Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
By
Rick Reed, Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Bible Church, Ottawa
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Halloween is a holiday that wears a mask. On one level, it's about children dressed as clowns or cowboys collecting enough candy to scare a dentist. But, behind Halloween's harmless disguise is a darker side.
Halloween is historically linked to fears about wandering spirits and evil omens. Over the years, the holiday has continued to be associated with witchcraft and the demonic.
Though some in North America dismiss the notion of demons, the Bible does not. It tells us of a spiritual realm that is unseen but not unreal. It warns to steer clear of the devil and his demonic cohorts since they are deceptive and destructive (2 Corinthians 11:14; John 8:44). Dressing up as a devil or a witch on Halloween only glamorizes or trivializes what the Bible calls demonic.
Christians don't have to be frightened on Halloween. While demonic beings are powerful, they have been defeated. When Jesus died on the cross, He not only provided forgiveness for all who believe but also disarmed demonic rowers. Colossians 2:15 proclaims that Jesus ''disarmed the powers and authorities...triumphing over them by the cross." Those who trust in Jesus can ''be strong in the Lord and in power of his might'' (Ephesians 6:10).
So how should Christians respond? Some will choose to sit out any celebration of Halloween. Others will find ways for their kids to enjoy candy and costumes without dabbling in the darkness. Increasingly, churches are offering fun-filled alternatives on Halloween night where kids can get treats without being tricked.
Rick Reed is the senior pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Rick is a graduate of Biola University (B.A), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (DMin). This article appears in Rick's book "That's a Good Question". Used with permission of the author.
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