Is it Okay For Christians to Celebrate Halloween? Hell No.

The Christian Diarist ^ | October 30, 2016 | JP

[CHRISTIAN DIARIST]

I received an email this week from Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church.

“Halloween,” he said, “is a huge opportunity … to be a light for Christ on a dark night.” Indeed, he explained, “you’ll have the MOST contact with families in your community than any other day of the year.”

So Pastor Rick asked members of the Southern California megachurch to do the following for Halloween:

Buy a package of the biggest candy bars we can find and tape “Trick-or-Treat invitations” to next weekend’s services at Saddleback. And stay home on Halloween night and turn on the lights so kids know they are welcome to drop by.

Now I appreciate that Pastor Rick is trying to reach out to the saved and un-churched in the communities in which his members reside.

But I am reminded of the words of Aldous Huxley, who famously authored “Brave New World” but who also less-famously authored a collection of essays on the religious experience:

“We know,” he wrote, “that the pursuit of good ends does not justify the employment of bad means.”

Indeed, using Halloween, a day on which the devil is exalted, to win the lost to Christ runs contrary to the word of God.

In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul warned that Christ followers must “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

The annual observance of Halloween is an unfruitful work of darkness.

And rather than participate in such unholiness – much like the Hebrews during the time of Moses who prostrated themselves before a golden calf – the redeemed of the Lord should expose Halloween for what it is – an affront to God.

It owes its origin to the Celtic druids, who celebrated their new year (Samhain) on November 1, when the pagans believed the souls of the dead, as well as witches and demons, freely roamed the earth.

In the Eighth Century, Pope Gregory III declared November 1 All Hallows Day, an annual commemoration of saints and martyrs that effectively co-opted Samhain. October 31 came to be known as All Hallows Eve, which is celebrated today as Halloween, with the same unGodly influences as the pagan celebrations of Samhain nearly two millennia ago.

Halloween celebrates occult practices the Bible declares abominations – séances, necromancy, fortune-telling, casting of spells, wearing of charms, real magic, etc. It also is a day of adoration of the demonic – witches, vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts and the like.

Many, if not most of us who consider ourselves Christ followers think Halloween is harmless. That’s because the works of darkness associated with Halloween have been mainstreamed (like other cultural abominations).

Indeed, Walmart is selling a “Smoldering Devil Boys Halloween Costume.” Amazon is selling a “Bride of Satan Child Costume.”

That’s why, as much as I respect Pastor Rick, I will take a pass on his Halloween outreach tomorrow. This Christ follower will not be complicit in furthering the works of darkness.

[Fiji Hill]

In about a month and a half, I’ll be wishing you season’s greetings and happy holidays!

[bike800]

Thank you for the prompt to pray... truly. What I would say is this... the church imposed Christian holidays over pagan holidays a a demonstration of its superiority. Christmas, Easter... etc. I have no problem celebrating Halloween... just not celebrating it as today’s society celebrates it... if hat makes sense

[BunnySlippers]

Halloween is the biggest day of alcohol consumption in the US.

Followed by New Year’s Eve.

It’s a good day to stay home, be home bound, or tending children as they are out. Do not drive.

[cynwoody]

I’m going to work dressed as the pope tomorrow.

It’s reformation day. I’m baptist.

All well and good.

You can look like il Papa. But can you bring yourself to talk like him?

[Xenodamus]

First off, please don’t lump me in with those who are saying Halloween is appropriate for Christians to celebrate. I do not believe that. My point was, that we should use every tool we have at our disposal to win souls for Christ. Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding not to condone drunkenness. Jesus ate with sinners and reached out to those who were in need not where we would like them to be but where they were. WE are called to do the same.

You also say, “The New Testament makes clear that God doesn’t promise Christians fun. Nowhere does He promise that. In fact, He promises persecutions and the loss of all worldly things.”

You are correct that God does not promise us “fun” but he does tell us to be joyful and to be of good cheer. I also find no place in God’s Holy Word were He tells us to be unhappy, have no fun, and walk around with a holier than thou sour expression on our faces. Yes, persecution comes to those who serve the Lord but joy also abounds.

Love your neighbor and don’t expect him or her to act like a Christian before they accept Jesus as their personal savior. God is good, all of the time and serving Him is the greatest thing I have ever committed to.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Here is a quick test.

Find the evil in this picture.

A. Candy Corn is always evil!!!
B. Candy Corn is only evil on Halloween Day.
C. Candy Corn is evil one week before and one week after Halloween.
D. If you listen closely, you can hear the screams of demons as you bite down on candy corn.
E. Candy Corn is never evil in and of itself, regardless of when eaten.
F. All of the above
G. None of the above.

I believe Candy Corn is not good or evil. It is simply candy any day of the year, regardless of how anyone else chooses to celebrate or abstain from celebration.

That said, if "eating meat sacrificed to idols" places a burden on your Christian conscience, do not do it. Whatever choice you make, that is your call. Follow your conscience.

best

[CHRISTIAN DIARIST]

No, just costumes like this one: https://christiandiarist.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/haloween-costume.jpg