Halloween - Trick Or Treat?
Catherine Wheels, bangers, pumpkins, witches, toffee covered apples…yes, that time of year has come, and pretty much gone by now. Man, we used to love this time of year. It wasn’t too cold, but, it got dark early enough for us to get up to a lot of mischief, and the available fireworks always added a bit of spice to the activites.
However, I wasn’t a Christian then, and now that I am, I’m not exactly the age to be running around the streets, hiding in hedges and shadows (much as I’d love too 
). Having said that, what is the proper view of Halloween, in light of the Bible? Does it have anything to say on the matter?
This post will be the beginning of a possible ‘Faith on Friday’ kind of thing. I’m not setting anything in stone, however, you may come to expect something Christian related on Fridays. It’ll help to make sure I’m not isolating certain visitors, and my own thoughts and writing.
Why this subject?
Anyway, tomorrow night I have to deal with this issue in our youth group. Of course, I could jump in there with all sorts of preconceived ideas, but, I don’t want to. As always, I want to address it with a balanced, scriptural, historical, relevant view.
Now, what I could do is, begin to spout what I’ve discovered, and write about the topic. But, there’s two problems with that:
- Some of the youth read this blog, so it would ruin tomorrow night for them.
- There are endless articles on the web addressing this issue already.
Is it a trick or a treat?
So, what I want out of this is fairly simple. I want to begin an honest, open dialogue with my readers; Christian, or otherwise. For example;
- You could tell me what you used to think, but, how your thoughts have altered.
- You could say how you’re in favour of dressing up as witches etc, but, you understand why a Christian wouldn’t.
- You may also figure that it’s all a bunch of commercialized hype, and we’d be better forgetting about the whole thing.
It’s in your court. Is it a trick of the devil, or a treat of life? I’d love to hear from you on this. It may even help to shape my thoughts, and what I’ll discuss with the youth tomorrow evening.
This is not exactly a comment on Halloween but just to say looking forward to tomorrow night.
As you know Armen I’m not exactly a youth, being all of 36, but as the saying goes you’re only as old as you feel.
I have really enjoyed the 2 previous youth meetings it has been a great time of fellowship and the Lord has blessed us.
I never really liked the idea of the whole halloween thing…even before the Lord brought me to himself, and saved me.
It all seems so openly wicked and sinful.
I also realize that “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh upon the heart”
As Christians however, we are to “abstain from all appearance of evil”
Timely post!
Andrew - I’d be very sad if you felt you couldn’t come, very sad. It’s great to have Micheal, Pete, yourself (and others), with the younger ones.
Keep praying that the Lord will working in all of our hearts.
Glenn - I suppose it’s the same as the hypothesis of Evolution for you Glenn. You never really believed it either, did you?
What about children dressing up as cowboys, or something which may be deemed innocent? Do you think it’s the same as witches and ghosts, because of the time of year, and the motive for dressing up?
Along the lines of openly evil, a catholic school in my region is hosting a harry potter witches and wizards party for it’s primary school aged students… wow
Josh - Strange. Especially in Australia, where Halloween isn’t a big deal.
Armen, I never could see how the theory of evolution could possibly be true, because if it were true, there could be no possible system of classification of the species. There would be an innumerable number of variations, of every possible form of life…but the fact is…everything is distinctly classifiable…as the Bible says, everything after its kind.
I think halloween, and dressing up as Cowboys and Indians, is totally different. One has distinctly evil undertones ( whether the participants would admit it or not ), and the other is just play-acting.
I’ll leave you to work out which is which!
I think the concept of the witches and wizards party comes from the interest most students have in Harry Potter. The attraction to the witches and wizards seems to be similar to video games or some movies. It’s the escape from our current reality and shows a possibility for something extra ordinary.
The problem here is that unfortunately not all is fiction when it comes to Harry Potter and it is a very big stepping stone to playing on the offensive line for the wrong team or at least in raising interest in the subject.
