Why Christians Absolutely Should Celebrate Halloween!


My name is Brandon Hester… I’m a Pastor and I love Halloween. There, I said it. Let the stone throwing begin from all the religious people who read this.

I read an article in a popular Christian magazine a few days ago about how Christians absolutely should not celebrate Halloween. The author used everything from scriptures (out of context) to his own thoughts and convictions to try and make his point.

Even saying “For Christians to celebrate Halloween would be the same as Athiest having a nativity scene in their yards!”

You can read the article Here!

It doesn’t surprise me to read articles from religious spirited people this time of year. People who condemn others if they decide to pass out candy to children in their neighborhoods, bob for apples, or enjoy a hayride.  I know… That sounds all evil doesn’t it?!

Oddly enough… It’s usually people who wage a public war against Halloween that are the first to watch shows like the Walking Dead.  I’ve seen it all too often in the church world.

But not me. Not my house. We love this time of year.

Here are a few reasons I believe Christians should absolutely celebrate Halloween:

1. All extremes are dysfunctional!

Are there some people who take Halloween too far? Absolutely. Are there some people who hide in their houses with the lights off because they don’t want to give the appearance of “evil?” Absolutely. Are they both equally as weird? Absolutely.

You can’t live your life on the edges. You must find balance in all things.

If someone invites you to sacrifice something on Halloween night… Don’t go! And if someone invites you to their church for a “Hallelujah Festival” and to dress up like Bible Characters… Don’t go!

They’re both equally as strange. They’re both on opposite ends of the spectrum. And they’re both dysfunctional.

Enjoy passing out candy to little children while getting to know your neighbors better. Enjoy the excitement of your kids coming back with a bag full of junk and eating until they vomit.

And don’t forget the parent tax. Butterfingers and Reese’s belong to Dad!

2. You’ll never make a difference in your community if you’re stance is condemnation. 

News flash Christians… Most people already see us as hateful people. We can come across as arrogant “know it alls!” As if we’ve got life figured out.

And we all know… We don’t!

When we arrogantly tell people we don’t celebrate Halloween because it’s “evil”… We are condemning anyone who does. Making them feel as if they’re evil. And where do you go from there?

If you’ve made them feel evil… Will they come to your door when times get tough in their lives? Will they feel like they have a friend when they’re lonely? NO! No they will not!

Because you chose to lead with condemnation instead of love and acceptance… You have disqualified yourself from ever being able to speak into their lives.

Halloween is a great time to get to know your neighbors. It’s indeed the only night of the year where they will come to your door. You have the opportunity to show your neighbors that you’re a nice and approachable person. Strike up conversation with them. Set up a table and offer parents coffee or cider. Have a fire available to roast marshmallows.

It’s a huge moment for you to SHOW the love of Christ before you ever will be able to SHARE the love of Christ.

Allow your stance to be love to your community. Not condemnation.

3. It’s only an evil day if that’s what you want it to be!

Your children don’t know it’s an evil day. Ask them. I dare you. They will tell you it’s all about dressing up as something fun. Getting as much candy as possible. And then coming home to trade candy with each other.

The smiles on their faces show no fear. They aren’t thinking about the celebration of the underworld! And neither am I. Their Pastor Dad!

Nothing makes me smile more than when my little girls come out of the house dressed like a farmer and a chicken! And our neighbors weren’t afraid. They wanted to take pictures of the cuteness!


Look… We all know the history of Halloween. It was a pagan holiday used to celebrate all things death. It was weird.

BUT IT ALL CHANGED IN THE 1800’s! Look it up! The communities in the U.S. decided to do away all the demonic and evil stigmas associated with Halloween. It quickly became a community event for children. What it continues to be today!

Sure. Some people are always going to push the limits. But we shouldn’t run in fear. We shouldn’t let them ruin a day where we can get together as a community and have a great time.

We should redeem the day! Much like we have done with Christmas and Easter. Which also started as pagan holidays!

Get outside. Enjoy your children. Enjoy your neighbors. Don’t shut yourself inside somewhere loathing in your own self righteousness.

Remember… It was the religious people who also condemned Jesus for eating with sinners. He didn’t hide. He didn’t run. He sat and ate.

Would you rather make a point?… Or would you rather make a difference? That choice is up to you.

Essex

175 Comments

  1. Love it except Halloween itself started as a Christian holiday actually. I find it so strange Halloween started Christian, Christmas started pagan and somehow we’ve reversed them to some degree.

    • Yes, I find it strange that everyone (well, Christians, mainly) believe Halloween was a “pagan” holiday. It’s actually completely a religious origin and still – in Anglican and Catholic traditions – is All Saints Day (the night before is All Hallow’s Eve). Nothing to do with Paganism.

      • Yep in the Methodist faith, we celebrate the lives of the people who pass away in the last year. On All Saints Day which is The first Sunday after Halloween. We have a very touching service where the persons name is said and a bell is rung and a candle with their name on it is lit. Is a way of honoring all those who have pass and now they are all saints. Only symbolic but very wonderful for those who have lost family or friends.

        • Thanks for sharing that idea Kathy! I enjoyed this article and wholeheartedly agree!

    • Actually Christians took over the pagan holiday called Samhain. People believed that the dead and spirits roamed the earth so they left out food for them and dressed up to trick the spirits into thinking the people were spirits too. There were also sacrifice involved . Animal and sometimes human.

      • Watch out with that truth. It’s not socially inflammatory nor emotionally biased. It has no place on the internet!

    • The devil himself is a Pastor and has followers. Eternity in Christ Jesus is not a context of popularity neither do true Christians seek the approval of men. Men’s opinions based on human philosophy does not move the Heavens. The truth does not need prove or acceptance, only false and deep rooted evil seeks the acceptance of light.

      I have not seen any report or reference to bible scriptures backing the celebration of halloween by true Christians. But pretenders and born AGAINST Christians who seek the approval of men have craftily like their father – satan, seeking the support of men.

      Please read the following Bible scriptures and choose who you will believe. You are free to make a choice but you and your generation is not free from the consequences of the choices
      .
      Job 24:13 “There are those who rebel against the light; They do not know its ways Nor abide in its paths.

      Eph 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

      Eph 5:8-11 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them].

      Rom. 13:12 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.

      • YHWH’s berakah (Blessings) for sharing the truth of His Qodesh (Holy/Set Apart) Word to this man who is leading his sheep to slaughter.

      • Amen, There are a lot people that try to justify what they want to do in the name of Jesus. If you know the word of God you would not even try to justify Halloween.

        1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
        1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
        1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
        1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
        1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

      • Was this stated in the bible talking about Halloween or are you using it in a different pretext. Then how it was put in the bible. God should be left to the judgement not us.

      • Amen!! The very first deception was based on man thinking satan’s reasoning was better than God’s word.

      • Just want to add that the author of this post obviously did not even properly READ the other article that he gave the link to … He made 2 glaring mistakes in his references to it, not to mention numerous other naive assumptions …. Wow. Talk about bring blind to the enemy even when he is being so blatant about his attempts to devour us! Thanks Jide for pointing out the truth (again) just like the other author did in the linked article in an UNCOMPROMISING fashion!

      • Loved what you wrote! I do not condemn anyone, and do not teach my children to do so, but I do not think that is right be part of something that celebrates death, darkness, and so! I don’t hide at my basement, just try to avoid to expose my children to something that is tempting to their eyes, after all, I believe the focus shifted to the children, just to make them get used to celebrate this date since they are little enough to do not see the real meaning of the celebration!

    • Reversed it? Can you supply a Biblical passage that would even suggest that? I don’t think so. That is your opinion without Biblical foundation.

      HEAVEN FORBID THE FOUNDATIONS OF HIS TRUTH BE DESTROYED!

      PSALMS 11:3 “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

      So many people in these threads are far weaker in the Word of YHWH than I am and I do not at all consider myself strong.

    • People, we as Christians are forgetting one very important factor! We are ALL members of the same body of Christ. And we are all different. Which means we each have different thoughts, different ideas, different ways of doing things and different views on holidays. But being different doesn’t make us right or wrong – it just means that we are different. And being a unique person created by God means that I have a different calling on my life than you do. You can be called to be a pastor to celebrate Halloween or a single dad who takes his kids out trick or treating or a single woman who chooses to obey God and stay home and not participate in any of it. The point is is that we each have a job, if you will, to do in God’s plan for us in this life. Arguing about whether or not to celebrate a holiday is up to each person as the Holy Spirit has led and convicted you of. This pastor has chosen to celebrate Halloween. I have chosen to not celebrate Halloween. It doesn’t make either one of us right or wrong. We are still brother and sister in Jesus Christ. So please, stop fighting because that is exactly what the devil wants. Because the devil knows that when we are divided – that is when we fall. Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And the devil is using this holiday to divide us. So don’t let him. We can all agree to disagree because we are all different.

  2. You say the Christians are condemning people that celebrate Halloween. Isn’t that what you are doing in your article towards people that don’t celebrate? I have my convictions, just like you do and we decided not to celebrate Halloween. Is that the only time in the year that kids come and knock on the door? Where I live neighbors kids knock on the door for fundraisers and I give than. Do my children believe in Santa or Easter Bunny? No, but the stories themselves are not negative. In Ontario the Dr. told a family of a 7 year old to celebrate Christmas earlier because the boy might not live long enough. Why didn’t the Dr. tell them to celebrate Halloween? Why not give him this early happy Halloween party and deck the town in Halloween stuff, why Christmas?? Just something to think about.

    • Nope… Not condemning them. Feel free to live by your convictions.

      • Yes, you were condemning us as “religious” people!! And I get tired of seeing your kind of articles doing just that! I have heard first hand how the 31st is celebrated by demon worshipers!!! And it is ugly!!! Why do you keep condemning us for not going along with it? Altho I do hand out candy and go to harvest parties, I still do not want to say I’m celebrating a satanic holiday. You cannot change what they do on this night, by going out enjoying and celebrating!! You can’t change it anyway, because they are going to use the day. Why not pick a different day to celebrate and have fun? With all your happiness about this you still want to take time and space to vilify those who know exactly what is celebrated on that night. You prance forward like you have the right to put people down because you are so liberal!!!

    • I feel the same as you. I don’t condemn but just don’t participate. My oldest child gets nightmares, my second has sensitivities to sugar and gets cavities from just looking at candy! If someone else wants to celebrate, go to it! We have decided not to.

  3. ” We all know the history of Halloween. It was a pagan holiday used to celebrate all things death. It was weird. ”

    A very odd (and hypocritical) sentiment coming from the minister of a religion whose primary symbol is one used to torture and kill. All religions celebrate death in one way or another. Christians do, indeed, go on to celebrate resurrection, but at the same time, there’s a very similar metaphorical quality to other faith’s celebrations of the dead – the dead never really die if we keep them alive in our memories.

    • No sir…. We celebrate the life of Christ. Not the death. He is alive!

      • actually we do celebrate the death, but we do this of course keeping in mind the resurrection. if Christ did not die, he could not be resurrected now could he? his death is our atoning for our sin. that’s what Good Friday is all about. and without his death, and the shedding of his blood there is no forgiveness of sin…. so ya, we actually do celebrate it. dont know where your getting that idea that we dont from…

      • “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).
        We proclaim (not celebrate) his death because it was by his death that we are redeemed. We cannot celebrate his resurrection without recognizing he died. Many Chrisitians do not like to think about the excruciating death he suffered for us…they want to focus on the good part only…his conquering of death. Well…we have to do as Paul said and proclaim his death until he comes again…we have to remind people of the sacrifice…not just the victory!

  4. Love it!

    In Christ we are free! I can sit down with my girls and eat a plate of bacon and ribs for the same reason I take my girls trick or treating – we are free!

    As a fellow pastor, father and husband I thank you for your words and wish you and yours a Happy Halloween!

    • YES by your logic we are free to rape, pillage and burn.

      HEAVEN FORBID.

      • Really??? So that is the only connection to freedom you can make??? I sometimes wonder if people who has such radical opinions of others, are really actually reflecting on their own struggles and issues? #justathought

        • I have read Romans 14. Maybe you need to reread it without an indoctrinated lens.
          The context of Romans 14 is speaking about “special days”, because the Jews had human traditions concerning FASTING twice each week. If someone didn’t follow the pattern, they were regarded as less pious. Paul was simply declaring that what we do, or don’t do is okay, FASTING OR NOT.

          The “days” that Paul was referring to were the traditional fast days mentioned in Zechariah 7:5-6.
          Paul never condones the adoption of pagan customs and traditions to honor God with them. This is going far beyond the intention of what Paul wrote. Peter warned us not to misunderstand Paul’s writings.
          To build doctrine around the twisting of Scripture according to one’s own eisegesis of a certain passages is not rightly dividing the word.

          A simple reading of Romans 14 is about certain foods on fast days and how people’s beliefs about fasting should not be interfered with. The fast days could be observed according to each believer’s conscience. A man could eat, or not eat, keep the day or not keep it. Each man could observe FAST DAYS, or not observe them, according to their own convictions.

