Once again the streets of America have a different face, a scary face. Carved pumpkins and spider webs everywhere. Kids dress up in their cute costumes (some cutter than others) and go out on the streets "Trick or Treating". I won't pretend to be an expert on Halloween because I am clearly not. I have to say though, having been brought up elsewhere, the fact that children go out on the streets knocking on strangers' doors asking for candy does trip me out. But why is it that we don't do Halloween? Are we being over zealous parents? After all, the triplets are 3 1/2 and this is the first year we have to really deal with it. And mind you, we haven't slept in 3 1/2 years.
I do think that it is possible for godly parents to go trick or treating with their children and use that as opportunity to teach them about Christ while at the same time engaging the culture, being part of a community and etc...Having said that i am fully convinced in my conscience that I should not participate in it. It's not like I don't want to do Halloween because of all the child sacrifices and satanists looking for little children to murder on that day, which the police records in the country don't know much about anyway. It's not like that at all. So why don't we do Halloween?
One reason is a fascination for the ugly. I think there is already too much ugly and negative in the world that we have no control about. For that reason, Halloween is not attractive to me. It's actually a turn off.This is why I do believe in Halloween alternatives where kids can have a lot of fun in, what I think, is a healthier way. There are other reasons too. I, in my BC days, was deeply involved in a religion very similar to the Cuban Santeria. One of the "deities" we celebrated was a pair of twin children that was appeased by candy or they would trick you. People all over the country would go out on the streets and lay their offers to this deity in hopes of getting on their good side through out the year and to thank them for the past year. Children would go out at the same time all over the streets stealing the offerings from every corner and the whole thing was a big celebration for worshipers and children alike. That has too many similarities to Halloween for me, and it hits me in a way that makes me not want to take any part of it.
When I was writing this post, a pastor, church planter I follow on Twitter posted his reasons for not celebrating Halloween on his blog and I was blessed as he conveyed my sentiments exactly. I asked for his permission to steal it and he replied: " Post away", so here we go:
Why we don't do Halloween, by Joe Holland.
The Hollands don't do Halloween.
To be honest, Halloween makes my stomach turn. I'm a pastor. I daily face death and its destruction—physical and spiritual. In hospitals, counseling sessions, and sermons I teach people about Jesus's triumph over sin, death, and the devil. Mortality, spiritual malevolence, demons, twisted sensuality, devils and the like aren't just costumes at RiteAid. They are daily realities.
So when it comes around to Halloween and I see ghoulish decorations, 5 year old zombies, 8 year -olds in fish net stockings, bloody corpses in front yards, and resurrecting dead it hits a little too close to home. How can I laugh and give kids sugar highs when I'm facing grotesque, cartoonish representations of the things that literally haunt people's souls? Do I really want my kids thinking that death and the demonic are only lawn decorations for a few weeks a year?
I know what you're thinking, "Dude, lighten up!" Well, I've tried and have been unsuccessful. I'm not angry at Halloween or the folks that will pad my street on the eve of October 31. I'm not really all that concerned with the historicity of the cultural practice. I don't even think there is a whole lot of malevolence going on—in fact I'm more concerned with the relative ease in interacting with Halloween on a thematic level.
I just can't keep from cringing when I think about it.
It comes down to the cross. I actually believe that Jesus triumphed over malevolent spiritual forces at the cross—Col 2:15. The cross has changed me and my affections in ways I could never have predicted. I'm more serious about death and the spiritual world than I've ever been. I'm also more joyful in God's power over sin, death, and devil through Christ than I have ever been.
For so many Halloween is about good times, candy, and fun. Put simply it is joyful frivolity and dress up. For me it is sobering and sharpening.
So we don't do Halloween. Not because we think it earns us anything with God. It's just the way the cross has affected me and my family.
Now for all of the disclaimers:
1. If you participate in Halloween with a clear conscience then please continue to do so. I don't think you're a pagan Satan worshiper.
2. I know not all of Halloween is about death and the creepy. If you want your little pumpkin to parade up and down the street with Freddy and 12 year old bar maids, then go for it.
3. I love my neighbors and actively and aggressively look for ways to tell them about Jesus. The whole, "You're not really into evangelizing if you don't do Halloween" is one of the more stupid arguments I've heard.
4. I'm not really into Halloween alternatives either.
5. The whole argument not do Halloween based on its historical basis is silly too. Although, if Halloween occurred for the very first time this year, would you participate? Something to think about.
6. Don't worry about my poor deprived children. We have a large tupperware full of costumes and I give them enough candy to make a dentist's drill finger twitch. They do just fine on the other 364 days a year when it comes to dress-up and sugar consumption."
Additionally, I read something very interesting on The Resurgence blog. The history of the holiday and its connection with the protestant Reformation.Give it a read.