One staff member of the school here (catholic) mentioned that you would not see that (wizards and witches party) at the Christian school (ecumenical parent controlled). I guess the difference here is people living their faith and not being afraid to give direction to the kids in their charge.
How would you approach the issue of Harry Potter and other evils children in our community are likely to come into contact with?
Josh
Keep in mind that witchcraft is a capital offence in Biblical law; it is something God hates.
Glenn - I’m not sure which is which…. (joke).
There comes the argument of association though. If a child is dressing up as anything on Halloween, it may be construed as being “partaker of their evil deeds.” No?
Josh - Harry Potter has helped give rise to Occult/Wicca interests in young people; there’s no doubt about that. Protecting children from it’s (potential) evil influence, takes great care, love, and tenderness.
We must be mindful, there seems to be an something in our nature, especially when we’re young, to experiment. Therefore, there is always going to be a certain curiosity in children. Overcoming it isn’t easy, and really, it’ll only be by God’s grace, that a child will refrain from engaging in that which is forbidden by God. However, it may be helped by making sure our children are well grounded in knowing what God likes, and dislikes, in the first place.
Daniel - Yeah. One of the portions I referred to was Deut 18. It’s very clearly expressing what God thinks about it.
Hey Armen,
I have some thoughts to digest, I would like to invite you to respond however you feel as tempering of ideas and sorting out the morals we live learn and teach by sometimes needs to be less peaceful than we hope for.
Overcoming, refrain from engaging, knowing what God likes and dislikes… these alone as THE response strike me as a ‘pretend it’s not there’ technique, and from my experience tends to work quite well until you are put anywhere near the world outside of our church and family. Eg, evangelism.
I would say that there needs to be an awareness of the darkness under the understanding of what it is and where it leads. There needs to be a firm understanding of the right focus to have (1John1:5-1John2). Focusing on the right will lead us there but ignoring the wrong leaves us vulnerable and unequipped.
This would leave us in a place where we would be ready for the enemy’s darts when we start treading on his turf and we would be more likely to be understanding of persons who are in that place, more likely to listen and to build that relationship of trust which would allow us to properly extend the gift of grace.
What do you think?
Josh
Armen, you said…
I agree entirely! I was really making the comparison with dressing up at any other time of the year.
Personally, I try not to even refer to this time of the year by that name, preferring to call it the half-term break, or something similar.
Glenn
Josh - It took me a few reads, but I eventually understood what you’re addressing.
I see your point, and I agree. In fact, I started the youth meeting on a Saturday night (fortnightly), in order to address issues head on. Issues which are rarely discussed in the pulpit, or at home.
It’s also why I made it, so that the questions are asked anonymously. The youth can then ask what they really are wondering about.
On Saturday week, I’m dealing with an interesting question, which many wonder about, but few address appropriately. I’m looking forward to it.
Glenn - The 31st of October is Reformation Day, not All Hallows Eve. That’s how I see it.
Awesome stuff. Discussion and ‘digestion’ of these issues is so important when it comes to spiritual growth.
Don’t hold out on us here, what is the question that you are looking at for Saturday night? I can tell you now that 470km is a little TOO far for me to drive so I won’t be spoiling it.
Josh - Sorry…can’t give anything away at this stage. Stay tuned though, as I will mention it before the time comes (Saturday week).
Methinks that be code:
Code for I am so not ready for Saturday night
Josh - Well, it’s a topic I’ve looked into before, so it’ll just be a matter of brushing up.
What is this topic? Why the secrecy?
Josh - It’s no secrecy. It’s just my ploy to increase page views
All shall be revealed in good time.
Let down… let down, no wit, no explanation, just let down.
Came in late to this discussion. I would say one word which I think will help the youth why Harry Potter, LOTR, Halloween etc are wrong and evil -
EDUCATION.
I am also a youth leader and while the youth are only 8-10 years younger than me, they are not educated in the ways of God. Yes a lot are church kids which arises its own problems (more on this soon) but even newly saved still need education and the best way to bring that is via relationship, discipleship and leading.