Before you begin to read this article, I want to start by stating this is not a commonly accepted viewpoint. Just last year, I offered and supported our church's Halloween alternative event, called Light the Night. Nice name, isn't it? We had a hay ride, carnival games, balloons, candy, face painting, popcorn and cupcakes and all sorts of things the kids loved. The kids had fun and nobody came wearing Satanic looking costumes. Just last year, I could see nothing wrong with such an event. The year prior I even enthusiastically endorsed it and even insisted it be larger, better, more... to be an outreach for the community. It's a nice idea, and I am certain that the many churches who offer these types of events in whatever format are thinking the same "good" thoughts. Yet this past year, my eyes were opened to the pagan influences behind many of our Christian holidays and I began researching their origins. I discovered that the early church shunned Easter as pagan and many were persecuted for it; I learned that even the Puritans who came to the New World just a few hundred years ago shunned Christmas and refused to participate in it. My research left me concerned and convinced what my family needed to do in response to those two days, and then I was approached to help with our Halloween alternative event. I don't know if it is because I know the origins of the day already, or if it is because I just don't consider it a big church day, but I hadn't even given it a thought to that point, and yet I intuitively knew my answer. Still, I decided to research it and prayerfully give it a due amount of thought, and as I prayed and pondered I saw the potential for a terrifying future.
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Many churches offer alternatives to Halloween, such as carnivals, bonfires, hayrides, etc., so that parents can have something fun for their children to participate in while neighborhood children go door to door collecting candy.
On any normal Tuesday, it might be ok to knock on a neighbors door and to accept candy if it is offered. Yet on October 31, many churches contend that knocking on neighbors doors and receiving candy is unacceptable. Why is this? Because it is an occult day and this mainstream way of celebrating this occult day has become a popular way to denounce the celebration of this day.
On any normal Tuesday, attending a carnival, bonfire, or hayride is perfectly acceptable as well. On October 31, many churches offer these “alternatives” for their church-goers and community members to detract or distract from the celebration of Halloween. Yet, are they detracting from it, or are they rather adopting Halloween as their own?
If candy, visiting neighbors and dressing up are not the issues, then the issue is the day, Halloween, October 31. Therefore, if trick or treating is an occult practice so would be these many church alternatives. In fact, that the church has adopted worldly celebrations, even occultic celebrations such as Halloween, is cause for more concern than some church-going parents who may allow their children to go trick or treating.
The church is supposed to be separate, different, and to have nothing to do with evil and the occult. By adopting an alternate means of celebrating an occult day are we not in danger of adopting the occult itself. In fact, in 100 years, Halloween (albeit possibly under a new name) may well be considered a Christian celebration. As more churches adopt this day in whatever form and celebrate it, it is not even difficult to imagine the church’s adoption of this occult day as their own.
Churches may wonder then how they should respond to Halloween? Seeing as it is a day when the practice of the occult is at a peak, perhaps prayer would be the right alternative. As it comes to children who would like to be out enjoying the festivities with their classmates and neighbors, perhaps instructing them in the ways of the Lord and explaining why Christians should keep themselves separate and holy unto the Lord would be an appropriate alternative.
I know! I realize I am a party-pooper, I am a downer, and even my own kids will be displeased with my decision on this; however, my aim is to please the Lord and to raise them in the instruction of our God. Sure, they can dress up any time of the year, and my girls I am sure will! They can have candy various times throughout the year as well. They can even go visit neighbors. But no matter the form, whether in our neighborhood or at our church, we will not participate in the occult.
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