          Do not FOR THE SAKE OF FOOD, destroy the work of God. – Romans 14:20

  5. So this defense of Halloween from a pastor does not once use Scripture to defend the arguments presented? Not one Bible verse can be found to backup your points? I find that odd. I have a dozen off the top of my head that I’d love to hear someone argue for Halloween with. How about “abstain from ALL appearances of evil”? If Halloween does not appear evil, I don’t know what does. Abstaining from a practice is NOT condemnation, per se. It’s actually exactly what Scripture tells Christians to do! How is me telling someone they’re a sinner ANY different than telling them to read the Law of the Bible? The ENTIRE point of the Law and the Bible is to show sinners that they need Christ! To say that Christians are NOT welcoming enough because we avoid specific things is NOT un-Biblical. It’s actually the contrary! If someone doesn’t like that a Christian is HOLY, then that’s NOT our problem. It’s theirs. Wow. What if….just what if ALL Christians were known as a people that truly defended the Word of God and lived out the Lord’s commands…as a whole group consistently? The world would see that as LIGHT. We are supposed to live seperately from the world! What about Halloween is in ANY way holy and seperate from the world? How does ANY of it honor Christ? Huh? HOW? God Bless.

    • Yikes… Seems as though you have it all figured out. I’d imagine the Pharisees had the same argument.

      • Essex, I did not say that. Can’t I say the exact same thing to the author of this article? Why do I get attacked and he did not? What did I say that goes against Scripture? Pointing out a reason would be more beneficial than calling someone a Pharisee.

        • Sorry your response does not answer Todd’s question – where are your bible references to back up your views on this? I too feel like just because we have chosen not to participate in Halloween that it means I’m not acting like a Christian should – I think there are a lot of other ways I can show my neighbors that my door is always open when they need me…

        • It’s not defying any laws. Its not celebrating ancestors, nor doing occult things, nor worshiping idols, nor sacrificing things that are unclean. If I am not mistaken Todd I believe that is the biblical answers you needed to hear.

          Pharisees only did what the law said and condemned those who disagreed, also they acted extremely pious… I feel as though your belief to not participate is valid but also note the bible said nothing about halloween and therefore a grey area and thus not a biblical issue.

          Sources: Bible college, being a recovering pharisee, demon hunter, exorcist, reading the bible, being a Christian

        • I think you make an excellent point Todd. Just remember when people are presented with the truth and cannot find an answer that will not convict themselves they always resort to personal attacks. So alluding to you being a Pharisee is not surprising.

      • What About come out from among them and be separate. What about being salt and light?What about if any man loved the world, the love of the Father is not in him? Someday you will have to stand and give an answer my friend.

      • Sorry, that Pharisee comment bothered me. Why were the Pharisees wrong? Because they followed Gods law perfectly? No, that would be silly. They were wrong because they added to Gods law ordinances of man. They added to the commands of God for self serving purpose, NOT for the glorification of God. Now, where did I add to the commands of the Lord? If you can point out where I did that, you could appropriately call me Pharisitical.

        • Todd you are right on point. Jesus died for us and we should strive to be just like him and I can never see Him celebrating Halloween. Haw a fall festival instead.

      • Sorry your response does not answer Todd’s question – where are your bible references to back up your views on this? I too feel like just because we have chosen not to participate in Halloween that it means I’m not acting like a Christian should – I think there are a lot of other ways I can show my neighbors that my door is always open when they need me…

      • Yikes, it sounds like you answered no question!!! Sounds like you have it all figured out

    • Luke 11:33. We are commanded to not hide the light in us but make sure it illuminates the darkness. A light doesn’t do anything hidden under a bowl(or hidden in a basement), it needs to shine in the darkness to do any good. The more darkness the more need for lights to be there. Jesus died and rose again so that the power of sin and death would be defeated. Now, His Holy Spirit lives in us and desires to get out and influence every dark corner of civilization. That only happens when we, as carriers of God, get out and bring redemption to the corrupted. We are losing on Halloween because so many Christians won’t even get in the fight.

      Psalm 118:24. Every day belongs to God. Satan doesn’t own one of them. Not even one second. I have a duty and a privilege to rejoice and be glad in every day, not willingly hand the day over to Satan and cower in fear. What do you think brings Satan the most pleasure- seeing Christians kids filled with joy and interacting with their neighbors or seeing Christians hiding in their homes with the lights off because they’re scared? Remember the enemy always attacks with a double edge sword-the obvious attack and then our reaction to the attack. Sure he wants to corrupt the world with death and the demonic during Halloween(same as every day), but he’s just as happy to silence the church and send them into hiding for one day a year as well(which he accomplishes every October 31).

      Romans 14. Read the whole chapter. Judgement and condemnation is the enemy. Bickering and arguing and attacking is not helping. Simple truth is some people just don’t have a strong enough faith to see how Christians can ever be involved in any way with something that is dark- like eating meat sacrificed to idols. They abstain because they think it is wrong. We need to respect that, even as we pray that their faith will be made stronger and they will see the truth. I used to be like that, and I can honestly say I felt that way because I wanted to do what is right. Years later I have a stronger faith, a much deeper understanding of our freedom, the true nature of Satan and the demonic and our duty as Christ’s ambassadors here on earth. Love and respect even if you don’t agree on disputable matters. That much is clear.

      • Well said greg. As long as we are intentional on how we are involved. The interaction with others is great, but we need to be careful what we accept and particapate in for we are jesus discipiles. Simple way to think of it is if you dressed your child as a vampire, and jesus was right beside you and asked ” why did you dress up the child that i have trusted you with as a dead person who drinks human blood? How does this better my kingdom? If you can answer him and be comfortable with it, then i guess you in line with your own beliefs. And a comment to essex, jesus sat and ate with sinners, but i cant find where it says he particapated in there sinful activities. A big difference i thought i should point out.

        • Thanks Jim… I think you missed the point on that. Jesus was condemned himself for the very act of associating with sinners. We need to associate without participating. This is an article to encourage people just to hang out and get to know others. And Halloween night is a great night for that.

        • Yes. Absolutely Jim. Redeeming Halloween means bringing light into the celebration, not adding more darkness. Being present and demonstrating how Jesus would participate in the day is the goal I believe. What type of costume would he wear, how he would treat his neighbors and how he would respond to the naysayers are all important considerations. That’s our duty in redeeming culture.

    • 1 SAM 15:23 “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

      HOS 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
      THIS PASTOR SHOWS HIS CONTEMPT FOR OUR ELOHIM (God) Yahweh.

      If this Pastor truly loved YHWH he would be obedient to His Qodesh Word. Obedience is how we show love to our parents and in this case to our ABBA. But this Pastor teaches REBELLION TO YHWH!

      NOT GOOD. This pastor needs to get on his knees and repent, Seek the face of Almighty YHWH again, turn from his wicked ways and once again walk in the light of the Qodesh Word of Almighty YHWH, promoting His goodness, His glory and all to the honor of His Qodesh Name. This pastor MUST APOLOGIZE TO HIS FLOCK AND CORRECT THEM TO WHAT THE WORD OF YHWH SAYS.

    • well i am surprised just as you are. however, i would suggest reading romans fourteen, as it does talk about celebrating days ( for example sabbath), as well as eating meat (which back then may have actually been offered to idols)

      since no one seems to understand this, let me explain…

      I think we all need to re-read romans 14 here. Paul tells us not to condemn believers who eat meat (which if you understand the context was actually offered to idols, and then sold in the market), or those who rest on the sabbath. the “weaker” (and this doesnt mean lesser than other christians) were condemning certain other beleivers who didnt have a problem with buying meat from the market, even though it had probably been offered as a sacrifice. but then you have some of the jewish christians who insist on resting on the sabbath, and they were being concemned for being too legalistic. how about we take care to NOT condemn and judge here. if your convictions lead you to believe halloween is not right becuase you feel it has the appearace of evil, then by all means, DO NOT PARTAKE! to do so would be a sin, as you in this matter would have a weaker conscience (and thats not always a bad thing, it doesnt mean you are lesser of a christian.) If God leads you to this conclusiomn then follow it, but dont force it on others since this is a grey area. I have heard of satanists and witches who have converted who will not partake of it, and if i was friends with them (i dont know them personally, i just heard about them over the internet) i would not partake either, in order to accomadate them, and not lead them into what would be a sin for them, since they do not have the faith to do so (again, its not a bad thing. ifyou take this that way, you are miss reading me, and do not understand what i am saying) .if you dont have that conviction that halloween is evil (and lets be honest here there is NOTHING in the bible about halloween specifically, which does mean it is a grey area, to which this romans passage applies.) then go ahead, just dont get into anything that DOES for sure have the appearance of evil. basically, what i am saying is that celeration of certain days is never actually condemned in the bible (for example, sabbath, which would have been required by jewish beleivers and obstained from by gentile ones at the time), but that doesn’t mean that it isnt a sin at all for the people whose consciences would be dirtied and their relationship between them and God strained by partaking. agian, if you have issues with Halloween, i am not encouraging you to partake becuase the bible doesnt say anything clear about it. DO NOT PARTAKE. i do not want to have you read this and act against your conscience. but dont try to reprove and rebuke people you do not know, and condemn them for handing out candy and dressing up. and people who do partake, do not condemn and look down on those who do not partake, as though their weaker faith means that they are lessser christians, and are legalistic and whatnot. for them, this would actually be a sin, and they should not partake of halloween.

      seriously, more teaching needs to be done about Romans 13-15.

      • Your teaching is a corruption by seeking to distort the Scriptures by twisting them to teach something vastly different from the intended meaning. Those who twist Scripture will twist any, or all of the Bible, but they will often will choose obscure or problematic texts. The appeal of a Scripture twisters is in providing a pretext for self-indulgence and sin for their followers, as well as themselves.

        You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him [be] the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen — 2 Peter 3:17-18

        Peter’s words are written so the followers of Jesus Christ will be on their guard and alert to those who twist the Scriptures. He expects his brothers and sisters in Christ not only can, but should be able to discern those who pervert God’s Word. Every follower of Christ should be able to recognize those about whom Peter warns us.

    • Colossians 2:16-23
      Christians are not HOLY in and of themselves. We are forgiven and made pure through the blood of Christ. Also, the world will know we are christians by our LOVE. (It doesn’t say LAW) Christ came to abolish the law and we have new life in HIM. Because of grace. Because of His great love and mercy. Halleluia! We can be in the world but not of it, which is how Christians can participate without fear or guilt.

      • You are correct that we are made righteous because of Jesus.
        One thing you said is incorrect: You said: Jesus said that He came to uphold the Law, not abolish it. (Check out Matt 5:17).
        Not true.
        That is, until He established His New Covenant after His death. Now, because Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we are free from the Law of Moses and the Old Covenant.
        Otherwise, you are right on!
        Whether anyone chooses to play along with Halloween or not, who cares? I draw the line on sacrificing the family pet or the neighborhood’s stray cat, but an opportunity to share supernatural acts, signs and wonders, prophetic words and healings and possibly befriending the grouchy neighbor (who says he’s a Christian, BTW…)? Priceless.
        Go out and be as sly as a serpent and as innocent as a dove.
        And tell them you are a vampire, that you are going to live forever because you drink blood. The blood of Christ. That’ll blow ’em away.

    • Right on Todd. BTW the author of the article he is blasting is my pastor and SHE is a speaker of truth. Show me in the Bible where God okays the celebration of Halloween. Man. history and human traditions are fallible but God’s Word clearly shows that He does not mix with evil in any way shape or form because He is holy, and if we claim to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us than we should not not mix (or create a self-proclaimed agenda as in this article) with that which is described as an evil holiday. No compromise period.

  6. I, as a pagan, would like to clarify one thing you said. Samhain is the pagan holiday that is the “origin” of Halloween. It actually is not a holiday to celebrate death. It is actually a celebration of the harvest and fall equinox. Yes it is the night of the year when the veil between our living realm and the realm of the underworld/ spirit world is thinnest. We celebrate and recognize our relatives and ancestors who have passed, but that is a very small portion of it. For most pagans it is actually considered our “new year” so it is a lot of joy, celebrating, giving thanks and being with loved ones. Many of the current Halloween traditions aren’t true pagan traditions.

  7. Disturbing on many levels. Since the replies to everyone’s comments are very sarcastic in nature I will not get on that level to argue, however I think those who have read this article should be aware that you need to study the origins and purpose of everything that you involve yourself in. Read The Bible and pray instead of excepting everything that everyone tells you even if they are a Pastor. Deception is easy to fall victim to.

  8. Thanks for a breath of fresh air! Most “Christians” fail to research the origins of the “holidays” (old English Holy Day) they celebrate, preferring instead to continue passing on the misinformation they’re spoon fed from the pulpit. Halloween itself is a derivative of the term Hallowed E’en (or Hallowed Eve) a celebration of holiness the night before All Saints Day on November 1st. While it is extra biblical, so is celebrating “Sabbath” on Sunday, but I’ve yet to see the Internet blow up with that protest. All “Christian” celebrations have their root in substitution of a “Pagan holiday” including the big ones, Easter (Ēostre) and Christmas (Gēola, midwinter solstice), but when was the last time you heard someone protest celebrating them? (Ok, the JW’s do, but this isn’t a discussion about doctrine) ANY day, holiday or not, belongs to the Lord, and if you celebrate with that in mind you can’t help but be blessed, no matter what it’s called!
    Thanks for the great read!

