Halloween over the past decades has exploded in America's love of holidays. Not a few people I've talked to have told me that Halloween is their favorite holiday. Homes I've seen have more decorations for Halloween than any other, including Christmas. In 2023 Americans spent over $12 billion on Halloween. How should Christians view this ... holiday? (I question the term "holiday" because of its original intent as a day held holy.) The Bible is clear on Halloween. It mentions it ... not once. Still Christians all over are quite adamant about what's right for Christians on Halloween. They may/may not celebrate it. It is/isn't a celebration of Satan. Recognizing Halloween is/isn't a sin.
Isn't Halloween a pagan holiday (where "holiday" is actually "holy day")? Just about everyone you ask will tell you it is, rooted in a Celtic festival called (but not pronounced) "Samhain." (It's pronounced "sow-in.") That story was from Sir John Rhys (1840-1915), a Welsh scholar who made the claim but didn't provide much proof. It stuck. Modern scholars aren't convinced. Samhain was a Celtic celebration of the change of the season celebrating the Otherworld. Halloween was invented by the church around AD 835 to honor those who had died, especially martyrs. November 1st was "All Saints Day," so October 31st was "All Hallows Eve," shortened today to "Halloween." Who plagiarized whom is still up in the air, but the two celebrations at least similar in time of year merged practices and now we have events that no one even remembers what they originally commemorated.
How, then, should Christians respond? Obviously, celebrating the evil is out. On the other hand, Scripture celebrates martyrs. Glorifying Satan and his minions is clearly an improper response for Christians, but is it wrong to get together, have some exchange of candy, etc., even recognize those who have died for the faith? Here's what I believe. It's not, explicitly, in Scripture. Recognizing the wrong of celebrating evil, I'm not sure Halloween necessarily is only that. I know of many, for instance, who pass out tracts with their gifts of candy. What I do know is "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). On the other hand, that which is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23). It's not wise to take these matters lightly. It's not wise to overburden them. The Christians that tell me, "Halloween is Satan's night" (and they have told me that) are mistaken (Psa 118:24). The Christians that tell me, "There's no danger in a little 'devilish' fun" are equally mistaken. We always need to check our motives and not violate what we believe to be true. And, always, we must ask ourselves, "Does it glorify God?"
3 comments:
Perhaps this is an example of adiaphora? (Interestingly, even though “Christian liberty” is a strong factor in my life, I had never heard that particular word before until yesterday, when I saw it used in articles at not one but two unrelated blogs on the very same day. God clearly wants me to know that word! I saw that you used it only once in a post, for 9/12/17--otherwise, I would have known it already.)
It's sad that this debate has to be renewed every year. But that's why I believe in semper reforendum. I've become leery of Christians trying to "recapture" the day with "harvest festivals" as if people can't see what they're doing. It isn't such a thing as the world thinks, where the "barrier" between natural and supernatural worlds is weakened. I see the argument about Halloween as the same as meat sacrificed to idols. If Halloween bothers you or someone you know, it isn't a holy day, so don't join in the festivities. If it doesn't bother you or someone you know, enjoy it in a godly manner. Or join us Reformed and celebrate Reformation Day instead. Happy Reformation Day.
For me, determining my participation in “holiday” activities plays out the same way as for any cultural involvement I might encounter--whether entertainment, school, sports, politics, etc. To my mind, Halloween is rather like much else--a mix of good intentions, evil philosophies, and harmless fun (as you pointed out). I don’t find it too difficult to contemplate the various options of observing (or “celebrating”) any of the popular holidays and to then retain some aspects and reject others (even all of them). Personally, now that my children are grown, I have moved to more seasonal observances only and consider all “holiday” participation as an issue of Christian liberty (as per Rom. 14:5-6).
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