Halloween influences the North American workplace. Christians will experience both internal and external conflict in a secular working environment, but there are ways to demonstrate the reasonableness of the Christian faith without compromising one’s beliefs. Justin Holcomb writes that, although this is a tricky subject for Christians, “an informed understanding of the history of Halloween and the biblical freedom Christians have to engage cultural practices [...] leads to the conclusion that we can follow our conscience in choosing how to approach this holiday.”
What should that approach look like in the workplace, where there is pressure to participate and be a team player?
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My team enjoys any opportunity to swap their uniforms for something different. We wear red for Valentine’s Day without worshiping Venus or Aphrodite. Staff wear green for Saint Patrick’s Day, although we do not worship this Catholic saint or believe in leprechauns.
Somehow, our church never cries “blasphemy!” on February 14th or on March 17th. Why is Halloween different? Even though some people really do celebrate the dead and take part in occult practices on that night, those practices carry on daily, and idolatry (worshiping other gods and goddesses or devotion to saints) is as dark as an intense fascination with death. All sin is death. You could actually find yourself defending just such a position at work in the face of opposition from fellow Christians - how should you proceed? With respect. Discuss, or at least try to. You might have to relent and allow a senior staff member to say “no” to costumes.
But not all costumes suggest the occult or even hint at occult beliefs. I will not permit vampires, witches, or horror: no weapons, fake blood, or scary clowns. Staff members make suggestions, I choose two or three, and then we vote for animals, a certain movie, a kids’ cartoon, or lumberjacks (we are Canadian, after all). I see this as a chance to have fun, but I am ready for the backlash, knowing how eager every true believer is to obey Christ. How wonderful it would be to demonstrate gospel-rooted disagreement without anger.
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Rory Shiner believes ghosts are real and that we forget about that part of reality where demons and angels exist. In the Bible’s “three-decker universe,” you have “the heavens, the earth, and under the earth. God’s place, our place, and the place of the dead.” Shiner argues that demons are, in fact, the dead. Whether one believes that departed souls roam the earth or not, there is undoubtedly a sinister spiritual force out there. Paul talked about the spiritual battle in Ephesians 6, against which we wear spiritual armor. Without that spiritual armor, non-believers are often afraid of the dead, or they are comforted by the notion that departed loved ones are visiting them.
There are real, evil forces, as indicated in several Biblical accounts of demonic possession. We must be ready to provide the truth about ghostly encounters, including the truth about what those forces probably are - that is, they are not the souls of loved ones coming back to provide comfort - and the Savior’s power over those forces.
But “death” is a sensitive topic, especially for anyone who has recently lost a loved one or who is afraid of death, so we need to take time with a person and be gentle, even when telling the truth. Halloween will sometimes provide natural opportunities to engage an individual on this topic, so give some thought to what you would believe about ghosts if you were in their shoes, what you believed before you came to know Christ as Savior, and why.
Non-believers will often say that Christians believe in ghosts too - after all, their Savior came back from the dead. But Christ came back fully corporeal. He was not a ghost, although the disciples believed he was (John 20).
“Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’” (vv.26-27)
He is our Living God, who loves to provide real comfort to all who call on him.
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When you are invited to a Halloween Party by your boss or a co-worker, there might be pressure to join in because this is considered “team building.” But is it about growing as a team or getting drunk? Who will be there - just the staff? Will there be drugs, strippers, or an Ouija board? Can you handle it if guests are dressed in sexually provocative or gory costumes? We might imagine Christ attending such a party so he could share the love of God with his fellow party-goers, himself choosing to observe without joining in, praying for these lost people.
Many of these questions are standard replies to any party invitation where you know the host or hostess only a little. Will you be uncomfortable or feel unsafe? Will there be many activities you will refuse to take part in? Be direct when you ask questions; think ahead. Galatians 5:1 teaches,
"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law."
That is, we can choose to attend a party according to our conscience, directed by the Holy Spirit, but if we go along with the workplace gang to be people-pleasers, even when we feel uncomfortable, where is our freedom in Christ? He gives his people the freedom to go against the grain and even be labeled a prude, a party pooper, and “not a team player.”