    • All Christian celebrations originate in pagan practices? Yea, the ones that some Christians have tried to assimilate with. We shouldn’t actually celebrate Easter or Christmas either. Why aren’t Christians honoring God and celebrating God in the ways that He commands us to? Why? Why celebrate Christmas or Easter? And ignore the holy days He put in place and ignore the commands to NOT follow the tradition of man. This is exactly what God says NOT to do! It’s very simple. Honor God in the way He commands. Don’t honor God the way the world honored their gods. Easter and Christmas do just that! Halloween shouldn’t even be debateable. It’s evil through and through. I’m kind of astonished that’s it’s a debate.

      • I think celebrating Halloween is fine. No matter what angle you take people are going to say its wrong. Putting on a costume is the same as putting on makeup everyday and buying designer clothes, it’s not the raw form period. I also don’t think its fair to say everyone should celebrate it. The question is not why this or that but can God get glory out of it. Jesus didn’t avoid the earth he dwelt among them. put on an angel costume, put on a Shepard costume. the thing I hate is when we the so called overly holy, God my brother, we text all the time, Christians condemn everything but fail to see how far we live away from the bible in our daily lives. The bible says you can’t get good fruit from a bad tree. Church harvest fest is a spin off of American Halloween, and that’s a spin off of another Halloween so regardless if American Halloween is wrong so is harvest fest which in turn means your church is wrong. Handing out candy and scriptures is still participating so still wrong. Teach our kids the word and teach them earthly lessons. I found that the bible does not say celebrate a single holiday, just like it does not say have ministers, deacons, and things in the church, or pay pastors but its our interpretations of the bible. Question: Just a question not saying anyone right or wrong but the bible says to not shave men hair, and woman should sleep outside during the unclean time of month, it also says no other idols but we buy Jordans and things, also to judge not unless we are judged first. Also in the bible men had multiple wives, and races shouldn’t marry so at what point do we and who decides whats by the bible and whats not? I think the answer is why we have about 10 million churches. Stop judging and start loving everyone as being different but the same. we are all humans whether we like it or not. Some things are for some people and some aren’t. That’s how we dress different, and prefer different mates, and live in different areas. to each its own. if you don’t like that someone celebrate something close your eyes pray in your own time for yourself not for someone else to be like you, and live your life. I’m pretty sure that same person don’t like some of the things you do as well. Stop throwing views and love everyone. Just saying!!

        • Reading your comment was just amazing. Thank you. Just love everyone and enjoy life!

        • Yeah. That’s right. Let the heathen rage. SMH.

          I see the Qodesh Word of Almighty YHWH is lost in so many of these comments trying to justify what they do.

  9. I think I’ll remain somewhere in the middle of it all. I really appreciate Pastor Hesters views and think he has some great points! Coming from a person that never tricker treated, but always went to a Fall Fest at church I don’t think that the church celebration is weird at all. As a matter of fact our church has always used it as a community outreach opportunity and a safe place for families with kids. We do trunker treating out of the back of very festivly decorated church members cars and have a bounce house, all kinds of games, like bobbing for apples, great christian music and free food and they even have a great pumpkin patch where all the proceeds go to a youth mission trip! The thing I think I like about it is that the church asks that the costumes are not scary. That is the reason I can not agree with taking my kids out to trick or treat, I don’t want to join the weirdos of the world and subject my kids to seeing things that I don’t even want to see. And lets face it, I can’t control whats on the other side of that strangers door! Maybe I’ll think twice about not hiding that evening though when the neighbor kids come knocking and think of it as a ministry opportunity, but I won’t send my kids out. As for me and mine, we will serve the Lord and go to Superfest, at church! ; )

  10. Yes it’s a PAGAN holiday. What other Christian topics are you lukewarm on as well?

  11. it’s sad to see that a Pastor believe in this Satanic act, let’s just remember that this is the day that so many people have lost their lives.
    I am bold enough to say that a REAL CHRISTIAN does not put his mind to foolish stuff like that or teach his kid’s that it’s only the candy.why then do people decorate the yard with bloody and Evel images? why not dress as a CHRISTIAN if you wanna be a light? Doesn’t Jesus want ALL our time to be spent for him? This is what God means when he say’s, will I find faith when I return? I think if we wanna be a light or let our light shine, then we don’t need to cover our face with an ugly looking mask and go out and beg for candy, when God has blessed us with more than we need.

  12. As a pastor I would hope that the example to set for the children is to hand out gospel tracts instead of candy.

    • Ah, that is a fantastic idea. Don’t give them candy… after all that would be kind and generous. Instead tell them how much Jesus loves them while proving (in their minds) that you don’t. Genius.

  13. This pastor is ridiculous. He basically says, ” I want to do it, you want to do it, so do it”! Anyone who disagrees is stupid, or I’m sorry, a “Pharisee. He has no basis for his “permission” to do what you feel is fun. It feels good, don’t judge. Hmmm..sounds familiar? Yet, he is completely judging those who choose to abstain. It is between you and God what your decision is.

  14. Wow shocked at the amount of negativity in the comments. Sad so many people of the same religious beliefs fight amongst themselves.

    • Laura they are contending for both the faith and the truth. I don’t see it as negativity. The truth of the Qodesh Word of YHWH must be brought to light.

      Right now there are too many people that are in spiritual darkness. They DO NOT HEAR HIS VOICE. They either are not meant to or willfully reject the truth of His Qodesh Word.

  15. Pastor, I understand your argument. I have a little different perspective. I pastored a church a few years ago in Wichita Kansas. I worked on the job with two witches. Both into “white” magic who thought they were doing good. One lady even started to my church and her friend, tried to give out personal advise in the guise of spiritual gifts. I had a person who claimed to be a warlock cast spells for me to die. His sister who also claimed to practice dark magic was married to my nephew. Halloween is not as innocent a holiday as you have been led to believe. Those I have told you about, from the “white” Wicca witches to those who thought they were practicing black magic all considered Halloween a very holy worship day for their religions. One of them laughed when I told her we took my little girls trick or treating and said; “You Christian people crack me up. You worship on my holy day just like I do. At least I know what I believe in, even if you Christian people don’t even know what your worshiping.”. So no, I don’t celebrate Halloween. I know what it really is. Thank you for having this discussion Pastor.

    • So many children are sacrificed on that night, not to mention animals, all worshipping satanic demons! No way can I agree to celebrate anything of that magnitude! I will be praying for deliverance for the innocent!

  16. I understand that the article addresses the a minority of belligerent “Pharisees” however I think it fails it’s own standard, let me explain.

    To claim that we should “Absolutely” celebrate Halloween would imply that anything else would be immoral, that seems dysfunctional in this context.

    The pastor uses his title to persuade rather than scripture as mentioned by TODD 1. This appeal to authority is empty and fallacious.

    I do not watch the walking dead, so please don’t consider me a hypocrite for questioning your character.

    If extremes are dysfunctional then why do you affirm absolutely that every Christian must celebrate Halloween.

    Your point about ‘finding balance’ does not coincide with scripture. Merely your opinion.

    Point 2 is your assumption or interpretation, can Jesus pass your test? When people feel evil….PREACH THE GOSPLE! Sorry, didn’t mean to yell but it is concerning coming from a pastor.

    Christians should all know how to love PEOPLE and and respect PEOPLE, but we should also know to expose evil ACTIONS. The article equivocates people and actions. Weird.
    Point 3 is simply an appeal to subjective moral relativism. Its only evil if you think it’s evil, therefore, don’t think; that’s absurd is what that reasoning is. Throw out the bible pastor, no need for that.

    Fun in the community is not a valid reason to support Halloween, you can have that any day of the week. Why Halloween?

    The analogy of Jesus eating with sinner is the same accusation the pastor charged others of. I find this point to be the most rhetorical and hypocritical. Jesus eating with sinners is not the same as abstaining from a pagan holiday. Notice that article uses fear of man to persuade others not to be Pharisees.

    Well I get it, love your enemies is the.point of this and I would agree that we (I) can be better at that. However I don’t think we have seen a strong positive case for why we “absolutely” should celebrate Halloween. Therefore the negatives outweigh the presumed positives.

    Personally I.have had more respectful and informative discussions because I DON’T celebrate Halloween. I’m not a Christian because it’s comfortable I’m a Christian because its true. This is a serious matter and I need a savior just like everyone else. Ask yourself this question if your on the fence, am I glorifying God the most by my choice? Fear of man has always been association with custom or culture apart from God’s will, not the other way around. Bless you pastor as you head the words you proclaim.

    • Hey, Peter. I assume you don’t celebrate Christmas either, correct?

      • Hey Garo! You raise a valid objection to determine consistency and to possibly expose a character flaw. Yes? This will somehow nullify the ENTIRE rebuttal I have presented and give you the right to dismiss what I’ve said with a mere flick of the wrist.

        Let me make it very clear that I do not have any illusions of my own imperfections and that, as I explicitly stated that -“I need a saviour just like everyone els.” I have not claimed to have some privileged position in the matter whereby I can escape the same scrutiny I put on others. Didn’t Jesus say that “as you judge.. you will be judged;” therefore I can say I’m not surprised.

        Let me also say that truth is objective, regardless of what I, or anyone, might think about it. Therefore, the truth remains true even if the way you came to know it to be true was scandalous. I hope your still following me.

        With that preface let me answer your question directly. Yes and No. Yes because I enjoy spending time with my family over a meal. No, because, as the father of three children, we have never taught them about ‘Santa’, we have not decorated a tree in years and actually sold it because of our convictions. As a family we have decided and agreed to celebrate a unique form of Hanukkah actually. Now I would advocate for Hanukkah, however it’s not a salvation issue (just as Halloween is not a salvation issue). Let’s be open to change as the Holy Spirit guides us. There was a time in my life when Christmas was completely acceptable, but as you gain understanding you will be held responsible for your understanding; therefore, my encouragement would be do not continue in rebellion. Ignorance is one aspect that we all face, but we should love God with our minds, rebellion is a condition of the heart against what we know we ought to do. We also don’t celebrate easter we celebrate passover, not because I think we should be under “the law” but because it’s a day set aside by God, a foreshadowing of Jesus himself.

        Let me also say that the Holy Spirit has been working in my life by changing my appetites and desires from what I once accepted and practiced to what I now have reservations about. This is a personal journey that I am still walking out, as we all are. Do everything to give God glory, in an act of worship and adoration to him. Then you’ll be able to see the direction you must go.

        Thanks for the question, I hope your open to my response not just my inconsistencies. Bless you.

    • You made sense; you told the truth. What really bothered me about the pastor is that he condemned Christians who didn’t celebrate Halloween. Telling parents not to take their children to a church Fall festival. I have never heard of such a thing.

  17. I have to say that Peter makes a good point. Are we pleasing God or man? How about everyone of us adults takes Halloween as an opportunity to reach our community, our neighbors. Open your door for the lost when they come knocking Halloween night. Give them candy, but ask your church for tracks or the flier for the Fall fest and give that as well. We can only plant the seed, God will do the rest. But joining in what they do, no I don’t believe that is what we’re called to do. Let them say we’re weird. Many questioned Jesus and His actions too!

  18. Well a Christian minister who finally uses some common sense in dealing with a purely non religious practice of American Halloween.
    The only thing I don’t agree with is that the pagan celebrations were weird. Pagan cultures had a year end celebration to honor the end of the growing season, the end of their year, and a time to remember loved ones who have past. I’m sure many of you are familiar with the Mexican Day of the Dead which is actually a celebration of life. So even though this time of year did focus on things ending, it was not just about wierd scary stuff.

  19. We are called to judge for righteousness sake. Is this holiday righteous or is it pagan? What would Jesus do in this situation? He called you to spread the gospel, and let the dead bury the dead. Jesus comes first above all else including man’s traditions. Every time somebody knocks on your door for candy it’s an opportunity to spread the gospel message and drop a tract in their bag. It’s also an awesome way to get to know your neighbors because the real Christian’s will come forth. Your neighbors will also know you as the Christian. Putting on a costume to get to know you’re neighbors and the sense of community is masquerading your beliefs to fit into the world of man. Instead of yolking yourself to unbelievers, speak boldly of the Lord, shout his name from the roof tops and he will speak about you in his kingdom.

  20. Actually it originated from Ireland and it is also used as satanic ritual night since the satanic church was formed. It is very much evil. This is the one night were Satanists curse Christians. It’s a night that we as Christians should be on our knees praying for our communities and the protection on the children against evil, principalities in the heavenlies. We should be praying from Gods blessings over an area in which we live.

