This year, I have an easy decision in terms of what to do on Halloween. I’m going to a college hockey game! The game, held on a Christian campus, is having prizes for the best costume.
In past years, when I had to deal with my children and Halloween, it was a very different story. As a Christian family, we had to decide what to do with Halloween. Do we ignore it, participate with our neighbors, engage the culture, do our own thing, go to a church harvest party or what?
In order to decide, I believe it helps to research the roots of Halloween to understand what the holiday is about, pay attention to what you believe the Lord is telling you to do, and talk as a family. Pray for wisdom and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, not other people. Then, help your children understand the position you take and why.
Other people should respect your decision, especially if you have had any personal encounters with the dark side of the spirit world in your family or through the generations. And if your decision is simply based on the idea that you don’t like what Halloween stands for and do not want to participate, you don’t need the approval of others.
My caution is not to judge the hearts of those who may participate. Many use this holiday to engage their neighbors and have conversations about spiritual things. The Lord is able to work through all types of unusual encounters. This is an opportunity to talk about the spiritual world and acknowledge the realness of evil. I did that several years with my neighbors, explaining what I believe and why.
One of the best things that comes out of deciding what to do is that it awakens us to the idea that evil exists and isn’t some Hollywood fantasy. For children, this is very important.
No matter what you decide, of this I am certain… Jesus overcame all evil so we don’t have to fear. He overcame the darkness (1 John 4:4) and triumphed over death and evil. Every day, including Halloween, His overcoming power works in us when we are one of His. So let your kids know that they are covered by the precious blood of Christ (not scary, but comforting).
And no matter what darkness we encounter on any day of the year, greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world. And for that reason, we don’t have to fear!