It is once again that time of year when Haunted Houses spring up all over town and children scramble to get the year’s most popular costume. Soon, hordes of little ghosts, witches, and vampires will prowl our neighborhoods seeking the thing that, for most people, Halloween is all about: candy. It is also the time of year for the annual debate among many Christians about how to respond to Halloween.
Probably for as long as the holiday has been celebrated, Christians have split into three main groups: those who think it’s a glorification of Satan and should be outlawed, those who think it’s the best time in the world to bring the Gospel to people who are into occult practices, and those who think that the other two sides should settle down (after all, it’s really just about candy). My own view is something of a mix of these.
Certainly there are people who get excited about Halloween because they are interested in, or even committed to, Satanism, witchcraft, and the occult. But these same people are into these things on Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Arbor Day as well (the Druids are especially into Arbor Day), so it’s not the specific day that’s the problem. However, I do not want my children involved with Ouija boards, tarot readings, or séances, all of which are more prevalent at this time of year, so as always common sense is needed. But a haunted house and some candy never hurt anyone, and making such a big deal about it makes us all look like Ned Flanders.
For the side that sees Halloween as a day to “win the devil worshippers to the Lord,” take a step back and ask yourself if you’ve talked to a neighbor or coworker about the Lord since last Halloween. Sharing the Gospel is a year-round calling. And don’t put Gospel tracts in the kids’ trick or treat bags unless you’re also putting a large amount of candy, otherwise you’ll get a worse reputation on the block than the guy in my old neighborhood who gave us pennies instead of candy (seriously…pennies).
Where outreach is certainly possible is through the numerous Fall Festivals that most churches host around Halloween. These events give parents a safe place for their whole family to play games, eat free junk food, and get candy. Since fewer of us even know our next-door neighbors than at any time in our history, the chance for some sense of community can make the church, and ultimately the Gospel, more attractive to those who might otherwise never come.
The key to a Fall Festival being a doorway to sharing the Gospel is truly caring about the people who attend. If your only goal in holding an event like this is to boost church membership or if your see the un-churched as projects, people will know and won’t be back for any reason. If you’re doing it to give families a safe alternative on Halloween and because you want your church to have a positive impact in the community, people will know that too and will be more open to listening to the message of the Good News.
Halloween is meant to be a fun time for the kids and we should make it as fun (and safe) as possible. If the opportunity to share the Gospel presents itself, we should do that as well. As Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