  21. Appreciate this article. Thanks for sharing. Our family takes this opportunity to reach out to neighbors and connect with them. We hand out hot apple cider or hot chocolate. We are called to love others. If they see or hear other Christians debating and arguing among themselves, are they drawn to Christ? Do they see love? I doubt it!! Jesus said to his disciples that the one thing that defines us as Christians is our LOVE. Not our arguments. Not our debates. Not even spewing out scriptures to prove our point. I’m sure the enemy (satan and his demons) are satisfied to watch many Christians fight among themselves because that’s what they want. If love doesn’t drive people to consider God or seek him out, then nobody wins. It’s all about LOVE!!!

    • Amen!!!! All this bickering back and forth! I see what he means I not going to a sacrifice on Halloween night and I’m not going to go to hallelujah festival because it is dysfunctional. I have always ran from the Christians who started judging and condemning. I don’t believe that fear and condemnation if an effective way to speak to someone about their faith, and how they live their lives. The love of Christ speaks to me and guides me everyday, even trick or treating on Halloween! Thanks for the article! And Happy Halloween!

    • What man has done is that they have created their own version of “God’s love” by neglecting the truth. They have created the social “gospel of love” that is meant to appeal to everyone. There are many who profess the “love of Jesus,” but have no interest in understanding the truth that is in God’s Word. They stand on man’s traditions to define what “love” is. God’s love can only be perfected in those who are obedient to Him.

      Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM – 1 John 2:4

      Without being obedient to the doctrine that God has given us, the truth will not be in us. Without truth, we cannot have the knowledge of His love. Without the knowledge of His love, any “love” apart from His love is a counterfeit one that has no value, or place in the Kingdom of God. When we have the Word of God embedded in our hearts, the truth is within us. This is the most import thing to have because truth is the umbrella over love.

      And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. THIS IS THE GREAT AND FIRST COMMANDMENT. And a SECOND is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:37-40

      Jesus Christ refutes the counterfeit “gospel of love” in the above verses.

      Do you notice that He doesn’t say that we are to love our neighbor first, but to love God first?

      How many falsely believe that they have God’s love within them, but they actually have rejected God and His truth through disobedience?

  22. I have very staunch disagreement with you. I have three children. They do NOT come home and share their candy with each other.

    🙂

      • Hah! Parent tax. That teaches them to pay their tithes… … and taxes.
        LOL
        It might also get you disliked and disrespected for taking what you didn’t earn… It kinda puts a parent into the bully category – you know the big kids that stole your candy when you were young…

  23. You can still boycott a pagan holiday and spread love at the same time. You do it through the love of Christ Jesus by spreading his gospel. Being okay with Halloween is the same thing as just being okay with idol worship. This is exactly what Satan wants you to do, worship idols. The Lord God comes first, everything else is second, and we as Christians are to be removed from the world as we are just “passing through”. There is no need to have to cherry pick scripture to make this point. Halloween is a day to celebrate Satan, and you can try to candy coat it any way you want, but in the end it’s not Christian. If you’re worried that your neighbors are going to think you’re a “wacky Christian” then you’re turning the thoughts of your neighbors into an idol, and doing a disservice to the Lord.

    • Halloween is not a day to celebrate Satan. October 31 is God’s day, just like any other. I worship him every day and will not concede to giving Satan one second. I can’t help but imagine how much pleasure it brings Satan to hear Christians make a comment like that. I guarantee you, he wants that day, but Christians need to stop giving it to him and start redeeming it the same way Christ redeemed us.

      • As posted in the article. Yes Greg… Exactly! Too many Christians are still living as if Christ is still dead. He defeated the grave. He walks in victory over all. And so should we if we are in him!

  24. And as a side note, why do you need Halloween to get to know your community? Be a part of the great commission and go around your neighborhood and introduce yourself to people. Or just stand outside and preach the gospel. This article is one of the lousiest attempts at a sales job I’ve seen in a while.

    • In which you’re still commenting on… I’d say you’re hooked.

      • Nope, not hooked. Just here to do what the Bible tells us to do, bring Christians who are lead astray back to the word of God.

  25. Writing an article called, “WHY CHRISTIANS ABSOLUTELY SHOULD CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN!” without any Biblical standard as evidence to back up opinion is ignorance. The best way to discern false teachings is to learn what the Bible truthfully teaches, not the carnal babbling of a religious indoctrinated salaried hireling.

    • You seem a little bitter at Pastors. I’m so sorry for your hurt. There is much biblical backing for this article. I’d encourage you to dig into Gods word. You’ll see it all there.

      • An obvious red-herring don’t you think?
        Is that what you say to your pew-warming minions when they question you. You have failed in providing any Biblical precedence to the article. I challenge you to provide it.

    • Calling anyone who uses the King James Version exclusively a true scholar of the bible is a troubling concept. The King James version was a very good version for the time that it was produced and no doubt led many to the kingdom of God. However, as translation methods and our knowledge of ancient history has improved so have our translations, never mind that much older manuscripts of scripture have been found than what the KJV translators worked from, leading some verses to be removed from later translations as they were not in fact in the originals.

  26. What a wonderful time to celebrate all our dear Saints: St. Nicholas, St. Valentine, St. Patrick, St. Augustine… and many other “saints’ not named that..
    This is HALLOWED-EVENING.. the day before All Saints Day.. Let us remember them and be thankful of how they led the way.. And it’s fun to dress up like the old saints..and celebrate. “Begging” for candy isn’t a need, if there’s a good party at church or community.

    • From the 10 Commandments (written by God with his finger in stone):

      1. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
      2. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

      All Saints Day is Catholic, I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school, and then swore it off shortly after as idol worship. In fact they changed the Ten Commandments so that they could pray to saints, statues and worship the Virgin Mary.

  27. I was all for participation with harvest nights at churches until a close friend who is also an office of a prophet and done international ministry for years pointed out the basics on what turned me off to now participation of harvest nights at churches during Halloween to which most Christians do to substitute Halloween anyway. And that is practicing Occultic people from witchcraft to Satanists that pray curses over candies,costumes,and any related Halloween items. It’s the enemy always looking for an open door to find a way in to attack the lives of Christians.
    Then within a week videos of former practicing Occult people who turned from their wicked ways and got saved also testified to the same my friend warned and spoke of. Even those who used to participate in Halloween are Now against it. And warned other Christians.
    I think God can show us a better way to be a light than to participate with excuses of Halloween.

    This article shows me only reason now to find an excuse to participate. And God is calling us to a higher level.
    No more grey areas.
    Why not have real church or revival or do something creative lead by God on ways to truly be a light to the lost on Halloween. The lost is looking for the real deal. Not a grey area. Half in the world and half in the word.

    • I love the idea of loving our neighbours and not letting condemnations lead. You clearly have a heart to make good use of opportunities to connect to community. Essex, I also love that you are a huge believer in showing the love of Christ through actions – we are His hands and feet – hand and feet do stuff 🙂
      I do have to agree with Jen though. We serve the creator of the universe and I believe that he gives me creative opportunity to love and connect to my neighbours each day. These are the moments and opportunities I have focused on as of lately. I’ve always had a hard time with church harvest parties and celebrating Halloween but couldn’t exactly figure out why my heart was so unsettled when it came to this one night. I have also learned of many evil practices that happen on Halloween night, this has lead me to spend time in prayer on some halloween nights….and yet, I see your article, hearing you are a pastor and can’t help myself but read what you have to say about this big night. As much as it would make it easier if I viewed the 31st as a night to hang out and get to know others, I can’t seem feel a peace in doing that. It’s not my place to decide what is right for you and your family and feel that it also isn’t your place to decide what is right for me and mine. In your article you’ve called people weird and dysfunctional without knowing what is in their heart. What if behind their closed doors they are praying their hearts out. Prayer is powerful and they just might be changing more hearts than they would with candy and a smile, especially if every other day of the year they are loving their neighbours. 🙂

  28. This sounds like every other exuse to look and act like the world. Much like a child who just wants the candy. I see no spiritual insight here. I am not in agreement and why would you be a contridictory voice to people who want to do right, follow God, give their children a Christian example. It’s the day the Lord has made. It needs no decorations of evil and dude I don’t watch the walking dead, criminal minds etc. But if you have something aginst Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Diners, Driveins and Dives then bang! You got me!

  29. Maybe I misunderstood, but what I took away from this article was that of you don’t celebrate halloween you are a bad testimony. But wouldnt being a bad testimony for Christ be a sin. Therefore the conclusion income to is: if you don’t celebrate Halloween you are sinning….

  30. heck, if we are going to participate in pagan rituals and call it “Christian”, lets go all the way! Lets start having sex on the alter at Easter, just like they did in the ORIGINAL Easter fertility temple, long before Christ came to earth. And let’s worship trees and put a dead baby on top at Christmas!

    You people can stick your head in the sand and pretend you are honoring God by copying the Pagans, but I choose not to.

    But it’s all OK because it makes the kids happy!

    Geez.

    • Steve, I assume at Christmas you don’t put lights out, set up a Christmas tree, exchange gifts, sing or listen to Christmas carols, attend holiday parties, nor any of the like, correct??

      • Garo, is it safe to assume you believe Jesus was born on December 25th? I can recall nowhere in scripture where it says his birthdate, so how in the world did Christmas become his birthday? Oh wait, the Pagan winter equinox.

      • Garo, the glaring difference between Christmas and Halloween is what and Who is celebrated and promoted…

    • Wow… That is every negative Pagan stereotype strewn together in one post! If you don’t practice Paganism, you really shouldn’t spread hate about them. Especially with your clear lack of knowledge about them! I am a practicing Pagan, and I have never had a dead baby near my Yule tree. I have never had sex in ANY religious Pagan ritual, and I do not worship trees. I just have respect for the natural world, and the forces that control it. Yes, most Christian holidays, (Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc.) came from Pagan practices via the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. However, most of these holidays have become so commercial, everyone celebrates them in some form or another. *Blessed Be*

  31. 2012 the Lord had me speak in a Church here in Pennsylvania about the Satanic rituals of so called Christians. He had me look up everything in the Bible that was Hallowed. I read it all out of His Word to the Church (People ). The truth is Satan/ Lucie wants to be God. He try to decieve the Bride into believing we should celebrate him. That’s what Halloween does. I will be praying the Lord open your spiritual eyes, ears, heart to the ways of our enemy. So you don’t get lead astray.

  32. I am not a Christian. I believe in a greater good but do not believe I need a religion to have a relationship with God. I steer from religion for the very reason you have all illustrated above. You find fault with others who clearly want to spread love in a nonsadistic manner and because of that you are spreading hate. I find it funny that in one breath you scold for someone not providing evidence in a book to support loving his community then in another breath you are saying God wants you to spread love and rejoice. It is that exact reason I choose to be nonreligious. I do not choose to segregate rather to uplift and support my family, friends, community, and strangers. It seems all the majority of people on this feed want to do is tear people down rather than support them and build them up. Kind of funny, don’t you think?

    If you choose to boycott Halloween then by all means close the shutters and lock the doors but stop tearing down people who choose differently. The fluffy chicken and cute farmer are not being ´evil’, they are saying hello to people, laughing, and having fun while getting a few pieces of candy. Perhaps it is your personal take on written lines in a book that is incorrect. Perhaps, just perhaps, you read it a certain way to support your own views. One thing is for certain, this feed is exactly why people stay away from religions. I do not want to be judged by my peers and steered in their direction. I want to live my own precious life how I see fit and utilize my conscience as my compass. When I die I will take full responsibility for living my life and not just following others for the fear of being judged and hated for living.

    And yes, my son will be participating in Halloween tomorrow dressed as a ninja with our two dogs with costumes on guiding his way. No sacrifices, no burning of black candles, no chanting. Just a little boy running as fast as he can. With excitement.

    May we all come together instead of spreading apart.

    • Hey Lynn, I totally understand where you are coming from. I have been a Christian leader for almost 15 years now, and discussions like this make me want to throw in the towel sometimes! I agree with the writer of this article regarding our duty to be a blessing in our neighborhoods and I am shocked at the terrible responses I am seeing from other believers on here. I take comfort in recognizing that the majority of believers are not like this. Most of them are reasonable and rational people that really want to do good and be a blessing to our community. We all have our hang-ups, but what you see here is a very vocal minority- those that are so concerned with being right that they don’t care about doing right(loving God with all our heart and loving our neighbors as ourself). Fear and anger are powerful motivators for argument and judgement and condemnation are great hammers to nail in a point. I’m thankful that Jesus used grace, mercy, kindness, patience, gentleness, forgiveness and love most of the time when dealing with people. He had compassion. Ironically, it seems the only people he didn’t have much patience for were the religious leaders of the day. He said things like, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” and “…you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” and “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” Jesus understood the religious attitude that seeks to conform people into traditional molds- he didn’t like that. He taught us how to transform society through acts of love and service.

