Image via WikipediaFollowing is a brief case for abstinence from participation in Halloween adapted from two articles (1, 2) by John Ankerberg. Christians who choose to participate in Halloween need to decide whether their participation brings honor to the Lord. We hope believers will take a closer look at their involvement.
In participating in Halloween, do we help, even indirectly, to publicize what may be the single most important day in the world of the occult? Can we truly align ourselves innocently with something traditionally and currently involved with the occult and be certain it will not affect us or reflect negatively on our relationship with Christ?
I have previously written here about Halloween, explaining why we do not celebrate Halloween, showing how practicing pagans/witches view Halloween and Christians, addressing the question of redeeming Halloween for Christ, quoting Focus on the Family's H.B. London, and suggesting how to tell your children why your family will not celebrate that day. I have even set aside a webpage describing Halloween.
Based on what we know of Halloween, abstinence is the better of two choices: “‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (1 Corinthians 10:23, 24).
Most people think that imitating the customs of Halloween is innocent enough since we are not engaging in the original practices or intent. Nevertheless, as we will see, the Scripture repeatedly tells us not to imitate the evil practices of the pagan nations. For example, when it says in 3 John 11, “Do not imitate that which is evil,” it means do not copy it, imitate it or act it out. How can we as believers in Jesus Christ participate in Halloween innocently because of the very nature of Halloween day and its implications? How can we logically think we aren’t at least in some sense part of what it represents?
Check out these Scriptures. You can hover over the reference and see the text. Ephesians 5:1-3, 8-11; Deuteronomy 18:9; Jeremiah 10:1-3; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 3 John 11.
How does God view Christian parents and their children, who participate in any event that, on that very day, is so honored by occultists and the devil—the day on which so much evil has been committed historically, and is actually being committed on that very night?
The larger question this raises—that of Christians innocently participating in Halloween— is whether it involves a deliberate mockery of God on the part of the devil; i.e., to have God’s own children participate symbolically in celebrations that are tributes to Satan, pagan gods, and all kinds of evil? Is it possible that Satan deliberately mocks God by having children, especially Christian children, actively participate in the symbolic activities on the very day which he, Satan (Samhain, Lord Death), is most honored?
Albert James Dager presents the following argument against any participation in Halloween:
"To engage in revelry associated with such an anti-Christ festivity as Halloween is a slap in our Lord’s face…. As pastors and teachers have the responsibility of educating parents, the responsibility of educating children in the commandments of God weighs heavily upon the shoulders of parents. But no more so in this age or society than in ages past. The difference is that today children rule many homes, Christian and non-Christian alike. For that reason, compromise is the easy way out for parents who, thinking they are showing love by acquiescence, are really destroying their children’s spiritual life. No matter what the evil, parents are forever searching for alternatives in order that their children not feel deprived of the world’s fun.
"When it comes to Halloween, Christians decide to substitute their own parties for the worlds. Instead of calling their festivities “Halloween parties,” they call them “Harvest Festivals” and dress them in biblical costumes. But that’s what Halloween is: a harvest festival. And many children wear biblical costumes for Halloween anyway, so what’s the difference except in the compromise of their minds? You can be sure that to most children it’s still Halloween that they’re celebrating….
It isn’t going to traumatize children if they aren’t allowed to join in some things just because “everyone else is doing it.” It’s the responsibility of Christian parents to teach their children the truth from the beginning; not to wait until they’ve been sufficiently infected by the world that they must be deprogrammed at a later date. Children who are taught to love Jesus will understand that, because of that love, they shouldn’t have anything to do with the celebration that glorifies the power of God’s enemies." (Albert James Dager, “Halloween: Should Christians Be Apart?”, Media Spotlight, 1986, P. O. Box 1288, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-1288.)
Here are some things to consider concerning whether or not your children should participate in Halloween:
1- It is the most sacred day of witchcraft and other occultism.
2- It was and is believed to be the only day of the year in which the devil’s help could especially be invoked for a variety of things; it remains a special day to Satanists.
3- Human sacrifice was and is offered (perhaps most commonly) on this day.
4- It has and will continue to encourage occult activity on the part of both children and adults.
5- It is a special day to call on spirits via the Ouija board and other forms of spiritism.
6- It is a day noted historically for divination.
7- It helps support pagan philosophies and practices such as reincarnation, animism, Shamanism, and Druidism.
8- It is of help to the practices and beliefs of mediums and psychical researchers by encouraging people’s interest in things like ghosts and poltergeists.
9- Occultists use this day especially for proselytization concerning their professions and activities.
10- It can unequally yoke Christians and pagans.
11- Probably no Halloween activity or symbol can be found that does not go back to pagan occultism.
12- Christian participation in Halloween may, in fact, be a ploy of the devil to mock God.
13- “Whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).
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