From the Desk of Pastor David - Halloween
The month of October is here and with it comes the same questions year after year.
Do you celebrate Halloween?
Why don’t you participate in Halloween?
Do you have an alternative to Halloween or take part in any?
Do you keep your kids home from school on Halloween?
Seriously, like clockwork these questions come up to me or my wife every single year and it’s ok that they come up, it’s ok that they are asked. Not only do I think that they are ok to be asked, I expect them to come and welcome them because it gives me an opportunity to state my personal belief and convictions pertaining to it. Let’s get something straight right from the start, I am not here to say that anyone is right or wrong, I’m simply taking the opportunity to express what I feel from God for me, my family and anyone I have the privilege to pastor.
Perhaps some reading this are expecting to hear what is commonly said about Halloween by many Christians and or churches, but I promise I am not going to use Halloween’s origin or history as my reason or convictions.
Let’s answer these common questions I get every year:
Do you celebrate Halloween?
Well first of all no, I (nor my family) do not “celebrate” it nor do I participate in it or any of its activities in any way.
Why don’t you participate in Halloween?
Before stating my answer I always follow up this question with a question, “What is the common theme or element seen in Halloween, its activities, advertisements and even in the shows and movies released in this time? Generally we can easily agree that the common element in all of them is FEAR. I would ask you reading this today, do you agree? Of course you do! In that one word that is at the center of all Halloween things lies my convictions from God. You see the Bible clearly states that fear is a spirit and that it does not come from God.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity,
but of power, love, and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear
but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
Fear is a spirit not given by God and if it is not from God who is it from? The Bible also states in 1 John 4:18 that fear involves or brings torment! Not only does it say that, it also says that “perfect love” casts out fear. Catch that? What love is more perfect than God’s love? The Bible also states that God is love! Follow this thought process with me –
God = Love
Spirit of Fear does not come from God
Love casts out fear
Following this simple “equation”, if you will, gives me a solid foundation to say that Halloween or anything for that matter, that promotes fear does not come from God and is something I should stay clear from. Let me state it as a question, if I come to the understanding that fear is a spirit and that it does not come from God, then why would I participate in inviting that demonic force or give it access to my life or that of my children? In addition to the promotion of fear during Halloween, there is a promotion of things of the occult – witchcraft, sorcery, and divination just to mention a few. I believe that the spirit realm is real and that as Ephesians 6 says, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but again principalities and powers, rulers of darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness is high places. Again, why would I want to participate in anything that promotes the darkness as opposed to the Light?
Do you have an alternative to Halloween or take part in any?
Again, this is my conviction here – The word alternative is a noun that means one of two or more possibilities. I believe in a God who is the “only” way, who is the truth and the life, why would I create an alternative or another possibility for something that I believe scripturally does not come from Him? (This next statement can get me in trouble but I will say it any way.) I believe that we, as the Church, have worked far too hard to accommodate people into the ways of God so that they may feel comfortable and be happy and come to our churches or our events instead of having them encounter the one true force that will bring the needed change in their life, GOD. His fullness, His essence, His power, His righteousness…
Do you keep your kids home from school on Halloween?
No, they go to school and take a stand for what they believe. I am raising my daughters to love God first and to stand for what He says. I have asked them if they are bold enough to answer why they aren’t dressing up or participating and each year they have said yes. They simply tell their friends Halloween is about fear and God doesn’t give fear. I also exercise my right as a parent and meet with or send a letter to their teachers every year stating our convictions about Halloween and I am very clear and state this – “Due to our faith in God, we do not participate in anything related to Halloween. I am not asking you to change your curriculum or classroom décor, however, I ask that if you are doing any activity or reading any story related to Halloween, provide a different assignment to my daughter.” I even go as far as giving them this example – “If you are doing a pumpkin activity in math or science where you are going to estimate weight or measure and count the seeds, it is totally fine. Now, if you are going to have a pumpkin carving activity, provide them something else during that time.”
I have had people tell me that in not participating in Halloween I am depriving my daughters of fun. However, I disagree. I am simply preventing my daughters from engaging in a practice that can affect them spiritually. I mean the Bible does say not to give the devil a foothold.
This is my personal conviction and this is why I have decided that my family and I do not participate in Halloween.