      The only reason myself and a lot of other people here are even bringing up the Halloween subject is to try and push back that religious attitude that cares more about looking good than doing good. We don’t want to condemn or argue, just expose the truth and hope that God can bring light and healing. One of the greatest teachers of our faith was a man named Paul. He used to be a hardcore religious fanatic and he would have had a lot of negative to say about Halloween and Christians who take part in his old life. Thankfully, this man saw Jesus for who he really was and had a dramatic transformation. He went on to write the majority of the books in the new testament of our Bible. He taught that even though we disagree on disputable matters, the important thing is we treat one another with love. He still lost his patience with people who tried to force old religious views on others instead of leading people to freedom in Christ, but at the end of the day he teaches us that there is hope for everyone, and while worthless quarrels like this can often do more harm then good, there are some people who are really searching for truth and they need to hear the voices of those who are truly free in Christ, not just the loud and the angry.

      • Hi Greg,

        I’m not seeing much condemnation on this site from people like myself or others, we’re simply pointing out the truth, and we’re doing it out of love. The bringers of truth are always the condemned and persecuted, just like Jesus said. Just because we shed light on pagan and satanic holidays such as Halloween, we get a bad wrap. That’s not the case at all. Brandon has wrote this article to try and justify why they celebrate this Holiday, which has pagan roots. A practicing pagan even left a comment on this post explaining exactly what Halloween is to them. It can’t any more clear than that.

        I do not come from a condemnation Christian camp, I just simply try to bring the truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the light. I found this article on my facebook page of all places and when I read it, I felt a moral responsibility as a Christian to bring the truth. This man is leading his followers astray by justifying Halloween. As I mentioned in previous comments there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting to know your neighbors, it’s a very loving thing to do. Why must we choose a pagan holiday to do it, when there are 364 other days of the year to accomplish the same goal? Another question I have is if a pastor is writing this why isn’t he directing others to fulfill the great commission? Spreading the gospel message was the mandate from Jesus.

        Halloween is an excellent time to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have a captive audience to hand out gospel tracts to. Let your neighbors know you’re a Christian and they will come to you. At least you’ll know the wheat from the tares.

        • Thanks for replying Reprove. I can see that you really do feel you have a duty and obligation to help people here. I believe you when you say you are trying to bring the truth. Is it possible your view on things are skewed though? Let me respond to a few of your points.

          1) If you don’t see the condemnation here you either aren’t reading or you have tuned out the truth. Just a few minutes after you responded one person states that this pastors blog “sickens” them and earlier someone referred to him as a “salaried hireling” I believe. Anyone who reads these posts can clearly see the personal attacks coming from those who disagree.
          2)The bringers of truth are NOT always the condemned and persecuted. Where does Jesus say that? Sometimes, yes, sometimes no. The book of Jonah teaches us that. Jonah wanted God to destroy Ninevah because of their evil ways but the whole reason God sent Jonah was to save them, not condemn them.
          3)Why does it matter to you or to me what Pagans and Satanists do on Halloween? Or any day? We are Christians. We have been set free. The power of sin and death have no hold on us. Are you afraid of their power? Do you realize that they are not the enemy, they are the prize? Do you understand your authority in Christ? Your position? Your inheritance? Trust me, Satan’s only power over the believer is his power to deceive us. When we cower in fear, we hand him the keys to our life. Here’s something he doesn’t want us to get- when a Christian, full of the Holy Spirit walks into the darkest, most demonic place, the Holy Spirit doesn’t fear and tell us to hide- the demons try to hide. Satan wins on Halloween when Christians don’t get out and shine the light. What would our world look like if Christians determined to redeem Halloween instead of hide from it? If we wrote letters to stores and TV networks and schools asking them to refrain from showing anything to do with death or blood or murder to our children? Wouldn’t that be reasonable? What if the costumes that sold most were superheroes and princesses, and kittens and farmers, etc? I believe Christians are called to redeem culture, not hide from it and certainly not hand it over to Satan to do as he pleases while we hide because we are uncomfortable or scared!
          4) You say you are not a condemning Christian and then with your next breath condemn this pastor for leading his followers astray. Are you sure? Have you prayed about this? I don’t mean pray against him, I mean prayed for God’s revelation. Can you see his heart? That is a strong statement to make. If the Holy Spirit led him to write this than you better hope you’re not standing in God’s way.
          5) God commands us to love our neighbor 365 days a year. Not just on the other 364. That sounds like a great excuse to use if I ever see a naked and beaten Samaritan in the ditch though…”not today Lord.”
          6) Jesus didn’t call us to preach to captive audiences, he told us to love our neighbors. We are told to be ready with an answer when we need it. Here’s a question for you, why didn’t Jesus preach to the sinners at the wedding in Cana? Seems like a wasted opportunity doesn’t it? For some reason, Jesus just turned their water into wine and helped them celebrate and keep the good times going. Seems like the presence of Jesus was more important at that time the message of repentance….mmmm. Wonder if that’s ever the case today?

          • Greg,

            I am certainly not afraid of Satan at all, I know I have dominion over him. Did Jesus condemn the Pharisees by calling them hypocrites and vipers? Were they doing the customs of men? It matters what pagans and satanists do on Halloween because it is their holiday. Do you think that a pagan or Satanist believes in God? If the answer is no then are we supposed to yolk ourselves to the unbeliever by taking part in their holiday? Yes you’re right, we are to love one another 365 days a year. I personally think that Christians should redeem culture, not just on Halloween but everyday. However, I don’t think putting on a cute costume will get that done. Maybe going onto blog posts and making comments like this will?

            This article I came across on the internet really opened my eyes. The author heavily researches scriptures, and did extensive research on Halloween including it’s origins. Of course I didn’t stop with him I went and did my own study and found out he was accurate. I’ve already posted it once but I will post it again for you to read.

            http://www.creationliberty.com/articles/halloween.php

  33. Here is a novel idea. If dressing up and eating sweets is the main reason for celebrating Halloween, then why not celebrate the original holy day that Jesus would have dressed up at during his life, Purim in February. This holiday is one in which Jesus dressed up and enjoyed sweets to celebrate in honor Queen Esther for her sacrifice in pretending to be someone she wasn’t in order to protect her people. Imagine the attention we could draw for Christ if we all chose to dress up and have parties in February instead of October. Also, why have our harvest festivals tie into and lead up to Halloween, when there is no need for that. We as Americans have a perfectly good harvest festival that has no roots in Pagan traditions when we celebrate thanksgiving. While many of our ancestors treated the American natives horribly, thanksgiving came from celebrating the first successful coming together of very drastically different cultures to survive a very harsh winter. An achievement worthy of celebration. Let our harvest festivals lead up to and commemorate the Thanksgiving celebration and not a pagan one.

  34. Reading this pastors blog just sickens me. Nowhere in any of his posts do I see the Word of God preached. It’s all his own opinions – all sweet and juicy for those with itching ears.

    2 Timothy 4:3-4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (KJV)

    • I posted a lambasting comment calling for this heretic to be excommunicated, but he is so little of a man my post is gone.

      I am NOT a troll, I am a Christian, a man of God. I am blessed by him. I do not agree with this article in one single bit, and agree with the previous woman who posted about itching ears. This is not the sort of thing a pastor should be preaching or writing about.

      Do you not understand the subtlety that Satan uses to come in and steal the seeds from us? This is beyond subtle.

      He called me afraid of Halloween. I am NOT afraid of it. But this wimp is afraid of me. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. This man is fleeing by removing my comment.

      1 John 4: If they do not listen to you, they are not one of you.

      This man does not listen to me. He removes my comment.

      He called me judgmental by the fact that I will not celebrate or acknowledge this so-called holiday, that because I refuse to celebrate, I am condemning my neighbors. Thou shalt not bear false witness, you puke! All I say is I am opposed. Anyone who wants to celebrate, let them. They stand condemned already (Romans 1).

      This guy cannot stand truth (Hebrews 4:12).

      The wrath of God will come on him and his church if he does not repent.

      I am NOT one of what this guy calls extreme by any stretch of the imagination. I just believe in the Savior, the Trinity, and the Bible. I will not compromise my beliefs even if an ass of a preacher condemns me for not wanting to glorify Satan.

      The greatest lie ever told was the one that Satan told saying he does not exist. This comes close by saying that you don’t have to acknowledge the satanic aspect of.

      And kids don’t get that it is satanic? Really? Ok fine, I agree with that. How will you justify this when they get older and confused.

      My wife and I disagree on this. My wife is on this pastor’s side. Fine. I still forbid my daughter to be exposed to the graphic displays one of our best friend puts up every year. I was asked to help, but I POLITELY refused, stating my faith in Christ as the reason. She accepted that. We still love each other as friends.

      So you can stick this article up your arse and light it on fire. You will need to prepare yourself for the fires of hell if you continue preaching in this way. You are leading your flock astray. It would be better for you to have a millstone tied to your neck and be cast into the sea than to lead any of these little ones astray.

      In the Love of Christ I chastise you Brandon Hester!

      • 1. No lost has been deleted… All opinions are welcome.

        2. Coastal Virginia Church has had over 500 people receive salvation in Christ this year. I’d hardly say he’s leading the flock astray.

        3. I think he could care less if you “chastise” him. He has found his approval in Christ. Not you Sir.

    • if you want scripture, i suggest romans 14-15. it is applicable in this situation, and speaks to those who partake and those who do not equally.

      • In case someone doesn’t have a Bible (one of my favourite versions – for it’s clarity):
        Romans 14&15
        Romans 14 Expanded Bible (EXB)
        Do Not Criticize Other People

        14 ·Accept into your group [L Welcome; Receive] someone who is weak in ·faith [or convictions; C on debatable issues], and do not argue about ·opinions [doubtful/debatable issues]. 2 One person believes it is right to eat all kinds of food. But another, who is weak, believes it is right to eat only vegetables [C possibly the issue of whether to keep the OT dietary laws, and/or whether to avoid food sacrificed to idols (see 1 Cor. 8—10)]. 3 The one who ·knows that it is right to eat any kind of food [L eats; v. 14; see Mark 7:18–19] must not ·reject [despise; look down on] the one who ·eats only vegetables [L does not eat]. And the person who ·eats only vegetables [L does not eat] must not ·think that the one who eats all foods is wrong [L judge the one who eats], because God has accepted that person. 4 ·You cannot [L Who are you to…?] judge another person’s servant. ·The master decides if the servant is doing well or not [L Before his own lord/master he stands or falls]. And the Lord’s servant will ·do well [stand] because the Lord ·helps him do well [L can make him stand].

        5 Some ·think [decide; judge] that one day is more ·important [sacred; holy] than another, and others think that every day is the same [C the issue is whether to observe the Jewish Sabbath]. Let all be ·sure [fully convinced] ·in their own mind [according to their convictions/conscience]. 6 Those who ·think one day is more important than other days [L observe the day] are doing that for the Lord. And those who ·eat all kinds of food [L eat] are doing that for the Lord, ·and [since; for] they give thanks to God. Others who ·refuse to eat some foods [L do not eat] do that for the Lord, and they give thanks to God. 7 [L For] We do not live for ourselves, and we do not die for ourselves. 8 If we live, we are living for the Lord, and if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord.

        9 The reason Christ died and ·rose from the dead to live again [L lived] was so he would be Lord over both the dead and the living. 10 So why do you judge your brothers or sisters in Christ? And why do you ·think you are better than they are [L despise/look down on your brother or sister]? [L For] We will all stand before ·God to be judged [the judgment seat of God], 11 because it is written in the Scriptures:

        “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
        ‘·Everyone [L Every knee] will bow before me;
        ·everyone [L every tongue] will ·say that I am [confess; acknowledge; or praise] God [Is. 45:23].’”

        12 So each of us will ·have to answer [give an account of ourselves] to God.
        Do Not Cause Others to Sin

        13 For that reason ·we should [or let us] stop judging each other. We must make up our minds not to ·do anything that will make another Christian sin [L place a stumbling block or obstacle before a brother or sister]. 14 ·I am in the Lord Jesus, and I know [L I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus] that there is ·no food that is wrong to eat [L nothing impure/unclean/defiling in itself]. But if a person ·believes [considers; regards] something is ·wrong [impure; unclean; defiling], that thing is ·wrong [impure; unclean; defiling] for him. 15 If ·you hurt your brother’s or sister’s faith [your brother or sister is distressed/grieved] because of something you eat, you are ·not really following the way of [L no longer walking/living in] love. ·Do not destroy someone’s faith by eating food he thinks is wrong, because Christ died for him [L By your eating do not destroy that one for whom Christ died!; C so trivial a matter as food must not negate the tremendous sacrifice Christ made]. 16 Do not allow what you think is good to ·become what others say is evil [be criticized/regarded as evil; L be slandered/blasphemed]. 17 ·In the kingdom of God, eating and drinking are not important [L For the kingdom of God is not (about) eating and drinking]. The important things are ·living right with God [righteousness], peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Anyone who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God and will be ·accepted [approved; respected] by other people.

