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1 Corinthians 10:31-Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
What should Christians think about Halloween?
On the one hand, some would say that Halloween is an evil holiday that glorifies Satan, fallen angels, witches, demons, and death. They would claim that it is historically a holiday that is devoted to the indoctrination, corruption, and the death of human beings.
And, in many ways, they would be correct.
On the other hand, some would say that Halloween is a harmless American holiday that is a time for children to dress up in costumes, go out with their friends, and get some delicious and highly nutritionally deficient candy to feast on. If others are lucky, they may even share some of those sweets!
And, in many ways, these folks would be correct about Halloween, also.
So, what are Christians to do?
Let’s study.
First, I want to be clear that before any negative influence was ever associated with the date of October 31, this particular time is mentioned in the Bible. That’s right! The date of Halloween is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, along with everything else that God made.
Genesis 1:31-Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Long before there was any corruption of this date, October 31 is mentioned along with everything else that God created as being “very good.” We need to remember that fact as we venture forward in our study.
Second, the Bible actually describes for us a disturbing association of October 31 with one of the greatest and most terrible events in the history of the world.
Genesis 7:11-In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
That’s right: according to Jewish tradition, the day that the global Flood in Noah’s time began was October 31. Ken Johnson does a remarkable job of tracking down this traditional information for us (and also showing us another passage where the date of Halloween is mentioned). Drawing from ancient Jewish sources, he writes:
“According to the Dead Sea Scroll calendar, the seventeenth of the second month would be Iyar 17th, which would fall in mid-April to mid-May. If we use the Pharisee calendar, the date of the Flood would be placed in the autumn. It would be Cheshvan 17th, which falls in our mid-October through mid-November. The seventeenth would fall around October 31st. Today, most pagan groups celebrate it on the full moon closest to October 31st. As far back as anyone can remember it was the “day of the dead.”…After the united kingdom split into Judah and Israel, Jeroboam, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel, did not want his people going to the Temple in the southern kingdom of Judah. Jeroboam said: “If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 1 Kings 12: 27 So Jeroboam recreated the calf idols that the Israelites made when they first left Egypt. Jeroboam also recreated the ancient festival of the full moon of the eighth month, (or the full moon of October) called Halloween, to be celebrated in Israel in place of the Feast of Tabernacles. “Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.” 1 Kings 12: 28-33 Notice in verse 30 it says that “this thing became a sin.” Observing the date of the Flood and honoring God with repentance is not a sin, but to turn the observance into paganism with calf idols turns it into a sin.” (Ken Johnson Th.D., Ancient Origins of Modern Holidays, 1246-1281 (Kindle Edition): Independently Published)
Therefore, we see evidence that the holiday of Halloween actually coincides with the terrible judgment and loss of life that took place in the great Deluge. This is especially fascinating when we consider that there are many cultures around the world that historically connect festivals around Halloween with the Flood.
Third, there is another Scripture which might (and I stress the word “might”) indicate the people of God later celebrated October 31 as a day of repentance and thanksgiving to God.
Nehemiah 9:1-Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.
Some believe that the date mentioned here in this passage corresponds to the date that we know as Halloween, leading to this translation of the Bible:
Nehemiah 9:1 (NLT)-On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads.
Regardless of the specifics regarding October 31 as a day of honoring God in Nehemiah’s time, let me suggest that we look upon Halloween as a day that needs to be reclaimed for honoring God. Any pagan holidays were simply stolen from God and corrupted by false gods and those who worship them. As the Lord led Joshua through the Conquest of the land of Canaan, there were many things of the Canaanite religion that could be redeemed (or reclaimed) to the service of the one true God (Leviticus 27:21-28; Joshua 6:17, 24).
Why not reclaim the days for the Lord? After all, He is the One Who makes each day!
Psalm 118:24-This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Let’s reclaim the holidays as a time to honor and give thanks to God. As the people of God did in Nehemiah’s day, let’s separate ourselves from things that are not of God. I never encourage parents to allow their children to “dress up” as things which are historically devoted to what the Word of God opposes (i.e., witches, Satan, demons, mass murderers, etc.).
But I do encourage parents and churches to use every means at their disposal to bring glory and honor to God on every day of the year, including October 31.
Halloween is a great opportunity for churches to share their love for God, for families, and for children!
Why not hand out candy, popcorn, fruits, vegetables, and all kinds of things to children who come out to have an enjoyable time?
Why not organize a program to hand out Bibles, and pamphlets, and tracts, and other things for children and their parents on Halloween night?
Let’s not destroy and outlaw Halloween.
Instead, let’s redeem it for the Lord.
Father, thank You for saving humanity from the terrible world that existed in the time of Noah. Thank You for Your mercy and for Your justice. Give us wisdom as we go forward on Halloween and really on every day, Lord. We love you. In the name of Jesus we pray together, Amen.