I love sharing my thoughts on Halloween because I feel very strongly that this day is not meant to be robbed from the Lord! This is the day that the Lord has made – so let us REJOICE and be glad in it! Let us seek Him and find ways to be a light and make a difference.
Just like we would any other day of the year.
It is important, though, to be prepared to lead our families well. So if you are wondering how to navigate the trickier aspects of this holiday, here are 4 important points to guide your thinking!
Educate
Be prepared to give your child information. Tell them the history of Halloween in an age-appropriate way (HERE is a great source). I like to say to my boys, “Halloween is a time where some choose to celebrate darkness and death. But Jesus says, “I am here to bring light in this world, freeing everyone who believes in me from darkness.” (John 12:46) How can we share that Good News with others this time of year?”
Inspire
1 Peter 3:11 tells us to turn away from evil and do good. As a family discuss what ‘evil’ things you can turn away from (perhaps scary decorations/costumes/horror movies, etc.) and what good things you can turn towards (helping others, practicing hospitality, costumes that celebrate a God-given imagination, etc.). Encourage your family to let their attitudes, dress, and behavior reflect the redeemed life we have in Christ.
“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)
Be Missional
Halloween is a wonderful opportunity to share Christ with the people in your neighborhood. The whole trick-or-treating tradition literally calls an entire community of people TO YOUR DOORSTEP. Take advantage of this by being hospitable and kind. Serve awesome candy labeled with THESE FREE PRINTABLE WITNESSING STICKERS. Set up a table on your front lawn with hot apple cider and pass out to people walking by. Invite a group of friends over for grilled hot dogs and homemade mac and cheese (best recipe HERE). Take goodies to the elderly couple down the street. Ask the Lord to use your family for His glory!
“So if you eat, or if you drink, or if you do anything, do everything for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
*Find more simple, fun, and Christ-centered ways to celebrate Halloween HERE.
Don’t Judge (please)
At the end of the day, seek God and do what’s best for your family. But do not allow your own convictions about a holiday to cause division in the body of Christ. Our enemy is not against flesh and blood. The best thing we can do is have a heart that chooses love instead of condemnation so that we can live out Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
We live in a broken world. There will always be darkness. Looking to the example of Christ, however, and the overarching message of the Gospel, by His grace, we get to bring light into the darkness. Light is not meant to be hidden under a bowl! Light is put on a stand. So get out there and carry out the call of 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
How does your family redeem Halloween?
Joyfully,
Julie 🙂
Jennifer Flanders
October 4, 2018 at 9:24 amI agree with you completely, Julie. We live in a neighborhood that gets swamped with trick-or-treaters every Halloween. We’ve had as many as 1000 come by our home for candy in a single night. What an opportunity for evangelism!
We, too, pass out the gospel message with the candy we drop in the bag. In fact we offer several free printable, single fold “trick-or-treat tracts” on our family website (you can download them here: https://www.flandersfamily.info/web/2017/10/21/no-fear-free-printable-halloween-tracts/).
This year, our family is sponsoring a contest (with $600 in cash prizes!) to challenge readers to design their own gospel tracts to share at Halloween. If anybody in your family (or any of your readers) is interested in entering the contest, you can find all the details here: https://www.flandersfamily.info/web/2018/10/01/share-gospel-win-300/ (Not trying to spam you with unsolicited links, Julie. Feel free to remove them if you’re not okay with me sharing that way). Love your site. Keep up the good work. We’re excited about your new baby!
Happy Home Fairy
October 4, 2018 at 9:33 amJennifer, what wonderful resources and ideas! I am so happy to promote your heart. Link away! 🙂
Beth Hendrikse
October 4, 2018 at 10:29 amLove it Miss Julie!! Such well balanced and wise advice!!
Renee
October 4, 2018 at 12:46 pmLove this explanation!
Jenny B.
October 4, 2018 at 6:36 pmLove this! Thank you for sharing!
Deb
October 4, 2018 at 8:27 pmHere are a few things I have done-
We used to pass out info about Jesus (tracts) with our candy. Now we live on a country road and don’t ever get truck or treaters.
Our church set up a stand with lights on it and we gave out free hot choc and cider, candy, donut holes, and tracts so people could learn about God. One family remembered us and actually was looking for us one year.
When my kids were young I would invite my friends and their children over for a Christian costume party. They had to dress up as sometjing good in the Bible. It gave my kids the chance to dress up too. It was held the week after Halloween. I found that I had at times I had to be the one to come up with the idea of how a child’s costume fit in the Bible. For example- My friend’s child was a dinosaur so I said he was part of the creation story.
Jane Partain
October 5, 2018 at 10:18 amLoved the verses and inspiration you shared on celebrating Halloween for Christians. Helpful comment section, also. Thank you for all.
John Arizona
October 31, 2018 at 9:03 amHello,
This is a solid Christian perspective on Halloween. I would say in regards to judging that we are to judge a person’s fruits in alignment with The Word (Matthew 22:34-40) but not their heart as that is God’s domain alone. I welcome such judgments and receive correction with a glad heart. I shared on FB as there are some who have extreme views and it would be a blessing for them to read. You may not have many men subs but I have raised my son solo from birth with God’s help so both roles to some extent were mine. Thank you for sharing your views. I subbed. May Father God Jesus the Christ Holy Spirit bless and keep you and all here.