Let's Talk About Halloween

*****Disclaimer: I am not telling anyone that it is wrong to celebrate Halloween! I believe this is a personal choice...and one that takes self reflection, prayer, and time in God's Word. Today's thoughts are simply my own personal journey on testing this 'holiday' against God's Word. Just my take on it, no judgement if you do not agree.***** 

"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons." I Corinthians 10:21 NIV

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:11 NKJV 

"Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." I Peter 5:8 GNT

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20 ESV

"but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil." I Thessalonians 5:21-22 RSV

These are just a few of the many Bible verses that warn us away from anything evil. The Bible does not actually address Halloween directly. The roots of this holiday are not entirely clear - but any and all origins that can be looesly - or strongly - tied to this day all came many years after the Bible was written. At least, that's according to my own personal research on the matter. I encourage you to do your own research on the matter, if you feel led to do so. 

From the research I have done, it seems that many of the known origins of Halloween are rooted in pagan rituals, and a lot of different cultures had some form of ritual focused on death, or on interacting with the dead. In the present time, it is hard to miss the connections between October 31st celebrations and the dark arts. In II Corinthians 10:21 Paul warns us that we cannot take part in both God's table and the table of demons. For me, I feel this means I cannot try to turn a day that celebrates the dead, horror, and whatever other evil things into an alternative Christian event. 

Now I know my fellow Lutherans will hold up a hand here, to point out that October 31st is celebrated as Reformation Day in our church. Yes, the Reformation that was brought about by Martin Luther in the 1500's was incredibly important. I would never want to take away from the emphasis that Luther put on the actual Word of God in the Bible, rather than the non-Biblical practices that were going on in his time. I would like to point out that Reformation Day, as many other church holidays, is celebrated on a day that was rumored to have been the day of the famous "95 Theses" were nailed to the church door. The many different articles I was able to read on the history of this event all agreed that this is the day we honor the memory of it, but it does not appear that anyone can confirm this was the actual day.

But let's assume that this rumored date is accurate. Would it really honor Luther's memory to take part in dressing up as something we are not - as someone other than who God created us to be? If Luther could time travel from the 1500's to 2023, do you think he would be please to see spooky decorations, fake blood, and supernatural scenes recreated on lawns across the nation? If he asked you to explain what the "trick" is in "Trick or Treat," how would you reply? 

I had a dear friend point me to the Christian pumpkin story. I found several variations online - and there is a good explanation behind the carving of pumpkins and how we are a new creation in Christ. But, to me pumpkins are not exclusive to Halloween. In fact, if anyone mentions a pumpkin, my first thought is of my grandmother and her amazing pumpkin pies. I think of her every time I bake one. I think of my grandfather too - he loved them so much he would request a pumpkin pie instead of cake for his birthday every year. My point: pumpkins just remind me of fall. This season of changing from the heat of summer, to the cooler weather. The season where plants go dormant, trees loose their leaves, and we reflect on our blessing that we are most grateful for.

Friends, I am not mad at you if you choose to celebrate Halloween. I just won't be joining you. We do not specifically know what we are opening ourselves up to when we allow ourselves exposure to things that go against God's Word. We need to protect ourselves when and where we can on this. 

I saw a video of a woman who was talking about how she works to limit her exposure to evil because of the effects of it. She likens it to opening portals that cause her to deal with demons that she never should have been. She was specifically talking about scary movies, however I think the message can relate here too. We do not specifically know what we are opening ourselves up to when we allow ourselves exposure to things that go against God's Word. We need to protect ourselves when and where we can on this. Obviously we live in a sin broken world and we cannot limit our exposure to zero evil...I think that just makes it that much more important to limit what we do have control to limit. 

I would like to end by reposting two of the Bible verses above: "Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." I Peter 5:8. And also: "but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil." I Thessalonians 5:21-22 RSV. Friends, all I am asking is that we seek God in all things. We hold fast to His Word. We test anything we are questioning against the Bible...and we are open to God's correction when He guides us towards or away from things in this life. 

May you be blessed and be the blessing. And may God protect your heart and soul, today, this week, and always.