James 4:7; Ephesians 6:10-18
Luis Cruz, GCF Durham
Halloween is a western world observance and it is celebrated on the eve of October 31. “North America’s first recorded instance of dressing in disguise on Halloween was in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1898, while the first recorded use of the term trick or treat was in Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1927.”[1] Trick-or-treating marks the Halloween. “Children in costumes travel from house to house, asking "Trick or treat". The "treat" is usually some form of candy, although in some cultures, money is used instead.”[2] But what really is Halloween?
1. An ancient Celtic Festival.
From the ancient Celtic harvest festivals.
To mark the end of harvest season and the start of winter.[3]
Celtics would harvest before winter and keep them fresh.
2. A pagan practice.
Some pagans believed that the spirit of darkness is most powerful during this season.
Some engage in witchcraft and occult practices, talking to the dead spirit to ask what the treat is needed to send them to their final destination.
Superstitious belief: dress up scary to ward off evil spirits.
3. A business industry.
Business anticipates robust sales on costumes, decorations and candies.
2018 estimated: between 900 million to a billion dollars.[4]
Temporary Halloween stores rises; restaurants, bars are cashing in by making Halloween events.
The movie/T.V. entertainment industry added a wide assortment of characters – werewolf, vampires, demons, murders, killers, etc.
4. A mix of Christian and pagan practice.
“Halloween or Hallowe'en, is the yearly celebration that signifies the first day of All Hallowtide, being the time to remember the dead, including martyrs, saints and all faithful departed Christians.”[5]
5. The believer’s response.
John 17:15-18, “15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
Follow Christ into the world.
Celebrate Christ’s victory over Satan. vv.15, 17. See Matt. 4:1-4; Rev. 20:1-3.
Submit to Christ’s will. v.18
Have confidence in Christ’s prayer of protection. v.15;
Christ has sanctified us for the task. cf. Eph. 6:10-18
Be confident in the absolute Word of God. v.17b
We don’t believe in superstition; the Word has enlightened us.
6. Grab the opportunity to share the gospel.
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.” 2 Tim. 4:2
“’Christians should respond to Halloween with gospel compassion. The unbelieving, Christ-rejecting world lives in perpetual fear of death. It isn't just the experience of death, but rather what the Bible calls "a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume [God's] adversaries" (Hebrews 10:27). Witches, ghosts, and evil spirits are not terrifying; God's wrath unleashed on the unforgiven sinner - now that is truly terrifying.’”[6]
“7 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
Make it all about Jesus
Think about ministry opportunities.
[1] The Canadian Encyclopedia, “Halloween in Canada,” accessed October 25, 2019, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/halloween
[2] See Ibid.
[3] See Wikipedia, “Halloween,” accessed October 24, 2019, enwikipedia.org.
[4] The Canadian Encyclopedia, “Halloween In Canada,” thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
[5] Rebekah Hughes The Stag. University of Surrey. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2015.
[6] Travis Allen, Christians and Halloween, GTY.Org