Halloween

The articles that I have written that have left me historically the most fulfilled have been my Christian articles. Whether politics, the church, or biblical truths, all have tapped into topics, I felt called to talk about on my platform. When I was challenged to write a column, one on Christians was the right choice. 

   Some of you want to explore religion but don’t feel welcome at church. Some people have had super negative experiences with Christians. Some were told that you must be a perfect Christian to attend church.

   I am here to tell you that you are welcome, no matter your past, present, or feelings about Christians.  

    That being said, this will be a recurring staple of my tenure as an opinion editor. Bi-weekly I will publish this column talking about biblical truths and Christian politics and commenting on culture through a biblical worldview. 

   If you have any issues, questions, or anything else under that umbrella that you would like me to address, you can email me at opinion@ndsuspectrum.com. Please enjoy.

I am a vocal lover of Halloween. I have over ten pairs of Halloween-themed earrings, I have had my costume planned out since September, and I adore candy, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, horror movies, and all of the tacky Halloween costume dates. 

However, this is not necessarily a well-received take in the Christian community. I know for a fact that some Christian parents don’t allow their children to participate in this holiday for fear that they are allowing their children to participate in “The Devil’s Birthday.” 

My cousin wasn’t allowed to watch Harry Potter until she was well into childhood. I was told that this book series was demonic and that the author was promoting children to practice the work of the Devil. 

And as a kid, it was confusing to me that some parents were cool with celebrating Halloween, like mine, while other Christian parents were vehemently opposed to celebrating it. 

And with videos coming out like those of Jenny Weaver wearing the spiritual dangers of Halloween, it’s led me to want to think critically about biblical teachings and what the Bible says about the enemy. 

History 

It’s common knowledge that Halloween originates from a European holiday, like many modern American holidays. In this instance, Halloween originated from the Celtic holiday of Samhain. 

People would wear costumes and light bonfires to ward off spirits. History.com reports that this was when the Celts celebrated their new year as summer ended, the harvest, and a cold and dark winter began. Winter is often associated with human death. 

The Celts also believed that Samhain was when the veil between worlds was the thinnest. Therefore there was a need to ward off spirits by wearing masks and costumes. Additionally, druids were believed to have enhanced abilities to tell people’s fortunes. 

And while some additional historical elements have helped create the American Halloween as we understand it today, Samhain gets the majority of the credit. 

As a result, many Christians argue that Halloween is an inherently demonic holiday. Which is, I will be honest, a valid concern. As a Christian myself, I can confidently say that serving the one true God is up there in terms of importance. 

However, I think this take falls short because most Christians don’t recognize that many American holidays have pagan origins, including Easter and Christmas. 

This is important to point out because just because something has its origin and has changed over time doesn’t make it an evil holiday. Many Christians I know have additional traditions to remind their kids why they are celebrating the holiday religiously. For example, my family reads the story of the birth of christ before we open any presents on a holiday morning. We have also started having biscuits and gravy every Christmas morning, but that’s just because my mom’s cooking is the stuff of legends. 

People will make holidays their own, and families will tack on their traditions, but that doesn’t mean you worship other Gods or are suddenly a pagan now. 

The Heart 

Like most issues related to the Christian church, it becomes easy to get swept up in the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law. Many people forget that God cares way more about the state of your heart than anything else.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

And again in 1 Samuel 16, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

That doesn’t mean that the laws and commandments suddenly don’t matter anymore. It means that your intentions matter. If you’re going into Halloween and intending to worship the Devil and cast spells on your neighbors, I can confidently say that I think that’s a cause for concern. 

Maybe you’re not concerned about it, but I would be as a Christian, hence the title, Christian concerns. 

I don’t see anything wrong with wearing my ghost earrings, watching scary movies, or dressing up for Halloween. It doesn’t mean I don’t love Jesus anymore. Knowing there is danger in the world and that the Lord is with me even when the world seems dark and scary is a comfort. 

Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” 

I do not need to be afraid of what’s happening in the world around me because God is greater than those things. As they say in veggie tales, “God is bigger than the boogie man.., or the monsters on TV.”

The Dangers 

The final point I will touch on is the idea that we, as Christians, can turn our brains off and mindlessly consume Halloween-related content. We must be vigilant and guard our hearts against some of the questionable spiritual practices of Halloween. 

I will not be talking with a demon, using tarot cards, participating in a seance, using an Ouija board, or trying to contact any kind of spirit. I 100% believe in that stuff, and I will not be caught dead messing with the things in this world that humans have no place involving themselves in. 

We, as Christians, are free to enjoy the fall season, including Halloween. But, like in all things, we need to pay attention to our hearts when we participate in these activities and remember that we are called to live apart. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, let’s not judge each other for one another’s personal convictions. They are personal for a reason. If participating in Halloween isn’t for you, that’s fine. Not every key is meant to fit every door. That doesn’t make it okay for Christians to judge one another for how they choose to celebrate. 

Let’s all remember to be kind and loving to each other this Halloween season. And to you, the reader, remember to be safe out there and celebrate responsibly.