Christians and Halloween
Christians families should educate their children to the true meaning of Halloween. Halloween, no matter how commercialized, has almost completely pagan origins. October 31st has long been known as “The Festival of the Dead.” The Celtic tribes and their priests the Druids celebrated this day as a marker for the change from life to death. Being a festival of the dead, it was a time set for witches to attempt to communicate with the dead through various forms of divination. Christians should not be involved with occult practices or divination. Participating in Halloween gives sanction to a holiday that promotes witches, divination, haunted houses, and other occult practices.
The Bible and the Occult
In Old Testament, witchcraft was a crime forbidden by the Lord and punished by death. “You shall not permit a sorceress to live” (Exodus 22:18); “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31); “‘And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people” (Leviticus 20:6,27). And the New Testament teaching about the occult is also clear and did not change. The story of Simon, shows that occultism and Christianity stand on opposing sides (Acts 8:9-24). Acts 19 shows how the new converts to Christianity abandoned their former occultism by bringing their magic paraphernalia, and burning it before the Lord (Acts 19:19).
Christian Alternative Activities
Most Churches hold Fall Festivals and/or celebrate Reformation Day on October 31. These programs are great for Christian families to be involved in. They serve as a good positive diversion that teaches children Christian heritage and good moral values. Christians should guard against the traditions of pagan holidays. They are under obligation to bring every thought, word, and deed into harmony with God’s revealed will (Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11). All the energies of the soul should be used to advance God’s kingdom, and so to honor God. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
