How To Halloween As Christians

Scripture

“Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) 20He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:20-21

Observation

Paul built on this point when it came to the church in Corinth. Some felt it was a sin to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols because it had been used for an evil purpose. Paul writes, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31) Many assume the evil of the world will taint and infect the faith of a Christian. Jesus says the exact opposite here in Mark 7:21-23 and Paul confirms it. It’s what on the inside that matters most. The fruit of our lives (whether in holiness or sin) is always directly tied to the focus of our hearts. If our hearts are prone toward the sins Jesus mentions we will find a way to sin no matter what day it’s on. Sin corrupts, but the sin is not so much “out there in the world” or on Halloween as is in the heart of every person. The emphasis is on who we are in Christ and what Christ would have us do.

Application

When it comes to Halloween my heart mirrors Paul’s when he writes on the meat sacrificed to idols controversy, “32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Cor. 10:32-33). This wording is important. I would never cause a Christian to stumble who feels convicted to have no part in Halloween. Like the meat sacrificed to idols, its roots are wicked and pagan and a favorite day to the Church of Satan. So, you might ask, why do you participate in it all? I had a great exchange with a family from our church who asked me that question and don’t feel it’s right to participate in Halloween at all. I told them they are right to follow their convictions even as I follow mine. The church is about unity not uniformity and as long as neither approach contradicts Scripture we need to be obedient to what God has asked us to do on October 31st. Both of our families are being intentional about keeping Christ the focus and following His Spirit as we interact with the world around us. In other words, it’s both/and. God will use their stance on Halloween toward those they’re in relationship with just as He will use ours because we are both in obedience to what God has asked us to do. James 4:17 states that if we know what God wants us to do and we don’t do it then it is a sin. I like how Pastor Josh Howerton puts it, “This is what the Bible calls a “disputable matter” (Rom. 14:1). Mature Christians will “disagree agreeably” without unity being disturbed. Immature Christians will “disagree disagreeably, fight, hurt and divide people who don’t embrace their convictions.” So, for me to stay inside on an unholy holiday rather than using it to build a bridge to the heart of my neighbors would be a sin. For others it would be a sin to be out in the middle of it.

If it was up to me, I’d skip Halloween completely because I don’t want any attention on a day set aside for death, but it’s not up to me. What’s the one night a year that needs an example of life? What’s the one night a year when all of my unbelieving neighbors will come right to my door? I’m Jesus with skin on and Jesus purposefully went out of his way to the demon possessed man who lived in the cemetery (Luke 8:26-39). Not only was this man not a Jew, but he was filled with a legion of demons that held sway over the 10 towns. What was Jesus up to? He intentionally went to the darkest place around and changed the atmosphere by setting this one man free. I’m looking for that “one man” encounter tonight as Cyndi and I station ourselves in front of our house and bbq hot dogs and hand them out to anyone that comes my way. This is what God has asked me to do. When our boys were young we let them dress up for Halloween just like they would for a friends Bday party once they were at an age where we could explain what it means to be in the world and not of the world. We never let them dress in anything dark, demonic, or death related. When they understood why, because we are people who bring light into darkness, they were all on board… especially with the prospect of copious amounts of candy. This one quote from revivalist C.T. Studd really sums up our families missiology on Halloween: “Some want to live within the sound Of church or chapel bell;I want to run a rescue shop, Within a yard of hell.”

Prayer

I know I will come across many who don’t know You as Lord and Savior tonight. Many who are looking for a temporary escape but need Your eternal salvation will come to my door. As they do, I pray that You would shine through me and give me the words to say that bring life on a night set aside to celebrate death. You are the light of the world and I pray that You would shine through me!