Halloween: To be Celebrated... or Nah?

Yes, it’s that time of year again. When numerous of people celebrate or think about celebrating Halloween. The problem: do we really understand what we are celebrating or what we are embracing as we put on our costumes, visit haunted houses or go trick-or-treating? Hopefully we find answers in this blog.

I’ve done some research because I too am not fully aware of what Halloween signifies. Growing up in a Christian home, I’ve always known it to be ‘the devils day’ so I have never been allowed to participate in it. But as I got older, I rebeled and didn't really care about what my parents thought about Halloween therefore I started participating regardless of the significance of this celebration. I wanted to start participating so bad since everyone else at school was dressing up and going to Halloween parties, so I joined them for fear of feeling excluded or uncool. But one thing I know now is that just because everyone is doing something, it does not mean what they are doing is right, just like 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV) states:

"I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but not everything is constructive.

According to the many sources, I have found that the main purpose of Halloween is to “remember the dead”. One source even mentioned that the custom of wearing costumes was “in order to avoid being recognized by any soul that might be seeking vengeance”. According to history, Halloween is an opportunity provided to the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies, for one last time before they move on to the ‘next world’, so people try to not be recognized by those souls, which is where people got the idea of wearing masks or costumes. Essentially, by wearing a costume you are confirming this theory and are encouraging this idea even though it is not biblical... So I guess now our question is whether or not it’s bad to interact or celebrate the dead?

It’s easy to be caught up and influenced to believe that Halloween is a harmless celebration. The kids get to dress up as something cute yet funny and couples get to wear matching costumes and the adults get to be creative and can dress up as movie or TV show characters and such.  “It’s all for fun”. I can agree with that. It was fun finding costumes to wear and seeing everyone enjoying themselves sharing candy and teachers telling us scary stories… but as we all know, not everything that is fun is good, and not everything that is good is fun. I hate to kill your buzz but the bible is clear about this sort of celebration.

In Deuteronomy 18:9-13, The Lord instructs us not to engage in witchcraft, sorcery, or to consult the dead. We’ve just seen what the purpose of Halloween is, are you now able to see how it goes against the word of God? Are you going to be that person who will obey the entire bible but refuses to obey one part of it? In the eyes of God, committing just one sin makes you unrighteous even if you’ve done everything else right. I know you may be participating in this celebration only because others are and you don’t want to be portrayed as something or someone who has no fun, but you need to decide today who you are going to fear… God or men?

Halloween is serious guys, I don’t know if you understand. I don’t believe you need a divine revelation from God to make that deduction. By simply meditating and thinking of all the words associated to Halloween, you can CLEARLY see how it this celebration is related to the devil. Words such as darkness, terror, spook, death, haunted, witches, ghosts, fear, magic, disturbance and fright are just some examples. But now take a second and think about all that God represents. Peace, hope, joy, laughter, light, angels, life and happiness. Why would you want to be involved in something so dark and negative when you can choose the opposite? The Lord set life and death before us and EVEN SUGGESTED us to choose life!

Why would you want to choose death over life? Darkness over light? Terror over peace? Disturbance over joy? At this point I know you might say “kay well it’s not like I celebrate Halloween everyday… it’s only one night”. Hold up.... James 2:10 (NIV) says: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it”. 

Yes I know… we are saved by grace and not by law, however that does not mean you get to break the law intentionally and rely on grace to save you. So CHOOSE, are you going to be a law breaker or a law follower, are you going to be lukewarm or are you going to hot or cold?  

Even though it is frightening to think of it as the devil’s celebration, we should not be afraid of this night, as I was when I was younger. We should however be alert and aware that such practices are taking place in our society today: people will celebrate and embrace the devil for one night. We should pray for those of us who are still blinded by the amusement of Halloween and who still participate in such practices. We must “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. Ephesians 6:11-12 (NIV)


By: Vicky (Vessel Speaker)