        19 So let us try to do what makes peace and ·helps [builds up; edifies] one another. 20 Do not let the eating of food ·destroy [tear down] the work of God. All foods are ·all right to eat [clean; ritually undefiled], but it is wrong to eat food that causes someone else to ·sin [stumble; fall]. 21 It is ·better [good] not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that will cause your brother or sister to ·sin [stumble; fall].

        22 Your beliefs about these things should be kept secret between you and God. ·People are happy [Blessed are those] ·if they can do what they think is right without feeling guilty [L who do not condemn themselves concerning issues they have examined and approved]. 23 But those who eat something ·without being sure it is right [while doubting; with misgivings] are ·wrong [condemned] because they did not believe it was right. Anything that ·is done without believing it is right [or does not come from faith] is sin.
        15 We who are ·strong in faith [L strong] should ·help [bear with; be patient with] the weak with their ·weaknesses [failings; struggles], and not please only ourselves. 2 Let each of us please our neighbors for their good, to ·help them be stronger in faith [edify them; build them up]. 3 [L For] Even Christ did not live to please himself. It was as the Scriptures said: “·When people insult you, it hurts me [L The insults of those who insulted you have fallen on me; Ps. 69:9].” 4 [L For] Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us ·patience [endurance] and encouragement so that we can have hope. 5 May ·the patience and encouragement that come from God [L the God of patience and encouragement] ·allow you to live in harmony with each other the way Christ Jesus wants [or grant you the same attitude with each other that Christ Jesus had]. 6 ·Then [L …so that] ·you will all be joined together and [L together with one voice/mouth] you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept each another, just as Christ accepted you. ·This will bring glory to God [or In this way Christ brought glory to God; L …to the glory of God]. 8 [L For] I tell you that Christ became a servant of the ·Jews [L circumcised] to ·show [confirm] that God’s promises to the ·Jewish ancestors [patriarchs; fathers] are true. 9 And he also did this so that the Gentiles could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. [L Just as] It is written in the Scriptures:

        “So I will ·praise [confess] you among the ·Gentiles [nations].
        I will sing ·praises [psalms] to your name [Ps. 18:49].”

        10 ·The Scripture also [L And again it] says,

        “·Be happy [Rejoice; Celebrate], you ·Gentiles [nations], together with his people [Deut. 32:43].”

        11 ·Again the Scripture says [L And again],

        “All you ·Gentiles [nations], praise the Lord.
        All you people, sing praises to him [Ps. 117:1].”

        12 And [L again] Isaiah says,

        “·A new king will come from the family of Jesse [The root of Jesse will come/sprout; C Jesse was the father of King David].
        He will ·come [rise up] to rule over the ·Gentiles [nations],
        and they will ·have hope because of [put their hope in] him [Is. 11:10].”

        13 I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with ·much [L all] joy and peace ·while you trust [because you trust; through your faith] in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
        Paul Talks About His Work

        14 My brothers and sisters, I am ·sure [fully convinced] that you are [indeed] full of goodness. I know that you ·have all the knowledge you need [L are filled with all knowledge] and that you are able to ·teach [instruct; admonish; warn] each other. 15 But I have written to you very ·openly [boldly] about some ·things [points; L parts] I wanted you to remember. I did this because ·God gave me this special gift [or of the grace God gave me]: 16 to be a ·minister [servant] of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I ·served God [or perform priestly service] ·by teaching his Good News [for the Good News/Gospel of/about God], so that the Gentiles could be an offering that God would accept—an offering ·made holy [sanctified; purified] by the Holy Spirit.

        17 So I ·am proud [have a reason to boast] of what I have done for God in Christ Jesus. 18 I will not [dare] talk about anything except what Christ has done through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God. They have obeyed God because of what I have said and done, 19 because of the power of ·miracles [signs] and ·the great things they saw [wonders; marvels], ·and because of [or acccomplished through] the power of the Spirit of God. I have ·finished my work of preaching [fulfilled my commission to preach; or fully preached] the ·Good News [Gospel] from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum [C a Roman province northwest of Macedonia; modern Albania, Serbia and Montenegro]. 20 [So; In this way] I always ·want [or try; make it my ambition] to preach the ·Good News [Gospel] in places where ·people have never heard of Christ [L Christ has not been named], ·because I do not want [or in order not] to build on the ·work someone else has already started [L foundation of others]. 21 But [L as; just as] it is written in the Scriptures:

        “Those who were not told about him will see,
        and those who have not heard about him will understand [Is. 52:15].”
        Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

        22 This is the reason I was ·stopped [hindered; or delayed] many times from coming to you. 23 [L But] Now I have ·finished my work here [L no more place (to work) in these regions]. Since for many years I have wanted to come to you, 24 I hope to visit you [while passing through] on my way to Spain. After I enjoy being with you for a while, I hope you can ·help [assist; support] me on my trip. 25 Now I am going to Jerusalem to ·help [minister to; provide a service for] ·God’s people [T the saints]. 26 The believers in Macedonia [C northern Greece] and Achaia [C southern Greece] were ·happy [pleased; or resolved] to ·give their money to help [make a contribution to; 1 Cor. 16:1–4; 2 Cor. 8—9] the poor among ·God’s people [T the saints] at Jerusalem. 27 They were ·happy [pleased; or resolved] to do this, and really they ·owe it [L are debtors] to them. These Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, so they should use their material ·possessions [or blessings] to ·help the Jews [L render service to them]. 28 [L Therefore] After I have completed this collection and ·delivered the money safely to them [L sealed this fruit for them; C uncertain idiom, likely indicating secure packaging or safe arrival of cargo], I will leave for Spain and stop and visit you. 29 I know that when I come to you ·I will bring Christ’s full blessing [or Christ will richly bless our time together; L I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing].

        30 Brothers and sisters, I ·beg [urge; encourage] you to ·help [join; strive together with] me in my work by praying to God for me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love ·that the Holy Spirit gives us [L of the Spirit]. 31 Pray that I will be ·saved [rescued; delivered] from the nonbelievers in Judea and that ·this help I bring [my ministry/service] to Jerusalem will ·please [be acceptable to; be well received by] ·God’s people [T the saints] there. 32 Then, ·if God wants me to [by God’s will], I will come to you with joy, and together you and I will ·have a time of rest [be refreshed]. 33 [Now may] The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.

  35. I am a Christian who doesn’t celebrate Halloween or watch the walking dead. I also don’t celebrate Christmas or Easter like most Christian do. I celebrate the birth of Jesus and rejoice in his death.

  36. Just blogged about this when one of my posts from a few years ago popped up and made the rounds again on facebook. I guess I would have to say that the day has yet to be as innocent as people would like to think it is. If only it could be… but it is not. All origins aside, it still continues, for the most part, to be full of things that God’s Word asks us to separate ourselves from. The discussion will continue for years so we won’t all solve it right here but thought I’d share my blog and thoughts.
    http://ourgoodwinjourney.com/2013/10/why-this-mom-doesnt-do-halloween/
    http://ourgoodwinjourney.com/2015/10/why-this-mom-says-yes-to-christmas/

  37. I have gone through most of the comments and I just see a lot of self-righteous people. No, we are not to be apart of worldy things and yes, we are to be the light in the world. Have you thought about how you look if you don’t open your doors to children that come knocking? I believe Jesus would open his door to the children. He would not hide behind his door and turn them away. You don’t have to go out and do anything you don’t want to do,but why not open your door pass out candy with scripture or a pamplet with candy attached to it. You can still be the light on that day! If children see you standing there with your arms crossed with a swisted face what example is that for Christ? This was was on my mind and I just wanted to share my thoughts on it.

    • If you think about how you look to others, then you put the opinion of others before God. Thus you have turned the opinions of others or “how you look” into an idol.

      You are right you can open the door and hand out a pamphlet or a tract and tell them the reasons why Halloween should not be celebrated. There is nothing wrong with that. Skip the candy it’s horrible for kids and everybody else.

  38. I also believe that Jesus would throw this Holiday out and not allow it. Much like he did the money changers in the temple.

  39. Wow…I am actually baffled by some of these comments! You all seem to know your bibles real well, but how about we leave God to be judge and juror? I dont celebrate Halloween, but I think this article presents a refreshing take on Halloween. The one thing I am whole heartedly going to agree with is, things are only evil if you want them to be!!

  40. I hope that the ones who go out tomorrow are safe and protected. I am praying for everybody. God bless.

  41. True Christians should not celebrate halloween! No one should serve two masters, if one does, he or she might hate the other. A true servant must do things which he/she thinks pleases his/her master.

    • that verse is about money, and serving the pleasures of the world, not the celebration of a particular day. for that, please read romans 14.

  42. Actually, death is not the main focus of Halloween. I’m Catholic, not pagan or Wiccan, so my knowledge is limited, but the three days of Samhain were considered to be outside of the normal course of the year and it was thus considered to be a time when social constraints could be lowered temporarily and allow people to vent off some stresses. There were some elements of death in that culling of the herd would take place at that time just by practical necessity, but it wasn’t the primary focus. Rather it is more about celebrating life and bucking up the community in the face of the coming winter.

  43. I do not celebrate Halloween, and being a Christian for me is living your life in a way to uplift the kingdom. For me, I do not see how dressing kids up to look like something different than what they were created and have them beg for candy that may or may not be safe for consumption uplifting the kingdom of God. When someone ask me about Halloween, I simply say that it is against my faith to celebrate it. As far as getting to know the neighbors, well I get to know them all year. They know I am a Christian and they know I do not celebrate it. Most of them do not have a problem with it. I believe in living in the world but not adopting the worlds ways. I do not do the Santa Claus and Easter Bunny stuff either. Yes I am a mother, and my son saw Halloween as Christian Fun Day. There was always bowling Chuck E Cheese, no bedtime curfew and some Bible study also. I have a friend that is new in Christ and the amazing thing about it is that she has decided not to celebrate Halloween. All of a sudden these people that she barely know is verbally attacking her, calling her a bad mother and everything else. These same people do not really “get into” Halloween. I do not condemn anyone. Conviction comes from God. I can not worry about what the world thinks if I am not being obedient. So as far as getting the approval of the world. My response for me is Mark 8:36-37 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

    37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

  44. Pastor you have decided to do it YOUR WAY and NOT HIS WAY.

    You have nullified the Qodesh Word of Almighty Yahweh and you don’t realize it.

    You may no scripture but it’s to no avail because you twist it to justify what you choose to do.

    JOHN 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

    EPH 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

    REPENT. SEEK HIS FACE AGAIN and TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS.

    2 PET 2 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

    2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

    17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

  45. I just had to read this article! And I’m glad I did. My children don’t celebrate Halloween per se but my youngest son’s birthday is on Halloween so we celebrate him on that day. But they dress up and eat ALL the candy they can! They have fun and I help them too. Sometimes as Christians we can get so legalistic and forget to find ministry in everything we do and say. I like that this pastor is free in Jesus to be himself and teach his children all things! I always have to ask myself will I go to hell for this or my kids? NO…according to the Word, we only go to hell for not believing in Jesus. It amazes me but really doesn’t that the same people Jesus told to live in harmony with won’t live in harmony with anyone! And we wonder why our world is so polluted with evil. Instead of speaking to the darkness and standing up for Jesus and showing love some so called Christians JUDGE EVERYONE!! I’m embarrassed to even say I’m a Christian and so I don’t. Because everyone says they are Christians but are not Christ like, I’d rather say I’m a follower of Jesus. I totally digress here because it humiliates me that other so called followers are not even on the same road as Jesus. We can’t live in harmony like the disciples did in Acts and so Jesus is still waiting on us to get our love together so He can return. I repent because we’re not doing what we’re called to do and evil is running rampant all around us. Yes some are Pharisees and don’t even know it. I appreciate the writer’s honesty and take on this day and I applaud you for following this scripture:
    Romans 14:6-10-He that observes the day, let him observe it unto the Lord; and he that does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He that eats, eats unto the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that does not eat, unto the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
    10But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou belittle thy brother? for we shall all stand before the tribunal of the Christ. 11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Let us, therefore, not judge one another any more, but judge this rather: that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14I know and trust in the Lord Jesus that for his sake there is nothing unclean, but to him that esteems any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15But if thy brother is grieved because of thy food, now thou dost not walk in charity. Do not destroy him with thy food, for whom Christ died. 16Let not then your good be evil spoken of; 17for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18For he that in these things serves the Christ is well pleasing unto God and approved of men. 19Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace and the edification of each one to the others. 20Because of food, do not destroy the work of God. All things indeed are clean, but it is evil for that man who eats with offense. 21It is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine nor do any thing by which thy brother stumbles or is offended or is sick. 22Thou hast faith; have it to thyself before God. Blessed is he that does not condemn himself with that thing which he allows. 23And he that makes a difference is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat by faith; and whatsoever is not out of faith is sin.
    *And I’d rather let the Word of God speak than my opinion. Be blessed Pastor and thank you!

