Autumn is probably my favourite season. I love seeing the leaves turn crimson red, enjoying the variety of comfort food and the feeling of life slowing down. 

Halloween is no doubt the event of the season. It has a very long history with pagan and demonic origins and practices being associated with this day. Historically speaking, there are no texts to say for certain that October 31st was dedicated to celebrating and remembering the dead, but people over the centuries have chosen to do ungodly things on this day. For more on this, read and watch here.         

I will admit, I celebrated Halloween in very ungodly ways during college. I went to Halloween parties, dressed up in some very questionable costumes and acted like an unbeliever. This all stopped when I moved to Japan and fully dedicated my life to God.

However, I ended up going to the other extreme. I became an alarmist and fought with people online and some in person after binge-watching YouTube videos about the dangers of Halloween, and testimonies of ex-Satanists (now Christians) who addressed the spiritual activities that happen. 

I was extremely judgemental and thought poorly of Christians who dressed up in costumes, hosted harvest festivals at their church and went to Halloween parties. I became very heavy-hearted, fearful and honestly a pain to be around. 

Although I wanted to honour the Lord, my approach was anything but that. I missed out on so many opportunities to bring the Gospel to people who desperately need it. I also created tension between other Christians that could have easily been avoided. 

I’d like to share some tips on better ways to approach Halloween and not allow the holiday to overwhelm you.

1. Discern, Discern, Discern

God has called Christians to be light and salt (Matthew 5:13-16). They are to be separate from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18), not mirrors of it. Halloween is not an event that promotes light and life. Many use it to celebrate darkness and death and give power to darkness. 

Maybe you have been invited to a Halloween party or event by a good friend of yours or a friend you are trying to share the Gospel with. Maybe you have been asked by your co-worker to join a Halloween event and you have been really starting to connect with. Or maybe you are a parent and have been invited to a Halloween party by a neighbour with who you and your kids have become friends. You don’t want to turn down the invitation because you see an opportunity to share the Gospel, but you feel conflicted. 

This is probably a cliche, but it’s so important for Christians to pray before making any kind of decision, even as simple as this. If you find yourself still very conflicted and unsure of what to do, try to map out the situation you are likely going to be heading into. For instance, 

• Who will be there: people you know vs people you don’t know
• Location: House vs nightclub/pub
• Dress code: costume vs no costume (costumes are not by themselves evil, but ones representing death would hurt your witness as a Christian)
• Atmosphere: large crowds and impersonal vs small crowds and personal
• Possible temptations for you: alcohol, getting together with someone, acceptance (being seen as a “cool Christian”), and trying to fit in.

After that, think of your motivation and intentions for going. Are they focused on the desires of the flesh (entertainment, popularity, trying to fit in) or of the spirit (reaching out to the lost)? Will going please the Lord or take you away from Him? Would it be better for you to not go but invite your friend later in the evening for coffee/tea or spend time with them before the event? They may be interested to know why you didn’t want to join, which will open a window to share the Gospel with them. 

Similarly, if you haven’t been invited to an event but find yourself wanting to go, think about your motivation and intentions. Is going really worth it or could you do something better with your time that would please the Lord? Perhaps that involves digging into a good Christian or apologetics book, spending time with believers and doing activities that will strengthen your faith.  

2. Use This Time To Evangelize

I’m sure even mentioning the word evangelism is scary and uncomfortable. I personally struggle with this. It can make us feel very vulnerable, especially at a time when people are more closed-minded and hostile towards God and Christianity. 

As Christians, we need to play to our strengths. There is not only one way to do evangelism. A new book called Contagious Faith describes in detail 5-6 different approaches to evangelism. You can take a test here to find out which evangelism style matches you the most.  

But if you don’t get to read it in time for when trick-or-treaters come by your house (if that happens where you live), there are some things you can do. You could have a couple of Gospel tracts or Christian prayer cards on hand as you sneak in some sweets/candy/fruit into the child’s trick-or-treat bag as you talk with them and their parent. 

If they seem friendly and feel you have some time to talk, try to find out more about them and maybe invite them over for coffee/tea. If you don’t have much time, then just love on them and let them see Christ in you. They will remember that. 

3. Don’t Get Caught Up In All The Evil That Happens on Halloween

It’s important to be informed and stay sharp, but don’t overdo it. The worst thing is for you to consume so much information and warnings that you become afraid, overwhelmed and scared. Scripture says we are not to be afraid of anything, but to give thanks, and praise and to keep our minds set on Him (Philippians 4:6-8; Colossians 3:1-2; Romans 12:1-2). 

I think sometimes Christians focus too much on the evil of this world and forget that they worship the Creator of the universe. They limit God and elevate man when it should be the other way around. Now more than ever is the time for Christians to focus more on the Lord and less on what’s happening around them. 

Does this imply that you should isolate yourself from the rest of the world until He returns? No. Am I suggesting disengaging from the important issues of the day? Not at all. What I’m saying is to allow the Holy Spirit to fill our minds and spirit with more of God and His truth and less on entertainment and things that have no eternal significance. 

4. Do Something Different That Will Attract Others

Why not take the initiative to host an event that connects people and is Gospel-centred? I have always found food to be a great way to connect with others, as it is central to almost any culture. But you don’t want your guest to leave with just a full stomach. You want them to leave with something to think about or in the best-case scenario a changed life. 

One activity I have heard Christians parents do with their kids is to watch a movie and have them spot the lie or figure out the worldview the movie is trying to portray. This might be fun to do with people of all ages and depending on the crowd, you could turn it into a discussion or a time for reflection and sharing. It’s probably best to stick to movies that have a good story and not horror.   

If you have children or are more task-oriented, you could play board games and have activities or quizzes based on one Gospel principle or moral lesson. If your guests are mostly adults, hosting a Bible study or an apologetics night would be a good option. 

Of course, any of these can be done at any time of the year, not just on Halloween. Perhaps hosting a study night on October 31st this year could be the start of a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly spiritual discipline for yourself, your family, friends and church family that could have a major impact on the community you live in.

5. Be Watchful of Your Attitude, Thoughts and Heart

The week before Halloween can be extremely intense for Christians, especially online. People of all backgrounds debate and at times say very detestable things, which is offputting to non-believers. It can turn into a holier-than-thou attitude by mentioning all the things you know about Halloween and shaming others for not being so read up like you. 

I must confess, that was how I was. I got so heated and wasted so much time bickering and arguing with people. Looking back on it now, I could have approached my conversations and worded my post much better. Or I could have refrained from saying anything at all.

As Christians, we are to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19-20). Putting this into practice is quite hard, especially if we are emotionally charged. Here are some questions (thank you Tim Barnett) to ask yourself before you engage with any posts about Halloween this week (if you decide to):

• Will my response be productive?
• What are my intentions in responding?
• Will this build up the Body of Christ?
• Could I respond in private (or in person) instead?
• Is this the best way to love the other person?
• Will my response help guide them to truth?

Thank you for reading until the end! I pray these tips have been helpful. Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 😊

“ We are indeed the light of the world–but only if our switch is turned on.”

John Hagee

References

• History of Halloween By Inspiring Philosophy: https://youtu.be/fu-5BmAzbrU
• The History of Halloween: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1456/history-of-halloween/
• Contagious Faith: https://www.amazon.com/Contagious-Faith-Discover-Natural-Sharing/dp/0310113288
• Contagious Faith Test: https://zondervan-reflective.involve.me/contagious-faith-assessment