Clear right?
I posted this quick thought on Facebook yesterday. As I suppose is often the case with all of us at times, I thought it was very clear what I was saying and what I was not. The comments that I’ve received since suggest that it was not easy to discern what I meant and what I did not mean.
I want to be clearer here and give a few more thoughts. I was contending that to simply ask whether a Christian can participate in Halloween and then to expect or offer up a simple yes or no is not really to think with discernment. To just answer no and then sneer at the toddler dressed as spiderman who is just tickled that each house greets him with a bowl of candy and wide smiles is not good. To just say no, and then send our daughters out in outfits that we would never judge appropriate on any other day and watch as our sons give evidence that they think violence and terror are joyful things is not wise.
Glorify Evil?
We must consider things more fully. Are there ways of participation in the events of Halloween that would glorify evil or make light of it? Obviously if there are, those in Christ should not engage in them. We can mock the devil indeed since the victory of Christ is ours, but we cannot make light of evil or glorify it as if it is our joy. To mock evil would be to creatively show the defeat of evil. Drag a demon behind you on a leash perhaps. But don’t dress up as a goblin and give the impression that bringing terror to others is good, making it look like the costumes of evil rule the night.
Halloween has been and continues to be an outright mockery of holy things by some. It is a day when they indulge sincerely with the things of evil, the occult and witchcraft and things. I have no trouble with Christians who decide not to celebrate Halloween at all because of these connections. I would have trouble with any Christians telling every other Christian else they must do the same.
Glorify God?
Are there ways we can participate in Halloween that would give us an opportunity to speak of good and holy things? Surely there are churches that have tried to use this as a chance to welcome those who know nothing of the Gospel to mix with the ones who are filled with the Hope that comes from knowing the Gospel and its object Jesus. This is fine and may be very good. Others try to include Scriptures with the treats they hand out. Good for them.
Just because?
And we may participate in ways that seek neither to glorify evil or necessarily intentionally speak of our great God and Savior. For some, even those without faith, Halloween is nothing more than a community celebration where the kids of the community dress us in fun costumes and eat a little too much candy. To celebrate children is something we certainly need more of in society. I feel most Christians who participate are just thinking of it in this way, as a fun day for children, and that is not bad either.
History of Halloween
One more thought: this celebration is really tied to All Saints Day and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. If you are not aware, the word Halloween speaks of the evening (or day) before the celebration of All Hallows Day which we call All Saints Day. These holy days rightly celebrated call for a celebration of the ones made Holy by God who went before us. We remember them and their lives with joy. We rejoice how by faith they were in Christ more than conquerors of evil things and the evil one. We seek to imitate their good works and their lives of repentance and faith.
And so, it might be good to consider what witness we give to our children and others if we plan for Halloween weeks ahead but never would take time to gather the family around in our living rooms to think about people of faith that went before us even in our own families.
Discernment not quick answers
Mostly, my post was just to say that there are many things in life in which we do not have a direct prohibition or endorsement of in the Scriptures. And in regards, we must be discerning. We must think about them in light of Scriptures and all it teaches us. We do not want to bind consciences with a hasty no and we do not want to soil consciences with a quick yes. We would do well to discuss them with brothers and sisters in Christ and with our pastors. For just because we do not have a yes or no answer does not mean that how we participate or don’t is unimportant.
Not Just Halloween
We need not only do this with Halloween but with some many things. Just to give just one more example, rather than thinking the only question as to the use of alcohol among Christians is whether it is allowable or prohibited for the Christ is not correct. We must speak for and foremost about what its use means for our lives in Christ. We must speak about right and wrong uses of it.
It is easy just to say no. It might be even easier to just say yes. Let’s say more, for Christ has given us more to say. We have been made wise in Him and through His Word.
Want more help thinking through the Christian Life? Check out The Christian Life at Home (livingplanted.com).
