How should Christians approach Halloween and is there a biblical way to observe this secular holiday? See this controversial question, “Should Christians observe Halloween?†With no direct references to Halloween in the Bible, resolving the debate can be a challenge.
Christian perspectives on the observance of Halloween are strongly divided. Some believers feel complete freedom to observe the holiday, others run and hide from it, many boycott or ignore it, a number celebrate it through more positive and imaginative observances or Christian alternatives to Halloween, and still others choose to take advantage of Halloween’s evangelistic opportunities.
Some of today’s popular celebrations associated with Halloween have pagan roots stemming from the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain. This harvest festival of the Druids ushered in the New Year, beginning on the evening of October 31, with the lighting of bonfires and the offering of sacrifices. As the Druids danced around the fires, they celebrated the ending of the summer season and the beginning of the season of darkness. It was also believed that at this time of year the invisible “gates†between the natural world and the spirit world would open, allowing free movement between the two worlds.
During the 8th century in the diocese of Rome, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints Day to November 1, officially making October 31 “All Hallows Eve,†some say, as a way of claiming the celebration for Christians. However, this feast commemorating the martyrdom of the saints had already been celebrated by Christians for many centuries prior to this time. Pope Gregory IV broadened the feast to include the entire Church. Inevitably, some of the pagan practices associated with the season persisted and have been mixed into modern celebrations of Halloween.
What does the Bible say about Halloween?
Deu 18:10-11 Don’t you dare sacrifice your son or daughter in the fire. Don’t practice divination, sorcery, fortunetelling, witchery, casting spells, holding seances, or channeling with the dead.
1Co 10:21-22 And you can’t have it both ways, banqueting with the Master one day and slumming with demons the next. Besides, the Master won’t put up with it. He wants us–all or nothing. Do you think you can get off with anything less?
2Ki 21:5-6 And he built shrines to the cosmic powers and placed them in both courtyards of The Temple of GOD. He burned his own son in a sacrificial offering. He practiced black magic and fortunetelling. He held seances and consulted spirits from the underworld. Much evil–in GOD’s judgment, a career in evil. And GOD was angry.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Are you a True follower of Jesus Christ? Then Skip Halloween this year and tell others to do likewise!
Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
In the fourth century, Christians attempted to co-opt the holiday by celebrating the lives of faithful Christian saints the day before Halloween. This was a conscious attempt to provide an alternative and re-focus the day away from ghouls, goblins, ghosts, witches and other “haunted†experiences. Since that time many Christians have decided to allow their children to dress in more “innocent†costumes of pumpkins, princesses, Superman or as a cowboy. Part of this is due to the simple reality that in today’s Western culture it is nearly impossible to “avoid†Halloween.
Halloween is not for Christians. Honor God instead by refusing to observe Halloween this year.
I believe psychic abilities manifest themselves in lots of varied ways. John Edwards talks to the dead, but I could’t do that. I do see visions, though, and I’ve met many individuals who receive premonitions in their dreams.
Every being dreams, does anyone know what that is? How can you ban smoething from being observed if it exists and the being is a free mind. Why would anyone take away free will for the sake of censorship. I dont get how people can things they dont understand, maybe because that “thing” threatens the very thing they know they doubt.