What about Halloween and do you think Christians should actually participate? Here are some of my thoughts on this question:

• I don’t like Halloween. Yes I think it’s a little ghoulish, and I interpret it to too often glorify death rather than life, but I also don’t like horror movies, science fiction, or the whole zombie apocalypse thing. I have family that loves the Halloween season because of decorating and costumes and candy, but me…no. I am OK with buying lots of candy and turning all the lights off and pretending no one is home.

• If I am honest about Halloween, I think it is a cultural celebration not a devilish one. On Halloween, the verse of Scripture that says “This is the day that the Lord has made and let us rejoice in it” is still true and still applicable. I reject the idea that Satanist think they are getting Christians to join them in a day of cult practice. We don’t believe in the pagan moon god because we call the second day of the week “Monday” or the sun god because we call the first day of the week “Sunday” do we?

• I am all for church fall festivals or Christian families having a big party on Halloween giving out the best candy with a way of incorporating Christian outreach, somehow. I am amused by churches that hold fall festivals on nights other than Halloween, because I thought the whole point of church fall festivals was to offer children a wholesome alternative. I understand that some do this to take advantage of advertising to trick or treators in hopes that they will show up for a “sanitized” celebration at their church, later.

• And lastly, I think this recent commentary by John Stonestreet of the Chuck Colsen Center further explains a positive perspective to Halloween at his commentary “To Boo or Not to Boo” and you’ll find it at: http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/28383.

Edited update –  here is another good article from Answers in Genesis on “Halloween History and the Bible” at https://answersingenesis.org/holidays/halloween-history-and-the-bible/.