Halloween is right around the corner! While opinions about celebrating this holiday differ among many people of faith, there are some important biblical truths to consider when looking at how to best observe or if you should participate.
Here are some Bible verses that provide insight into a Christian’s approach to Halloween
Bible Verses About Celebrating Halloween
The Danger of Mixing Light and Darkness
Talking about light and darkness, the Bible often highlights the significance of separating the two from each other. It encourages individuals who follow God to keep themselves away from any activities or practices that are associated with evil.
Halloween, a celebration with roots in pagan traditions, focuses on supernatural entities like ghosts and witches that revolve around darkness. This can make some Christians uncomfortable since they strive to live in the light and walk on the path guided by Jesus Christ.
About Halloween, mixing darkness and light could involve participating in activities that seem harmless or fun but have sinister origins. Dressing up like a demon or enchanted personality might seem like innocent fun, but it can also symbolize acceptance towards evil forces that contradict what the Bible teaches.
Certain Christians might be against such activities on Halloween as they believe it could lead to confusion regarding spirituality or become vulnerable to negativity.
People who follow Christ are warned to always stay alert against negative influences in their lives. Not every aspect of Halloween is inherently malevolent, but it’s essential to avoid how even slight darkness could mix with light.
By being cautious and avoiding potential dangers, Christians can sustain their spiritual purity while safeguarding themselves from destructive influences.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?”
Ephesians 5:11
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
1 John 1:5-7
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Matthew 6:23
“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
John 1:5
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
The Importance of Holiness
The Bible teaches that living a holy life dedicated to God is crucial for Christians. This includes evaluating whether participating in Halloween aligns with their pursuit of holiness.
Some Christians believe that Halloween’s origins and focus on the supernatural make it unholy, so they may choose not to participate or create alternative celebrations that emphasize love, light, and holiness.
Others may engage with Halloween while still maintaining their commitment to holiness by using the occasion to share the gospel or promote kindness within their community. In any case, holiness is an important principle for Christians when deciding how to engage with Halloween and honoring God in everything they do.
1 Peter 1:15-16
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'”
1 Thessalonians 5:22
“Abstain from every form of evil.”
James 4:4
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Leviticus 19:31
“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.”
Also Read: 27 Bible Verses About Jesus Points to God the Father (With Commentary)
The Danger of Idolatry
When it comes to faith and spirituality, the Bible has strong teachings against idolatry. This means that people should only worship or venerate God, rather than anything else. Halloween is a holiday that often focuses on supernatural beings and fictional characters. For Christians who celebrate Halloween, there is a risk of engaging in idolatrous practices without even realizing it.
Some Halloween traditions, like carving pumpkins or dressing up as non-Christian figures, might encourage people to show reverence for things other than God. This could lead some Christians to start doing things that go against their religious beliefs.
To avoid this problem, believers should be careful about how they celebrate Halloween. They should think about the activities they choose to participate in and what messages those things might send. By staying aware of these issues and maintaining their commitment to God, Christians can keep themselves safe from danger and focused on their faith.
Exodus 20:3-5
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.”
1 Corinthians 10:20-22
“No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”
Galatians 5:19-21
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy,
fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Colossians 2:8
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
The Importance of Discernment
The Christian faith teaches the importance of discernment, which involves being able to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil. Halloween can present various moral and spiritual dilemmas for Christians, making this skill particularly relevant during this holiday.
Discernment is crucial when it comes to celebrating Halloween. It allows Christians to make informed decisions about what parts of the holiday align with their beliefs and which ones should be avoided.
Discernment can help believers identify whether seemingly harmless activities such as trick-or-treating or attending costume parties promote values that align with their faith or if they unwittingly contribute to the celebration of darkness and evil.
Christians can use discernment in deciding how best to interact with others during Halloween. Some may see it as an opportunity to share their faith while others may choose to abstain from certain celebrations out of respect for their beliefs.
By employing discernment, believers can navigate the complexities of Halloween while staying true to their faith and commitment to God.
1 John 4:1
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21
“But test everything; hold fast what is good.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Proverbs 4:23
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Final Thoughts
As disciples of Christ, it is our responsibility to live in righteousness and mirror God’s purity. As set in the Holy Scriptures, we are strictly forbidden from worshipping false gods or engaging in practices that darken our souls.
Therefore, it is essential that we apply wisdom and scrutinize everything that comes our way against the truths of the Bible. Given the seemingly innocuous nature of Halloween, we must pause and reflect on how it originated and investigate its rituals to examine if they correspond with God’s teachings and values.