Bob Felts Online

Common Sense about Halloween Major on the majors, minor on the minors. This was a struggle for Christians in the first century and it is still a struggle for Christians today. First century believers had different convictions about matters such as whether to eat meat sacrificed to idols or what day one should worship. Paul tells us to major on the majors, and not to “pass judgment on disputable matters” (Romans 14:1). Through the years the celebration of Halloween has been one of those issues where Christians have been sharply divided. Some claim that Halloween is a glorification of evil and Christians should have nothing to do with it. Years ago Pat Robertson said, “I think we ought to close Halloween down. Do you want your children to dress up as witches? The Druids used to dress up like this when they were doing human sacrifice…[The children] are acting out Satanic rituals and participating in it, and don’t even realize it.” Many like to stress that Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, who was the lord of the dead. Later the Romans added their rituals to the celebration. Then in 835, Pope Gregory IV declared that the celebration and remembrance for all the martyrs, or saints who died for the faith, would be on November 1. This was “All Saints Day” and October 31 became “All Hallow’s Eve,” which actually means “holy evening.” Halloween can be a glorification of evil or a sacred remembering of those who have gone on before us. I contend, however, that most of the children who dress up and trick or treat are celebrating neither. For most families the modern secular holiday is just a day to dress up and have fun. I do not believe that a child who dresses up like a ghost, super hero, or princess is worshipping Satan anymore than someone who puts up a Christmas tree is somehow secretly worshipping Christ. I know for our family we had a great time letting our kids dress up each Halloween and just have fun. And our boys all turned out just fine. I do think we need to be wise and discerning with our children because imagination and play are powerful forces in a child’s life. This is just my conviction but I would not allow my child to dress up like the devil for Scripture teaches he is a real person who is the embodiment of evil. I would not allow my child to dress up or pretend to be someone whose lifestyle is evil such as a Freddy Kruger mass murderer, a drug dealer, or pimp. I certainly would not allow a daughter of mine to dress up like a sex crazed Britney Spears rock star. With a little discernment we can keep Halloween a fun and wholesome time for our children where the biggest danger is eating too much candy the next day. The book of Proverbs warns us, “people may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.” A bigger problem today with Halloween may be with the adults, not children. The sale of adult costumes has soared in recent years. Many young women have allowed Halloween to be an excuse to dress up like a slut and go party. The Apostle Paul warns us “there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity,” in our lives (Ephesians 5:3). Let everything you do bring glory to God, including all your partying. Go have some fun with your kids this weekend.