  46. I agree with the first two points but believe they could be used to argue against Halloween just as easily. I want to respond to item 3 specifically…

    3. It’s only an evil day if that’s what you want it to be!

    The pastor said, “Your children don’t know it’s an evil day. Ask them. I dare you. They will tell you it’s all about dressing up as something fun.” My response to this is, since when did we let the kids decide what was good and right? Isn’t that the parent’s job/God’s job? Instead of, ask your kids what they think, how about ask God what He thinks? Does He think it’s ok to “celebrate” demonic things? And using this argument would be like the fish saying, “Ask the fish if they think that worm on the hook is evil. To them it’s just a worm.” Of course it is, it’s designed to be appealing for a reason.

    Whether to participate or not, and to what extent we do or, should be left up to… Does it agree with God and His Word? How might what I am doing or not doing honor or dishonor Him? In what ways might it help or hurt the Gospel? In what ways might it help to present or further the Gospel? Let these guide us, not our opinion, or “love for” something, or what our children say, or even our being “a pastor.”

    Check out what former satanists say about this holiday…

    Here’s one condeming it…
    http://kidsinministry.org/former-satanist-speaks-out-on-halloween/

    Here’s one that has a more balanced view…
    http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/34420-why-a-former-satanist-thanks-god-for-halloween

  47. I find your article offensive and judgmental of our brothers and sisters in Christ who do not happen to agree with you. You are judging those in Christ who are following their own conscience in the matter.

    I personally used to celebrate Halloween as a Christian until a friend who was an atheist (whom I was trying to reach for Christ) accused me of being a hypocrite because I did celebrate Halloween. I decided the “fun” wasn’t worth me looking like a hypocrite. So I quit. But I still do not believe that it is always “evil” to dress up or go trick or treating, etc.

    I believe the Lord cares about our hearts before him. For those who consider it a sin, they absolutely should NOT celebrate Halloween! For some that means they celebrate by giving out tracks or holding a church alternative. For others like you, it is just a fun time to enjoy family time with neighbors. So for you and those like you, I believe the Lord knows your heart and it is okay. But some of us we choose to ignore it not because it is “evil” or “fun” but just because I have no desire to celebrate. Don’t judge me just because I choose not to celebrate. Each Christian must follow his own conscience before the Lord!

    It is important to remember as Christians that If celebrating Halloween is sin in the eyes of one individual Christian then it IS sin for that Christian no matter how innocent you think the day is. The scriptures are clear about this. Romans 14

    Therefore, I would caution you not to accuse your brothers of being “self-righteous.” Because accusing others and judging the motives of their hearts is also a bit “self-righteous.”

  48. I’m sorry but Pastors like you scare me. I often wonder if we are reading the same Bibles. While I am wholeheartedly opposed to Halloween, I am not going to say that the Bible says we can’t celebrate it, but there are plenty of scriptures that should make us at least think it might not be the best thing to do, such as l Thessalonians 5:22 which says to abstain from all appearance of evil, if the most important Satanic holiday of the year which is enveloped in death, monsters, witches, scariness and pagan rituals isn’t an appearance of evil I don’t know what is. And no, all extremes are not bad, it is an extreme to completely abstain from alcohol too but it isn’t wrong! And we as Christians do not need to celebrate Halloween to get to know our neighbors and be friends with them. Also, I am sure I offend people by saying abortion is murder, homosexuality is sin, and that divorce is wrong but guess what, that is God’s truth and I am not going to say otherwise to try and fit in and make the world feel “comfortable” with their sin. We can do right and do it in love, love does not mean joining in with the activities of the world. And just because we don’t celebrate Halloween does not mean that we are condemning people who do. For those people who want to celebrate Halloween I say go right ahead but “Christians” should stop looking down their noses at those who don’t and stop trying to Christianize it to make yourselves feel better. Maybe you take what in essence is a really evil do and you make it seem innocent and fun and you turn it into something “good” but some of us see it for what it is and know that it is okay to be left out of some things and we don’t always have to have something because we are afraid of missing out. I honestly don’t feel that Jesus is going to be disappointed in me for not celebrating Halloween…think about it.

  49. “The author used everything from scriptures (out of context) to his own thoughts and convictions to try and make his point.” And you didn’t???????? I have no particular problem with Halloween, but I do have a problem with Christians being judgmental and I think that is what I see here …. you are being judgmental toward the author of the other article….just to try and prove your point of view as right! The reality is … Scripture does not mention Halloween, so that makes it a “grey area”. It’s ok for some, but not for others. Please be respectful of those brothers and sisters in Christ who do not choose to celebrate!!

  50. Here’s the “weirdness” of this article. He says that Halloween started as a pagan holiday and then it changes in the 1800’s, and the pastor advises us to “look it up”.

    How about the pastor saving us all the research and just tell us where he gets his conjecture from. I looked it up and found absolutely nothing. Zippo.

    Another thing that I find weird is that the pastor has not shown up on any comment whatsoever to defend his stance on this. This is an article based purely on a point of view.

    Another wierd thing is that every time somebody makes a comment against this preacher they’re accused of being “judgemental”. The truth is hard to take. A sinner will always try hard to justify their sins.

  51. Sorry for my bad english. English is not my first language. I am agree about the good intention of attracting people using the halloween. We could think that it is a good way to meet our neighbors. But why only in Halloween? Why do we need to use a costume to make friendship?. Why we do not invite our neighbors any other day? Why only on halloween or Christmas? why do we have to adopt what they do in order to make us attractive to them? Why not instead show how attractive is the Salvation that Jesus won at the cross and offers to us? Why do we want to wear like a witch or sorcerer? Why do we try to identify with the death and evil instead of identify our selves with the one who gives life to us? Why our children want to wear like Superman or Captain America, but we do not teach them to be more like Jesus? I was working in a camp in summer and I shared the gospel with 25 persons. I did not use a costume, or presented a “motorcyclist Jesus”, I do not have a “cool tattoo” or a piercing. I just presented the gospel and 23 of those 25 persons accepted Jesus.
    I mean, I can see the good intentions trying to attract people using the culture, but if we try that, how do we keep them when culture or attraction goes away?
    What is in our hearts that we prefer all of those things? I mean… Who wants to have a girlfriend who kiss another man and she says: “but my heart is only yours?. And we are the wife of Jesus. It is not about being attractive to people. It is about being attractive to God. It is about being identified with him. It is true that non-christian people will criticize us about this, but the same people who criticize us will be the same people who will approach us when they have a problem. The reason they approach us is because they see our conviction about what we believe. They see in us a refuge. They see the friend that they can talk and feel that somebody understand them and help them to find God. They see that Jesus is our foundation. They see that we live a DIFFERENT kind of life. The see that our practices are different. They find security and love in our lives. It is not because who we are, or how do we look in halloween. it is because they see EVERY DAY the work of Jesus in us. And it is truth that we may not attack one each other. We have to decide if we use a halloween costume one day in a year, or if we want to pretend use a costume of a “saint” or “Holly” all the year. I think both are not the best option. We should “take off our old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

  52. Here, here! We started a small church near our downtown and had a blast handing out huge chocolate Easter bunnies tonight. We asked our son to pick up some candy, and he found those at the local discount store! Lots of laughs, grateful neighbors, and since we live In the connected parsonage, perhaps we’ll have some visitors on Sunday who saw our joy and Light shine? 🙂

  53. I really don’t like the judgemental and critical spirit of this pastor who seems to think that just because some Christians feel convicted to live according to the way they believe are somehow “self-righteous or pious”. Some people are just sensitive to the very evil ways of Halloween and just don’t want any part of it. What’s wrong with that? Just because they don’t validate him by doing exactly what he does or says doesn’t mean they are being “less Christian”, they are just living what they believe. Shame on this pastor for taking the low road of judgemental attitude. Personally, I would steer clear of this church.

  54. So, you’re a “Christian” celebrating Halloween.
    Why? Do you not understand?

    It is with hopeful intent that I write this status to inform all of you of the evils of Halloween
    or as it was originally called “Samhain”(saw-win).

    In order to tell you about the evils I will start at the beginning.
    “Samhain was an ancient Celtic holiday that started thousands of years ago.In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic festival of Samhain eve was observed on October 31,at the end of the summer. It was the occasion for
    one of the ancient fire festivals when huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits. The Souls of the dead were thought to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance with ghosts, witches, goblins,black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. In addition, it was thought to be the most favorable time for divination’s concerning marriage, luck, health, and death.

    Samhain, also spelled Samain, (Celtic: “End of Summer”), on of the most important and sinister calendar festivals of the Celtic year. At Samhain, held on November 1, the world of the gods was believed to be made visible to mankind, and the gods played tricks on their mortal worshipers; it was a time of fraught with danger, charged with fear, and fill of supernatural events. Sacrifices and propitations of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them the Celts believed they could not prevail over the perils of the season or counteract the activities of the deities. Samhain was an important precursor to Halloween.”
    (Encyclopedia Britannica)

    As you can see the origins of Halloween have nothing to do with Christianity such as is suggested by the Catholic interpretation of Samhain: All Hallows Eve (All Saints Day), but it in fact has its origins rooted deeply in Pagan practice.
    In this practice these pagans believed that the “veil” between Earth and the second dimension, or the demonic realm, the place of the dead and demons was thinned during Samhain. And at that time during Samhain because the “veil” was thinned it allowed the spirits of the dead, demons and gods to leave the abode of the dead into the place of the living. Because of this a lot of supernatural events would occur on this night. Many cultural traditions developed in order to counter these supernatural events: warding off evil spirits, worshiping what many think are gods, etc.
    This worshiping still occurs to this day.
    In Satanism the High Holy Day takes place on *dun-dun-dun* Halloween.
    Wiccans believe and still practice the Samhain festival. So far in fact that on many Wiccan websites it is noted that Christians should thank them for Halloween, Christmas, and Easter as they all take root in Pagan origins. In fact: Wiccans, Occult Groups, and Satanists are commonly infuriated that Christians are “hi-jacking” their Holy Day.

    Then along came the Romans who conquered the Irish and Celts in the first century, Samhain began to get mixed together with two other Roman feasts for the dead that also took place on or around Samhain: Pomona Day and Feralia. Pomona Day and Feralia were integrated into Samhain. As is common when one nation takes over another. Traditions mix as cultures combine.

    Feralia was held on Feb 21, and was the day to honor the dead, but like other Roman holidays, was filled with drunkenness and orgies as well as other atrocities.

    Pomona Day, November 1, was a day to honor the goddess Pomona, the goddess of fruit, trees, and fertility.
    Her sacred Symbol? The apple.(Remember this.)

    Next was the Catholic Church, having already multiple days for remembering dead saints and martyrs, it was agreed that there should be one day for “All [of the] Saints”. With the backing of the Roman governments, it was decided to “white wash” the Roman day of the dead and turn it into the day of remembering and praying to the dead saints.
    In doing Feralia became the day on which Catholics would remember and pray to the dead saints. And after Feralia was moved by Saint John Chrysostom to the first Sunday after Pentecost the name was soon changed from Feralia to All Saints Day. Killing two birds with one stone. On May 13th 609 AD Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the commemoration of all Christian martyrs– All Saints Day is born.

    Why May 13th? The Roman Lemuria Festival was a pagan festival where the head of household would get up at midnight and perform a ritual to exercise and remove dead spirits from his home. But then again the day was moved to Samhain Day in 741 AD by Pope Gregory III in an attempt to Christianize the Pagan population and the Pagan feast of the same day.

    Then there is All Souls Day which takes place on November 2, after All Saints Day, added by the Catholic Church to remember all of the souls that were suspended in a place called Purgatory and needed the prayers of tehir loved ones.
    As with the Samhain festival, Catholic believers celebrated with huge bonfires on hills, parades and costumes, masquerading as dead saints, angels and demons. Altogether, All Saints’ Eve (Oct. 31), All Saints’ Day (Nov 1), and All Souls’ Day (Nov 2) combined into Hallowmas–imitating the Celtic Feast of Samhain!

    From “All Saints Day” to Halloween?
    In 1556, the Scottish Term “All Hallows Eve” was used, meaning “Hallowed Evening” or “Holy Evening” When the phrase was used in the English language in 1745, it was pronounced “Halloween”.
    So, I ask you, how is taking a Pagan festival filled with evil practices modernizing them and fitting them into your culture and renaming it “Halloween” in any way whatsoever considered “Holy”?

    Trick or Treat?
    In the custom of the Samhain Festival, families would put food and drink(treats) outside of the front door to appease roaming spirits and to keep them from playing “tricks” on them.
    By the Middle Ages, poor children would go door to door begging for cakes in exchange for saying prayers for the dead.

