Halloween Controversy

The Halloween Controversy...

Should Christians celebrate Halloween?

Should I allow my kids to dress up and go trick or treat??

What do Christians do on Halloween ?

....questions... and questions.... but no clear answers !

There's no end to Halloween controversy, is there?

Does Scripture speak directly about Halloween ? No.

Does Scripture refer to Halloween practices ? Yes, to some extent.

On the one hand :

• Halloween is all about dressing up and make-beliefs. What's evil about it?
• Halloween is a pagan festivals just like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving....etc What's the difference? They are all pagan festivals - if you celebrate one - why not the other?
• Halloween is just an innocent harmless event where kids go around collecting candies. How harmful can it be?
• Scripture does not condemn Halloween, not even mentioned it. Why the fuss?
  
  What Halloween controversy are you talking about ?
  
  However, the Halloween controversy continues.... On the other hand: Halloween is anti-Christian. Halloween promotes darkness and wickedness. Halloween is satanic holiday to worship evil spirits The Old Testament teaches that witchcraft was a crime punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6,27) The New Testament teaches that occult opposes Christianity as : In the story of Simon (Acts 8:9-24). Paul reprimanded Simon, the Sorcerer, of his wickedness of wanting to buy God's gift of the Holy Spirit. In the story of Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:6-11), Paul called Elymas a child of the devil, an enemy of righteousness and a perverter of the ways of God. New converts took a hundred and eighty degrees turn from former occultism by confessing and publicly burning their sorcery scrolls (Acts 19:19)

The fun of Trick or Treats

• The fun of dressing up in funny costumes once a year

• Getting bags and bags of candies and chocolate

• Visiting neighbors and friends

• Sorcery, Witchcraft, and evil are real and amusing

  The negatives of Trick or Treats

  • The stress of having to buy costumes that can only be used for one occasion.

  • Collecting contaminated or poisoned candies

  • Exposing kids to strangers and danger

  • Kids, if not warned, may consider sorcery, witchcraft, evils as fun

  • The subtlety of evil cannot be undermined

p.s. There was a reported case in Ontario, that pins were found embedded into the apples dipped in caramel distributed on Halloween night.

Comparing the pagan practices of Christmas, Easter & Halloween

Yes, Christmas, Easter and Halloween are all pagan practices.

Over the centuries, they have turned into fun-filled traditions that all kids and even adults look forward to.

So, how do we ignore them or delete them off our calendars ?

Here is a short and easy way of answering Halloween controversy without getting bogged down with endless intellectual arguments.

Christmas is about Jesus' birth.
Easter is about Jesus' Resurrection.
Both of these highlight the Light of the World - Love, Joy, Peace, Hope.

Halloween is about the spirits of the world - darkness, fear, ghosts.
Both aspects depict reality in the spiritual realms.

Look at it as an opportune time to share about the Light in the darkness.

To come to a satisfactory conclusion regarding the Halloween Controversy, one should just look at Philippians 1:27

" Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel"

So, should Christians participate in the celebrations or not ?

• Check your heart and attitude.
• Know your purpose and what God wants you to do.
• Whatever you do, do it all TO THE GLORY OF GOD.
• Whether you celebrate or not, don't judge others who do contrary to you.

By the way, this Halloween controversy issue only occurs with Christians in the West. In the East where people recognize the dark powers and influence of spirits in this world, this celebration has not been well accepted whether by Christians or non-Christians.

In addition, there is a similar occasion known as "ghost month" in Asia. Again, it's not seen as fun and festivity. Nobody wants to stir up the spirits of this world, because they are real.

The greatest deception of Satan / the Devil is to cause people to undermine his powers or to think he is not real.

OT References for Halloween Controversy

Some people don't consider Halloween as related to the Old Testament's Sorcery, Medium and Spirits. Then these Scripture verses may not convince them. And so the Halloween controversy is not easily resolved.

Exodus 22:18 "Do not allow a sorceress to live."

Leviticus 19:31 "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God."

Leviticus 20:6 "I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people."

Leviticus 20:27 "A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.”


NT References for Halloween Controversy
The New Testament continues to warn people of the evil and dark powers. Should Christians have fun dressing up like them? or should we avoid it? Does dressing up equate with being indulged in it as described in the following passages ? Again, much is debated in this Halloween Controversy.

Acts 13:6–11

6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

Acts 8:9-24

Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. In the story of Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:6-11), Paul called Elymas a child of the devil, an enemy of righteousness and a perverter of the ways of God. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized intoa the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

Acts 19:19

19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

Philippians 1:27

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

Fun Facts & Origin of Halloween

Fun and safe Halloween Games

Halloween Crafts for the season

Other Preschool Themes & Holidays

More Special Days Activities and Crafts

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