Halloween can be one of the more challenging holidays for Christians, especially when you have kids. After all, they see kids walking through their neighborhoods wearing fun costumes (in some cases) and getting candy from their neighbors. What kid would not want to be part of that? However, because of what Halloween symbolizes, it creates a dilemma for many Christians. Some choose to take part by either wearing a costume or even trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods with their children. If they don’t trick-or-treat, they may buy candy and give it to the people who are coming through their neighborhoods. Others choose to check out of this altogether and want nothing to do with this day. So, is there a right way to handle Halloween for Christians? There may be a variety of answers to this question, so I want to share with you six ways to show love and not legalism on Halloween.
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1. Don’t judge those who choose to participate.
There is no direct scripture that says whether you should take part in Halloween. The Bible speaks about witchcraft and divination and if your Halloween involves those kinds of activities, then clearly that is sinful. In reality, that is not the case for most people. So here is the first way you can show love and not legalism on Halloween. Recognize that Christians who choose to take part in Halloween are not sinning.
We live in a townhouse community and since we now live in the suburbs (I am a former NYC kid), there are not too many places where kids can go trick or treating. I even discovered in the suburbs if you leave your light on, that means you have candy and when the light is off, that means you don’t. Because it becomes a community event, we choose to sit outside and be part of the event. People have costumes on and most of the kids only care about getting their favorite candy. I have discovered this is a good time to meet more people in the community. For most people, this is the extent of their participation and if a Christian chooses to be part of it, don’t judge them.
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2. Don’t judge those who choose not to participate.
Some of you might read what I just wrote above and say, sorry, but that is not for me. I cannot be part of that. In that case, your response is also fine. We should not pass judgment on you for your decision either. If you have a conviction about not taking part in Halloween, then you should follow your conviction. Whether you choose to be a part of it or not, here is the loving principle that should flow from your heart.
"For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them." - Romans 14:2-3
3. Use it as a time to shine the light.
For many, they view Halloween as the darkest night of the year. I would ask, is there a better place for light to shine than in the deepest darkness? Maybe rather than shrinking back on this day, it might be the time to lead the way. The world is not just dark on Halloween; it is dark every day. Since Satan is the prince of this world, he is the chief influencer of things that happen in our world. Some of them are more blatant, like Halloween, while others are a lot more subtle. Regardless, in both situations, we can shine light and make a difference. Shining the light of Christ in the face of darkness could be the best way to show love and not legalism on Halloween.
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4. Look at Halloween as opportunity not opposition.
In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul says he became all things to all people so that by all possible means he might save some. What he was saying is he simply found a common ground to connect with another person so it could open the door to sharing the gospel. What if we looked at Halloween not as an opposition but as an opportunity? Think of all the ways to show love and not legalism on Halloween when you see it as an opportunity to meet people where they are and share the hope of the gospel.
This can represent a tremendous moment. Chances are, you will meet kids and their parents. Most of the people are in a relatively friendly or festive mood, so it is usually easy to engage people. This could be the perfect time for the church to plan an event for kids, teens, and parents. You could then use the day of Halloween as the vehicle to get the word out about your event. This may take some planning and creativity, but it could be a way to engage people with the love of Jesus.
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5. Use it to connect with others in your community.
How well do you know your neighbors? In the fast-paced world we live in, how often do you even get a moment to engage them? When we first left NYC, our schedule was so hectic it took us three years before we knew anyone where we lived. That is not something to be proud of.
As I mentioned before, every Halloween our community gets overrun with kids trick or treating. Not just the kids in our development, but kids from other areas nearby will come as well. This is the perfect chance to meet people in your community. Maybe you get to know the name of your neighbor instead of just waving as they drive by. It could be the time you do like Paul and look for common ground. For me I am a big sports fan, so If I see someone wearing memorabilia from their favorite team that could be the perfect conversation starter. These could be the moments to begin developing relationships. In these first engagements you might not even get to the place of sharing the gospel, but now you know their name and they know yours. Beginning that relationship can create an open door down the line to share Jesus with them.
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6. Follow up with an act of kindness.
Now that you have met new people in your community, don’t go back to old habits. You can build on the relationship and possibly follow up with an act of kindness. Find a time when you could get to know each other a little better. This could be over a cup of coffee or maybe an invitation to watch the game. A good friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, told me this: You win people to yourself first before you win them to Christ. Instead of looking at Halloween as a day of darkness, look at it as a day of beginning the process of winning people to you so you can win them to Christ. This is exactly what Paul did.
I don’t know what Halloween is going to look like for you in your community this year. Imagine how it would be different if you focused on ways to show love and not legalism. Halloween may still be a dark day, but darkness goes away once light shows up. You are that light and it's time to shine, not just on Halloween, but every day.
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Originally published Wednesday, 18 October 2023.