My children are asked this question every year during the month of October, (in fact, they were asked it again today!) and every year their response is, “We do not celebrate evil.” Yes, that is a very strong response that I taught them at a young age. I decided it was best to make a quick and straight forward statement and leave it up to the other person if they would like to ask us more questions about our beliefs.
Some Christians may feel that this response is too harsh or that participating in Halloween is no big deal. But for me and my family, I believe as a Daughter of the King, I should take a stand for righteousness on that day because many Believers don’t. In today’s society it is very difficult to be bold for fear of being rejected or by being judged by others, but regardless of the repercussions that we may face by ‘man’, we will ultimately stand before the Lord and have to give an account of what we did each year as October 31st came around.
We are set apart by God not just 364 days out of the year, but also on Oct. 31st as well. I want my sons to know the fear of the Lord and realize that they were created to please Him. “But you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). It may be hard to keep in mind what, we as Believers wrestle with, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
As my children came into this world, my husband and I had to make the decision about what to do with Halloween. Should we participate in it or not? Should our children go trick or treating or not? Do they dress up or not? How about attending church Fall Festivals as an alternative? So, what we did was search the Scriptures to guide us in this decision making process and the one verse that we kept going back to is this, “Abstain from ALL appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22. So because of what the Word of God said, we have never had our children participate in the evil origins of the pagans practice of trick or treating. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).
What we have done over the years was dress our children up in Bible costumes and attend church alternative festivals. So why Bible costumes and not just regular costumes…So my children can learn to be the ‘light of the world ‘. In Matthew 4:13, “We are called to be the light of the world.”, so that is what we have taught our children to do at a very young age when they were dressed up as Moses, holding the 10 Commandments, or Noah and all his animals, or as King David or a Shepherd. By being dressed in Bible-themed costumes, it was my hopes that their witness would edify the saints or minister to the unsaved that we came across that evening and it always did!
When my boys get much older, we will some day open our doors for the neighborhood kids and hand out candy and Christian-gospel tracts, but for now, I still have little disciples that I am responsible for ministering to. Their souls are still very sensitive to evil looking things/costumes, not to mention just being lured into by all of the darkness. Of course they are exposed to the ghoulish-looking creatures and costumes that they see while out at stores, but I do not need to invite the appearance of evil (nor evil itself) to my front porch and the reason why is because my children are my first ministry, they come before me spending time ministering to the neighborhood kids that evening.
Hopefully by the time my children are in their teens, they will have received much knowledge and wisdom in the Lord and they will one day be prepared to minister to others on Oct. 31st. “The fear of the Lord makes men turn from evil.” Proverbs 16:6 Perhaps they will be serving at our church’s alternative to Halloween festival where an unsaved soul comes just for the candy but is really in need of a Savior.
I love what Romans 12:2 has to say, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 Maybe the Lord has been tugging on your heart this year about what to do with Halloween. Meditate on this verse and pray for the Lord’s leading. Find out ‘what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God’ for you and your family this coming October 31st.
We live in this world but we are not of it, so as my boys grow in wisdom and discernment from year to year, we assess what is best for their spiritual growth as to what we will or will not participate in on October 31st. I am sure you will be faced with the same decision as well.
So what will you do with that day? I would love to read your comments.
Shine!
1 comment:
Another sister in christ who believes the same way!! My family are the ones who don't understand why we don't partake in Halloween. I have even been asked this from a family member "If you had such a good time growing up how come you don't allow your kids to go trick or treating?" I didn't know at the time what to say so I said this "Now I know differently. Plus I was different back then and what they don't know they can not miss."
It didn't go over lightly with her but I let it go. The other hard part for me is that my youngest was born on October 31!! Everyone who finds out says Oh a halloween baby, must be so fun. Ummm yeah but not for how they think. LOL!! It gives us a reason to celebrate but it is more for her birthday not Halloween!! We get the same comments when it comes to the tooth fairy (we call her the tooth angel), the easter bunny (he doesn't come to our house and we don't do easter egg hunts) and they are all very critical about homeschooling, go figure!
God bless you and your family!!
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