Q: Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
A: Yes, but not like an unbeliever with dark and demonic symbols. Christians can truly celebrate believers who have died, for we know that “death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54). And, though our bodies die, our spirits dwell with Christ (Phil. 1:23) until he returns to earth to make all things new (2 Pet. 3:13) and to clothe us with glorious bodies (Phil. 3:20-21). What a message of hope! So, though we mourn the loss of our loved ones, we do not “grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13).
In light of the history of Halloween, here are some ideas for celebrating:
- Remembering Heroes of the Faith:
- Read stories about Christians who have demonstrated exceptional faith and courage. These stories inspire us to “live up to what we have already attained” in Christ (Phil. 3:16).
- Encourage children to dress up like a hero of the faith. Costume choices can represent virtually every time period, every geographic area, and a wide variety of professions ( even princesses and warriors).
- Remembering Our Loved Ones:
- The Reformation emphasized that all believers are saints and citizens of heaven (see Phil. 3:20); the destination of our loved ones who died in Christ is the same as that of the “heroes of the faith.” Remembering our loved ones connects our hearts to heaven in a more intimate way.
- Explore the Scriptures to learn what they teach about the afterlife. Reflect on what your loved ones might be experiencing in heaven, and acknowledge your longing to be reunited under the perfect lordship of Jesus.
Remembering the Lost:
- There is a desperate need for light in our dark world, and the Bible says we are to “shine like stars in the universe as [we] hold out the word of life” to those who are perishing (Phil. 2:15b-16a). See “The Light of the World” section in the Christian Origins of Halloween pamphlet for creative ways to “shine” in your neighborhood.
- Many aspects of Halloween are natural starting points for spiritual conversations: “Why do you think Halloween is such a ‘dark’ holiday?” “Do you believe in ghosts?” “Are you afraid of death?” Pray for opportunities to ask questions like these–that they may open a door to share the gospel!
Christian Origins of Halloween Pamphlet
Turn Halloween into something positive in your family and neighborhood. Many Christians are under the mistaken belief that Halloween, or more specifically All Saint’s Day, was established for the purpose of Christianizing a pagan holiday called Samhain. But Halloween actually started as a Christian festival, not the other way around. The Christian Origins of Halloween will help you
- Know the origins of Halloween.
- Understand what Christians wanted to celebrate.
- Find out how Halloween got confused with a “day of the dead.”
- How to handle the symbols of Halloween and use them to teach positive things.
- Find new ideas for celebrating October 31 that honor the Lord.
- Answer questions including, “Are ghosts real?” and “What is the origin of Trick-or-Treating?”
Full-color laminated, 8.5″ x 5.5″, fits inside most Bibles, 14 panels, unfolds to 38″.
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