Every Christian has their own opinion about Halloween. Some embrace it. Some avoid it altogether. The ones who embrace it take the family-friendly approach: harvest festivals and Halloween parties. Some people love a spooky movie, a creepy song, and turning their house into a haunted mansion. The ones who distance themselves from the day have their own reasons: spiritual and whatnot. At the very least, it’s a great conversation starter for Christians to share their opinions about the scary day.
What I like about Halloween are the dress-ups, the candy (oh, the candy), the trick-or-treating, haunted houses, ghouls, and goblins. But I draw the line on horror movies and evil witchcraft—they rattle my spirit too much. A friend of mine avoids Halloween because of its pagan roots, even though it has some Christian history.
The dress-up parties are entertaining. I like the costumes and everything that goes with them. In the early ‘90s, I dressed up as a cheesy skeleton (yes, a picture exists, but you won’t see it) and the noble Will Turner, a Pirates of the Caribbean character. What’s vital in all this is community. One year, I took my nieces out trick-or-treating. It allowed me to bond with them and create some good memories.
Hey music lovers, Halloween is a great excuse to make the perfect spooky soundtrack—particularly eerie ballads. It would be best if you went for haunting melodies with powerful instrumentals. Think of eerie offerings from music maker Tommee Proffitt. He’s taken some sentimental love songs and turned them into something dark and atmospheric. He’s collaborated with the industry’s best: Crowder, Colton Dixon, and Tauren Wells, among others. Here are a few songs that I have on my Halloween playlist.
For the record, yes, Halloween is fun. It’s a great way to share your faith and celebrate with others. If you’re unsure whether to celebrate the spooky day or what to do or not to do, then center yourself on scripture.
Romans 12:2 is a great example: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I’ve given you a few suggestions of what to celebrate and avoid. Have a conversation with a friend: what would they do? Give yourself grace as you journey through the Halloween season like any other, and bring some of that grace to your neighbors. After all, the scariest part of the holiday can be a friend's judgmental and critical comment.
Paul E. Phillips is a Canadian journalist with 20 years of experience writing and editing digital and print content. He specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, and travel. He loves music, movies, and, of course, living for Jesus.
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