This is an excellent opportunity to show what it means to stand your ground, to demonstrate integrity of faith, and confidence in God to hold onto you even when you face hostility. If, however, you say that drugs and alcohol and saucy dancing would not please God, yet you go anyway, what does that say about his status in your life versus the opinion of co-workers? You might feel the sting of co-workers’ coldness for a while, but if you continue to act gracefully and kindly, there is a good chance that one or more party-goers will wonder where your courage and conviction come from. You could also be helping another co-worker find the courage to make a stand. This is one way to declare the gospel - by being consistent and unafraid.
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One of my friends, a former drama teacher, argues that a lot of Christian art is predictable and disappointing, whether a book, a piece of art, or a movie. On the other hand, she argues that you will find the gospel in virtually everything you read, watch, or listen to, even if it is only an antidote and profound contrast to what you see, hear, or read. So much of Halloween entertainment is the antithesis of Christ’s resurrection message; it is all about darkness, the occult, defiance of reason, and death: so should you go to a Halloween movie, and can you even enjoy this sort of stuff without sinning?
That depends: are you fascinated with death? Are you caving to peer pressure? Are you titillated or stimulated towards violence, or do such movies cause you to become unreasonably afraid and anxious about shadows, noises, and a dark house?
An observer fascinated with the technical side of movie-making can appreciate the craft without being drawn into its darkness. There is also a chance here, as with talk of ghosts, to engage in deep conversation about fear, death, and desensitization with the friends who attend. Regard Halloween movies and TV shows as vehicles that will drive those conversations about anxiety, life, death, and reasonableness. Proverbs 13:15 says,
“Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.”
God intends for us to be reasonable. When someone is afraid, this is an excellent time to share the peace of Christ, which surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7)
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If you host a party, you will not feel pressured to attend someone else’s event. If you organize a party and someone else sends out his or her invitations too, when co-workers decide to ditch your event in favor of theirs, this is a chance to demonstrate Christian calm, grace, and understanding.
You could host a Murder Mystery night, a games’ night of some other kind, or an Autumn celebration. Widen your scope and consider events held around the world at this time of year - create a Guy Fawkes piñata, organize Oktoberfest and ask everyone to wear Lederhosen, or host a paint-and-sip night in honor of France’s Nuit Blanche.
Be prepared for some guests to be challenging, but limit the obstacles to a peaceful gathering by serving soft drinks—no alcohol. If someone tries to hijack the party with a seance or an Ouija board, get ready to graciously stop that, remembering you have a right to say “no” in your home.
But also remember that a party is fun, representing Christ's whimsical side. Christ’s first miracle was to save a wedding party from running out of wine. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the father threw a banquet for the son who had returned. This is the God who sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17). He is full of joy and knows how to celebrate, so provide a celebratory theme that steers clear of the prosaic Halloween themes of terror and death. Show that the Gospel is far from boring, and neither is our Savior.
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As always, you must decide what you believe God wants from you this Halloween, whether to avoid it or see the day as an opportunity. Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to fight demons in his name, so he expects us to engage with the culture around us. On the other hand, you need to know your limits and temptations. If you are recovering from an addiction to drink, drugs, or sex, maybe avoid a co-worker’s party, even if you want to go and evangelize. Also, be ready to feel unpopular because if everyone knows you are a Christian, there is a good chance that you will not be invited to the party anyway. Halloween could be a day you reject, or it could be a day when you face rejection. But like every day, it is just another chance to reflect Christ's love and the courage that comes from confidence in his love and power, greater than the forces of darkness represented by All Hallow’s Eve. Often, this is how we share the gospel - living peacefully with others when we are expected to become fearful and angry. At times like this, people soon find out if they really believe in what they preach or have been wearing disguises all along.
Is it really possible to use a holiday like Halloween to share the Gospel? Comment and share your thoughts and testimony at Crosswalk Forums! Click HERE.
Sources:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-christians-should-know-about-halloween/
https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/lets-tell-ghost-stories/
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