All Hallows Eve (Halloween) has its roots in pagan mythology. Eventually, the holiday crept into Catholic tradition as the night that demons wandered the earth before All Saint’s Day on Nov. 1. However, the question remains of whether Halloween, like Christmas, has truly been adapted to be harmless and even beneficial, or whether it is a dangerous holiday for Christians to be involved in.
There are typically two arguments. The first is that it is harmless. Halloween today is about candy, funny pranks and mystery. It’s appealing and fun. Who wouldn’t like to be involved in something like that? It’s a fun day when you can dress up like anything and be anything you want, all while hanging out with your friends and enjoying some themed treats.
The other argument is that it is extremely harmful. No adaptations have brought it into a light that would justify it as a religious holiday. There is not a single redeeming quality about Halloween that would make it uplifting in any way. It is a holiday based on the caricaturization of the creatures of hell.
That is, in fact, my opinion. Halloween is based on fear and pagan ideas at its base, but the Bible reminds us not to fear over three hundred times. As Christians, we have to keep our eyes on good things, on pure things. The verse Philippians 4:8 admonishes us to remain pure in what we put in our minds and think on.
My plea to you is this: as we approach Halloween, remember that God has given us a spirit of courage instead of fear. Do not, for your own sake, partake in a celebration that glorifies the other side of the conflict. Stand on the side that glorifies standing in the light instead of the darkness inherent in Halloween’s roots.
Image credit: Taylor Maddox