiritual warfare, the occult, and paganism. She is a former astrologer and former New Age guru who gave her life to Christ and now warns Christians against the pernicious influences of pagan spirituality.
She is also a solid student of the Bible with a lot of wisdom to share. And…
Accordingly, she has a balanced perspective on Halloween, including this…
“Handing out candy, trick or treating, and carving pumpkins are not pagan activities. No matter what the tales are that supposedly give pagan origins to these — and there is little evidence for those — doing them is not a spiritual activity but a cultural and commercial one.”
Exactly!
Again, read her statement. It is full of wisdom. I commend it to all Christians as worthy of prayerful and respectful consideration.
In the meantime…
Happy October 31 — or Happy Reformation Day 🙂
Thank you for Reading!
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