Why Christians Should Not Celebrate Halloween
by Lori York DVM
I know this is controversial. Christians say ‘”it’s just a fun time for the kids, they love dressing up as their favorite superhero”. I agree, it can be fun. We had a great time trick-or-treating when I was a kid. One Halloween my mom dressed up as the Wicked Witch of the West. She made her own costume (she could sew), she frizzed her hair, blacked out some of her teeth and perfected her cackle. I was so proud of her; she scared all the kids that came to our door! I will never forget that Halloween.
BUT, when I became a born again follower of Jesus, I learned that Satan is REAL and that Halloween is his highest holiday of the year. WHY would we want to celebrate anything that has to do with Satan? He is laughing at our decorations, our trick-or-treating, our carved pumpkins. If you don’t believe me, ask a real Witch, there are plenty out there. Those involved in occult practices believe that the veil between our world and the underworld is the thinnest on October 31st.
As Christians, we should be honoring God and Jesus Christ. There is no Halloween in the Bible. Jesus never said “Trick-or-treat in remembrance of Me”
Halloween evolved from a pagan celebration involving communication with demons and spirits. The Catholic church named November 1 as “All Saints' Day to offer an option to pagans they wanted to convert. The fun started the evening before and it was called “All Hollow’s Eve” The tradition of dressing in costumes came from the belief that costumes would keep the spirits from recognizing you and keep them away. Food offerings (treats) were made to keep the spirits happy. “Bobbing for apples” became a game used for divination. Carving pumpkins grew out of the tradition of carrying a light in a carved turnip or potato to ward away evil spirits. It was also thought that the light represented a soul trapped in Purgatory.
Halloween centers around ghosts, evil spirits, darkness and death. The Bible says:
“Let no one be found...who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells...or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord” Deut 18:10-12
Anton LaVey, the founder of The Church of Satan said “I am glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year. Welcome to Halloween”
Halloween may appear to be innocent fun to many Christians, but Paul wrote: “the things which Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” 1 Corinth 10- 19-22.
Spiritual warfare is REAL and is not a game, and the more Christians do not take it seriously the more dangerous the power of the enemy over the world becomes.
The Bible clearly condemns pagan worship, and everything about Halloween is pagan and occult worship. God put HIS Own Harvest festivals in the Bible, so why do we have to celebrate October 31st ?
Satan worshipers use Halloween activities to advance the kingdom of darkness. We are supposed to have nothing to do with darkness. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:4-5
And Jesus said” I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8:12