Thoughts on Halloween

So, I hesitate to write this today, because I know it will most likely offend some of you and there is a good chance many of you will probably disagree with me (which is totally fine). Even though it’s after the fact, I can’t shake this strong tugging on my heart to share with you my thoughts on Halloween. Before I start though, let me preface this with reminding you of how precious you are. If you are someone who enjoys Halloween I don’t think you’re a terrible person or evil or whatever. What I’m about to share, I share with a heart of love and a heart that is desperate to share truth with my friends who may have unknowingly been blinded. fall Halloween is a holiday that has never been a part of my life. Growing up, my mom would pull me and my siblings out of school for the Halloween parties. Let me tell you, my mom is such a wise woman. I’m so thankful that she set that standard in our home. Our home would be one of the few dark houses on the block. Instead of dressing up and trick-or-treating, my dad would let us have a junk food and family movie night.

At 25 years old, I’ve still never celebrated Halloween. As a couple, Kirby and I have also chosen to not celebrate Halloween. This may be surprising to you. Seeing kiddos dressed up is cute and seems harmless, but for me it goes deeper. I did some research on Halloween recently and what I discovered had me and my husband’s complete attention. Needless to say, it further established in our hearts that we are doing the right thing. I jotted down a few of the big shockers to show you…

“Halloween is a sacred, high holiday for Wiccans – the official religion of witchcraft”¹
“The orgin of Halloween can be traced to this ‘ancient pagan festival celebrated by Celtic people over 2,000 years ago,’ states The World Book Encyclopedia. The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time. They believed the living could visit with the dead”²
“According to the book Halloween – An American Holiday, An American History, some of the Celts wore ghoulish costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to the spirits to appease them.”³
“They believed that visiting ghosts would disguise themselves in human form and knock on doors asking for money or food. If they were turned away empty-handed, the homeowner risked angering the spirit and being cursed or haunted.”⁴
“They would also carve out turnips and rutabagas, and place embers in them to ward off the evil spirits” – this later became what we now call jack-o-lanterns.⁵

Um…kinda crazy right?! I literally had no idea the reasons behind the traditions of Halloween. It’s definitely spiritual in nature and the spiritual realm is a real thing.

This October 31, Kirby and I had an average night. We worked, worked out, and planned to have homemade chili for dinner. We ran to the grocery store that evening to grab some last minute ingredients. People rushing around us in Wal-Mart were dressed in all varieties of costumes. Some were cute. Some were gruesome. Some you couldn’t tell if it was a costume or not? It’s almost surreal, like walking through a weird scary movie. (Did I mention I hate scary movies??)

On our way out of Wal-Mart and back to my truck, there was a vehicle waiting near the crosswalk. We hesitated but they waved us on. Walking by it was noticeable that there was someone wearing a horrifying mask. They began creepily taunting us as we walked by. They continued to slowly circle around the parking lot doing that to other people. Can I just say, especially with this ridiculous clown thing going on that this is NOT ok? Like, NOT ok. I will not be taunted. I will not be intimidated. Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world! God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind.

As a Christian I choose to celebrate the light! I do not want anything to do with glorifying the darkness and death, celebrating evil, instilling fear into people, or giving darkness an inroad in my life. I don’t want my future children to be in the image of anyone or anything but Christ. I don’t ever want to willingly partake in the darkness or support a day built on the basis of fear. It’s not ok with me.

Like I said before, I am not, not, NOT out to condemn you or make you feel bad if you participate in Halloween. Who knows, I may have celebrated Halloween if I hadn’t of grown up in the home I did. My heart though, is to make God known. I want to share truth and help you to have eyes to see. If you don’t agree, that is totally fine…keep on keeping on. It’s important to me though to not sit by idly when Christians should be standing out. What are you letting have an inroad into your life? Are you unknowingly partaking in darkness?

Every year Halloween becomes bigger and bigger and also more and more accepted by the church (which totally blows my mind). Being completely honest, I don’t need a fall festival where we justify celebrating Halloween by just not calling it “Halloween”. I want boldness to simply say “nope, I’m choosing not to participate.” Here are some verses that God reminds me of when it comes to dealing with Halloween:

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14
“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, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 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. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God” – Deuteronomy 18:10-13
“For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.” Romans 16:19
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.” – 1 Corinthians 10:21
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” – Deuteronomy 30:19
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” – Ephesians 5:8
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” – Romans 13:12
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” – Philippians 4:8

With all that being said, I am SO happy we are moving on to my favorite time of the year!!! Filled with Hallmark movies, hot tea, smells of cinnamon, and sounds of thankfulness and joy. YAY!! PS. message me if you’d like that chili recipe I mentioned, it was *muah* delicious! If you have any questions about anything regarding Halloween, email me and we will chat. You are precious. You are loved. You are a light. I hope you have a fabulous week!

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