Going Against The Flow: The Halloween Conversation for Christian Families

On October 31st, Christian parents are faced with choices. Should we let our kids go trick-or-treating? Do we join in the seemingly innocent Halloween fun around us? Or perhaps we choose to stay home and shut the door on Halloween. There are even those who'd rather pretend Halloween doesn't exist.

So, how can we approach this unavoidable issue?

Navigating Halloween as Christian parents requires faith, wisdom, and meaningful conversations with our children. By openly discussing the subject with our kids and relying on biblical guidance, we can help them make choices that align with our Christian values while managing the Halloween frenzy around us.

It's also crucial to prepare our children for moments when they might feel uncomfortable or pressured to join in on Halloween activities. With love, understanding, and faith, we can tackle Halloween as Christian parents and continue to guide our families in the ways of Christ.

Let's explore some thoughtful approaches that will equip you to have the right conversations with your children and hopefully give you the right tools to defend whatever stance you take subject to the leading of the Holy Spirit for you and your family.

Let's begin our discussion from the authority we have as Christians - the Bible.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 provides biblical insight. God cautions against involvement in occult practices, considering them an "abomination."

Here are a couple of verses to ponder:

• Deuteronomy 18:10 (NKJV): "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer."
• Deuteronomy 18:12 (NKJV): "For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you."

These verses remind us that God hasn't called us to participate in such practices, even if they're celebrated in the world around us.

So, is Halloween an occult practise?
That will depend on your family and your personal approach to Halloween.

Halloween isn't just about costumes and scares; it's a time when the world often lives in fear of death. What truly terrifies people isn't the ghostly costumes but the fear of facing judgment and God's righteous anger, as described in Hebrews 10:27.

As Christians, we can view Halloween as an opportunity to share the transformative message of the gospel. We can use the Halloween themes and images as conversation starters to engage with those who may not know Christ. Everyone has a conscience that can respond to God's truth, and this conscience can be a powerful tool in spreading the gospel.

As Christians, we can take time to inform the consciences of friends and family by sharing biblical truths about God, sin, Christ, future judgment, and the hope of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

There are various approaches to Halloween evangelism. Some may choose a "No Participation" policy, especially for their children, and this decision can spark conversations about the gospel with curious onlookers and peers.

Others may prefer Halloween alternatives like "Harvest Festivals" or "Reformation Festivals," where children dress up as farmers, Bible characters, or Reformation heroes. It's a creative way to share the gospel message with the community.

In some cases, churches take acts of kindness into their communities by blessing needy families with food, gift cards, and the message of hope found in the gospel.

Your children may be full of questions about the celebration of Halloween and where you stand as a family. How can you broach this complex topic with your children in a way that gives them the tools to stand with your family's decisions during this season?

Here are a few conversation starter points that you may choose to explore with your family during this period:

1. Should We Participate in Halloween? Do your kids wonder about your family's participation during Halloween? This can be a way to walk them through your family's decisions.

• Jeremiah 10:2: Encourages discernment and not conforming to worldly customs. "This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. 3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel."
  
  

2. No Need for Fear or Superstition: Are your kids scared or worried about all the spooky decor and talk of demons, devils and the dead during this season? you can reassure them with God's word.

• John 14:27: Reminds us that God offers peace, not fear. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you."
  
  

3. Celebrating Life Over Death: Is all the talk of death and demons getting too crazy and overwhelming? You can use this as a talking point with your family and other non-believers.

• John 11:25-26: Shares the message of eternal life through Christ. "Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
  
  

4. Guarding Our Hearts and Minds: With all the noise the world makes at this time of the year, there is no better time than now to keep a firm hold and mount a guard on our hearts, so that we are not carried away by the frenzy and loud advertisements and promotions all around us.

• Proverbs 4:23: Advises us to protect our hearts and minds. "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (NLT)

5. Embracing Our Set-Apart Identity: Ultimately, our loyalty and allegiance is not to the culture and customs of the society around us, it is to God, His counsel and will for our lives. The most important part of this discussion is not the right or wrong of Halloween, it is the absolute assurance that we have in our hearts that we are convinced of our reasons for celebrating or abstaining from celebrating. Are we doing this to bow to the pressure around us, or are we doing this to honour our Father in heaven?

We are not called to conform to the world, but to transform our world through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Romans 12:2: Encourages us not to conform to the patterns of the world. "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (NLT)

Navigating Halloween as Christian parents requires faith, wisdom, and meaningful conversations with our children. By openly discussing the subject with our kids and relying on biblical guidance, we can help them make choices that align with our Christian values while managing the Halloween frenzy around us.

It's also crucial to prepare our children for moments when they might feel uncomfortable or pressured to join in on Halloween activities. With love, understanding, and faith, we can tackle Halloween as Christian parents and continue to guide our families in the ways of Christ.

In the face of the Halloween craze, we have discovered some practical ways to navigate this holiday while upholding  our faith and family values. We've learned to make choices rooted in biblical guidance, which is not necessarily about avoiding Halloween altogether with no convictions of our own but selecting our involvement thoughtfully.

How do we want to get involved this season? As some who go with the flow or as those who choose how to turn it around to serve a higher purpose?

Our conversations starter suggestions with children have been guided by five key biblical talking points, emphasizing discernment, peace over fear, celebrating life, guarding our hearts, and embracing our set-apart identity.

Furthermore, Halloween provides a unique opportunity for Christians to respond with gospel compassion. The fear associated with this holiday often conceals a deeper fear of judgment and God's anger, making it an ideal platform to share the transformative gospel message.

In conclusion, this guide equips Christian parents to approach Halloween with faith, wisdom, and meaningful discussions with their children.

By adhering to these principles, we empower our kids to make choices that reflect our Christian values while also spreading love, understanding, and faith to those who may be curious or fearful during this season.

Let us be the light in a world sometimes shadowed by fear and uncertainty.