Celebrating Halloween as a Christian
Celebrating Halloween as a Christian is definitely a process every year. You see all the fun and exciting seasonal stuff leading up to the holiday, and of course, all the “are you even a Christian if you celebrate this” posts. They’re inevitable.
They do bother me a little, though.
I don’t like this notion that’s created surrounding certain things, especially Halloween, being a determining factor in your faith in God.
Some Christians are quick to point at the origins of Halloween when presenting their case, which are valid and can’t be ignored. However, there is something key that I want to point out to them- something we are called to do, in scripture.
Redeem things.
If we as Christians believe that Jesus came to redeem all things; to make all things new, we must answer with a complete YES! Jesus says in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Certainly, all things include Halloween. How, though? Especially when people are so quick to judge and push their personal convictions on you? Being quick to reject Halloween altogether causes you to miss out. Jesus is the one who said we should be IN the world, but not OF it. Right? Right. So what does that mean? Does it mean that evil is out there but as long as we close our doors and turn away it won’t come near us? If we can look at Halloween not as an “us v. them” and more as an opportunity to engage and connect with the community around us, maybe we can approach the holiday with less fear and more grace concerning fellowship and fun.
Things evolve over time, we know this. Meanings and intentions can change as well. When I dress up for Halloween every year, it’s not with the intention of glorifying the devil, it’s a form of art and creatively expressing myself. When I pass out candy to trick or treaters, it’s not with the intention of “warding off evil demons”, it’s to see the cute little kids and awesome neighbors happy and engaging in our local community. It’s a form of fellowship.
Whether you feel convicted by Halloween or not is up to you. What you don’t have a right to is forcing your conviction on others.
Christians who celebrate Halloween do it as a pure form of community and expression, and there isn’t anything wrong with that.
And let’s say I’m potentially wrong, along with many others. If wearing cat ears or some plastic fangs is a hidden sin, I will take that up with God someday, but I don’t need to answer to you, now.
xx,
Tay
Love God, love people.