Pastoral Care / Going Deeper / A Halloween Perspective
A
Halloween Perspective
By Pastor Rick Long
I am often asked the question, “What is your
view as a Pastor regarding Halloween?”
This is a wonderful question and deserves a Biblical
answer. It is no secret to any Christian that much
of Halloween’s roots date back to the British
Isles with the Druids, and ancient pagan priesthood.
The origins may even be rooted in “Samhain,”
a worship of Saman - God of the Dead. This occurred
October 31st according to some historians. It is also
a fact that a few hundred years ago the church created
another holiday called “All Saints Day”
which began on October 31st every year. It was a special
day for those who love Jesus to remember the Christians
(Saints) that have died and gone to Heaven –
Hallowed Saints Day.
So where do we draw the line today? Let’s go
to 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Paul faced a cultural dilemma.
There was meat being offered to idols and Paul makes
a powerful statement regarding these idols.
I Corinthians 8:4
So, then about eating food sacrificed
to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all
in the world and that there is no God but one.
In the same manner many Christians view Halloween
as the “meat” in chapter 8, but I venture
to say that most Americans do not participate in or
even view Halloween as a satanic day, or a religious
day for that matter. They simply see it as a day that
we as Americans have set aside to enjoy our children
and meet our neighbors. It is true that Halloween
has a certain level of thrill to it because of the
frightening movies and pop culture events that surround
it. But Christians must make the decision whether
or not to participate in these events dealing with
each one of them on an individual basis. Paul goes
on to say in verse 7 that some people are so wrapped
up in the meat being offered to the idols that they
can’t get beyond it.
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I Corinthians 8:7
But not everyone knows this. Some people
are still so accustomed to idols that when they
eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed
to an idol, and since their conscience is weak,
it is defiled.
He says these people have a weak conscience. They
think because they have eaten meat sacrificed to idols
they are sinning against Christ. Paul knew this was
a weak and immature view. He said food, just like
Halloween, does not bring us nearer to God or further
away from God.
I Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us near to
God: we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better
if we do.
These Christians who struggle in this area need to
grow in the knowledge of the Word and see that all
things can be used to glorify God. The meat offered
to an inanimate object cannot harm you. Eat it and
grow in physical strength and serve the Lord! Paul
was making this bold proclamation. Then he switches
gears and puts the responsibility on the shoulders
of the mature believer. He says you have freedom to
participate in these things, but don’t do it
in a manner that causes your “weak” brother
to stumble. Paul finishes this passage by saying;
if his eating meat causes a brother to fall into sin
he would never eat meat again. I believe this was
a statement of what Paul would do if his liberty could
cause a brother to fall into sin; but, the reality
is, we do not cause anyone to sin, they choose to
sin. And when we do, there is only one place the blame
lies – the sinner’s shoulders.
We often, as Christians, use this verse to rebuke
our brothers and sisters when they are doing something
we disapprove of, but this is an incorrect use of
scripture. Paul makes a strong case that we do have
to be careful because immature believers could be
misled by our actions; but, the point of this passage
was never intended to be used as a club of righteousness
to beat over the head of one who participates in something
we disagree with. The fact of the matter is; we all
participate in events other than Halloween, which
are pagan in origin. (There are many more than I will
list.)
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We decorate Christmas trees (although pre-Christian
Europeans had thought evergreens embodied powerful
beings), send cards on Valentine’s Day (though
the holiday’s origin dates back to the often
licentious Roman feast of Lupercalis), lighting candles
on birthday cakes (though this practice was derived
from offering cakes and candles to Artemis, the ancient
Greek goddess of the Hunt and Moon). The practice
of passing our cigars at the birth of a baby seems
to have come from ancient Mayan Dads who blew tobacco
smoke toward the sun as a fragrant offering of thanks.
Even the significance of June brides comes from the
worship of Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, who
presided over the calendar’s sixth month. Hiding
teeth for the Tooth Fairy stems from primitive peoples’
practice of concealing hair, lost teeth and nail clippings
before an enemy or voodoo artist could grind them
into powder.
As you can see; we can get really carried away with
the origins of anything. We as Christians can become
consumed with so much that happens around us; that
we only find good when locked in our closet with our
Bible.
Much of what Christ did in His life was offensive
to the religious and would be condemned by some Christians
today. He hung out with sinners, had fellowship with
the lowly and stood against the religious leaders
of His day. Christ used the examples of the sinner
to bring glory to His name. Like the story of the
Prodigal Son. He was a radical, taking common everyday
events and turning them into vehicles for teaching
truth. Christians, we need to quit worrying about
the origins of every event in our culture. Stop looking
for the Devil in every doorstep and be about the work
of the Lord.
As a young boy Halloween was one of my favorite times
of the year. Yes, I’m a Christian! And, yes,
my parents are and were Christians during this time.
In our home Halloween was never an evil time; but,
a wonderful time of fellowship, candy and fun. As
I got older; we used Halloween to reach our neighborhood
friends with the Gospel of Christ. My parents, my
brother and I lived in a neighborhood with 8 kids
our age. When we moved in, they were all unbelievers;
but, because we used things they were familiar with
(like Halloween, youth events, parties) to introduce
the name of Christ, each of these friends became believers.
Two of them graduated from our Christian school and
are walking with the Lord today, serving in ministry
with my brother and myself.
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If we had taken a legalistic hard-line stand on issues
such as Halloween, I very much believe our ministry
would have been stifled in their lives. This year
let’s extend grace to those Christians we know
who participate in Halloween – give them the
benefit of doubt, that they are using this day to
be with their families, sharing the Gospel with the
lost or even meeting their neighbors. And to those
who believe they should not participate in Halloween,
let’s honor their convictions. Let’s all
work together for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel
of Christ and glorifying God.
Christians, if we spend all our time judging each
other’s actions, we will be missing the opportunity
to work together in reaching those around us.
Halloween is a tough event to label, so why try? I
say it is a day in which you and I have a choice to
participate in and enjoy like any other. No day is
made Holy or Unholy by the actions of its past. It
is a new day with a new purpose; and we as Christians
should treat it as any other day, with a word of thanksgiving
and praise and a life of worship before our God.
In Christ,
Pastor Rick
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