    Jack O’ Lanterns?
    In many African tribes it is a common practice on October 31st every year for families to take food, drinks, etc. to the local witch doctor in an attempt so appease him and keep him from casting a spell,hex,curse on them. And in order to show that they have given their offering to the witch doctor and keep all evil spirits from their homes, families will hollow out gourds and place a candle in them and set the gourds in front of their homes.
    The Fable of Irish (Stingy) Jack( O’ Lantern):
    Irish Jack tricks the devil and gets him to climb a tree. While the Devil is in the tree Irish Jack carves a cross in the bark of the tree, since the devil can’t cross over the cross he is trapped.
    Irish Jack tells Satan that he will let him down if he promises that when he dies the devil will not take his soul when he dies. The Devil agrees and is let down from the tree.
    Well, Irish Jack later dies and G-D won’t let Irish Jack into Heaven because of his Stingy life he lived. And the Devil wouldn’t let Stingy Jack into Hell because so he would keep his word.
    Stingy Jack, on his way our of Hell, the devil threw a a hot coal at Jack who also happened to be eating turnip. The hot coal hit and was lodged in the turnip. And because Stingy Jack is unable to enter either Heaven or Hell he instead roams the Earth using the turnip as a lantern.

    Bobbing for Apples?
    The current game dates back to when the Romans conquered Britain, bringing with the, the apple tree, a representation of the goddess of fruit trees, Pomona. The combination of Pomona(Remember her?), also a fertility goddess, and the Celts’ belief that the pentagram was a fertility symbol began the origins of bobbing for apples. This “game” was a ceremony to honor and worship the Fertility goddess, Pomona.

    Scripture is explicit.
    ” 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 spiritualist, 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.”
    -Deuteronomy 18:10-12
    “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”
    -3 John 1:11
    “You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying. You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” -Leviticus 19:26-28
    [Leviticus 19 is a chapter banning pagan practices among people following G-D.]
    “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” -Jeremiah 10:2
    You can’t take a tree rooted in paganism carve crosses into the bark and it no longer have roots in paganism. Stop practicing the wickedness of the pagans. We are called as “Christians” to be Kadosh “Separate and Holy”, Set apart from the world and the things of the world.

  55. Meh. After seeing so many people wearing devil horns at the VMA’s I don’t think that Halloween is any longer a holiday of harmless fun. Why should I partake in the darkness of the world? Why should I want to see people dressed up as murderers and demons and zombies? I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life. Thanks.

  56. Halloween (Sanheim) is an evil, wicked, worldly holiday that celebrates death, fear, occult, necromancy, and darkness. Look no further than the costumes and decorations. It should tell you something when you have to take your child’s candy to be X-rayed. Bad things happen on Halloween. A few years ago there were more than 50 fires lit in the city of Detroit. It makes me angry that a “pastor” would encourage participation in such wickedness. Please find another church! This man is leading you astray. He can justify it any way he wants, but that does not change the truth. It just shows he does not know the Bible. God definitely has told us how He feels about it. Please study to shew thyself approved and separate from this wickedness. (I am not following this post, so I will not see responses to this). There are literally hundreds of verses I can point to. Here are a few:

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

    John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

    Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

    Leviticus 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

    Proverbs 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

    1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

    1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

    2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

    1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

    Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

    2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

    Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

    Micah 5:12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:

    Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

    2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

    Ezra 9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

  57. “In The Satanic Bible, the founder of The Church of Satan Anton LaVey wrote, ‘the two main Satanic holidays (after one’s birthday), are Walpurgisnacht and Halloween.'”

    This is the opening paragraph to another great article about Christians and Halloween. It’s also loaded with reasons why from scripture. Although, after looking at all of the comments I think there’s plenty of evidence as to why a Christian shouldn’t celebrate Halloween.

    Here’s the article:

    http://www.turnfromyouridols.com/Blog/Entries/2015/10/31_SATANIC_%22HOLY_DAYS%22.html

    Also, it’s about enough with the “don’t judge me” or “Christians should not judge” lines. We as Christians are to not judge on appearances but judge for the sake of righteousness. That includes bringin education and truth to pastors who are not above reproof. In fact a Christian should always check their pastors against scripture at all times. You can not follow based on blind faith, even pastors can be leavened (Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, TD Jakes, Joyce Meyer for example).

    It happened to the Apostle Paul who was converted by Jesus Christ himself in Acts 17:

    10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

    11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

    Always fact check your pastor. If you think that what they say does not match scripture, then politely bring it up to them in private. The pastor is not the source, they are human and are sinners at heart. The Bible is the Word of God and it is never wrong.

  58. I would agree that we as christians need not to be “religious” about it and condemn. I am a Christ follower and by no means am I anything religious. I don’t celebrate halloween. I will not pull out scripture as my back-up, but I my conscience is not at peace with it. And that I can use scripture to determine if I should do it. Romans 14:23- “But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.” The context is whether or not to eat meat offered to idols. It’s not that it is “wrong” per se and I have NO right to judge others for it, but it would be wrong for me to participate. When people talk about halloween, I can discuss it with gentleness, love, and compassion. But if someone were to ask me my thoughts on it, I would tell them the truth. I see no wrong in someone else doing it, but I won’t. I think its something we as Christians should pray about and surrender to any convictions that God might be convicting us of. I’m not by any means challenging what you say or condemning you, but I think maybe we need to step into other people’s shoes…and look at it a different way. It’s easy to slip into judging Christians who judge others. I struggle with it.

    • …And if people were to come to my house, I would treat them with such hospitality as if I was hosting our dear Lord himself.

  59. Halloween USED to be a simple fun night of kids dressing up like farmers and chickens and trading chocolate received from neighbors. But all a person has to do is enter any retail establishment in October to see what the celebration of Halloween has become in our country. It is R rated costumes for every age, including disfigured masks, half dismembered body props and skeletons, gore and blood, short skirts and sexy tops for 8 year old witches and fairies, and so on. My kids and I are so grossed out by the constant visual assault that we enter stores from side entrances so we don’t have to look at the halloween displays. Even my 7 year old knows there is something VERY wrong with how this holiday is presented. We tried going to church functions instead of having to approach houses with gory and gross decorations for traditional trick or treating and even there we have met the same gory costumes from toddlers to adults (for example, last year a guy had a realistic costume that looked like his face was unzipped to show the flesh underneath and this year a young girl with teeth protruding in a circle around her mouth with a bloody center). We pray they had a positive experience at the church activity and will find their way to the church another time. But there’s no use pretending Halloween remains a simple fun night for kids. Satan is prowling the earth to seek who he can devour and I’m certain he LOVES getting God’s children to mingle with the death display so joyfully convinced its just a fun night of treats. The trick is on more clearly than ever.

  60. God’s word says you cannot service God and Satan. You cannot be lukewarm. Watch the DVD Hallow, trick or treat and you will see that a Christian cannot partake in Halloween which is 100% occultic. NOTHING in it has anything to do with God. It is a pagan ritual from the bobbing of apples to the handing out of sweets. If you do not believe me. Speak to a satanist, they will tell you what Halloween is really about. On Halloween people are being sacrificed and murdered so that satan and his followers can drink the blood and do other abominal rituals. I DO NOT understand how a born again Christian. I agree with REDBREW, there is only one path to walk when you are serving God and that’s the straight and narrow path. Anything else veering off that is not of God. Jesus said to be like Him and walk the way He did on earth. He would definitely not be found partaking in anything of satan especially Halloween. For those who believe that Christians should celebrate Halloween please look up what the various activities and supposedly fun things are and see for yourself. I will forever serve God than dabble in the occult in any form.

  61. “So You Don’t Think There Is Anything
    Wrong With Halloween?” Or other holidays with pagan origins….

    S: “I don’t think there is anything wrong with Halloween. It’s not as pagan anymore. There is nothing wrong with kids dressing up and getting candy from people.”

    E: “All year long kids are told that they shouldn’t talk to strangers, take candy from strangers, and that the devil is bad; yet one day a year you say let’s go to a stranger house and get candy from them, and oh yeah, that devil guy: we’re gonna dress up like his friends and party with him.”

    S: “Well the kids aren’t thinking that, they don’t know any better. They weren’t around when it was blatantly pagan.”

    E: “Is not knowing any better an excuse? And is not being born during the time that these key issues were so prevalent a pass for them to do these things?

    S: “Yeah, it’s not that bad anymore, it’s just dress up.”

    E: “So if, on this date of September 11th, you saw a 13 year old kid dressed up in a what looks like a World Trade Center tower costume that looked like it was burning, or in an Osama Bin Laden outfit with a toy AK47, you would not get offended? After all, they were literally not born when it was happening.”

    S: “No, of course I would be offended. It was a tragedy.”

    E: “You remember it because you were alive and old enough to understand what was going on during it. Something like that will always be offensive, right?”

    S: “Yes… I see where you are going with this, but that was 14 years ago and it changed the world, we are talking hundreds and thousands of years since the Garden of Eden, if it ever happened at all.”

    E: “How do you think God feels about it though? He’s been around since the rebellion. It is just as offensive to him as it was back then; in fact it’s more offensive, because the majority of humans think it isn’t wrong and don’t even believe their was a world changing rebellion, or that it didn’t happen the way the bible says it happened. I mean it has only been 14 years, yet almost as soon as it happened their were conspiracy theories cropping up about 9/11. There are also people nowadays who say the Holocaust never happened and or that it wasn’t as bad as its portrayed, and all the pictures and proof can’t convince them. How much easier would it be for Satan to do an elaborate cover up all these years later, over 6000 years, when all proof other then the Bible has eroded, decayed, or washed away. Also, it’s not a far stretch for a holiday to be based around a terrorist many years later. Look at Guy Faulkes day in England. Literally a holiday where people wear Guy Faulkes masks. He tried to blow up Parliament!”

    S: “Like in V for Vendetta?”

    E: “Exactly. That’s what that movie is based on.”

    S: “I never thought of it like that.”

    E: “Most people don’t.”

  62. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Phil 4:8
    Any of that pertain to Halloween???
    I guess that we will be rationalizing away Rap music next?

  63. This is a wonderful article. I shared it last year and I plan to share it this year as well. Scripture can be used from both view points actually. Therefore, all this debate is expect and actually proves that this is a matter of “to each their own.” God knows our hearts and we are all on different walks. To those who do not celebrate, I do not condemn you. Do I secretly wish you’d see the legalism? Yes but it is what it is. See sometimes we try so hard to follow Christ that we miss simple things right in front of us. Relax, breathe … serve Him in all ways and on all days. Thank you so much for this article, Pastor 🙂

  64. This is a wonderful article and scripture can be used from both view points. Therefore, all this debate is expected and actually proves that this is a matter of “to each their own.” God knows our hearts and we are all on different walks. To those who do not celebrate, I do not condemn you. Do I secretly wish you’d see the legalism? Yes but it is what it is. See sometimes we try so hard to follow Christ that we miss simple things right in front of us. Relax, breathe … serve Him in all ways and on all days. I was always fascinated with Halloween as a child (long before giving my life to Christ). The reason why? Because it was “spiritual” to me and I’ve always been drawn to the unknown. Now, many years (and my salvation later), I love it even more because the Truth is in my heart and I have a new understanding that I didn’t have then. I can be a real light in darkness. It’s so funny too because we know many Christians who refuse to take part in Halloween but are obsessed with the Walking Dead. You really brought it home with that statement. Thank you so much for this article, Pastor 🙂

  65. We moved from a country that did not celebrate Halloween to a country that does and we arrived at this time of year with 4 small children. What a shock to see all the gruesome ,dark ,scary decorations littering this place. We moved from a violent country.
    Of course, there is nothing wrong with candy or dressing up appropriately but why link it to the themes of darkness , fear etc.
    Disagreeing with what some people take part in is not the same as condemning the person (Christians who think they have to be part of something just to reach others -NO)

  66. I think as christians we should offer alternatives, in my community there are so many people that don’t want to be part of Halloween and are not followers of Jesus, why not offer an alternative rather than taking part in some thing that dose not shine any light?

    If you were asked to join a cult or the mafia or a satanic cult would you do so as a Christian?

    We need to be reaching out, finding different way to bring Christian into situation but not being part of it! Don’t be a crowd follower!!

    Romans 12.2
    1Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.…

  67. I have never enjoyed Halloween. I have chosen to do some acticity with my kids instead. With a child with nut allergies it was never “fun” when we did experience it. Then after getting pins in apples I said enough. Why are those that choose to stay in their house with lights out depicted as “viewing the day as evil”. CAN that be a personal choice? this year I offered my youngest a choice between candy (which he raren’t chooses to eat- truly, his grown siblings finish treats when they come to visit) and costume for a robot and k-nex and movie night with mom. HE chose the latter. Maybe we can allow each to choose what is right for them… Maybe these awesome posts can be even better when everyone is seen with love and acceptance. Thank you.

  68. my goodness.. the stones and sticks really show themselves. This is by far reasonable. This is right on, folks there is nothing wrong with having fun and enjoying a time with your kids. I don’t believe in the gore but I do believe in creativity. If you really are opposed don’t do it. Also, don’t go to a play that your children are in either.. because they dress up in costumes and play parts that are not real.. What in the world are christians afraid of? There are worst things..

  69. I really wish folks would study the TRUTH about “Halloween” aka “All Hallows Eve”. It is the VIGIL of All Saints Day. It began as a CHRISTIAN HOLY DAY (holiday)! Some have definitely added elements to itnover time that do not hold to its original meaning BUT that does not change what it actually is.
    http://ucatholic.com/blog/the-catholic-origins-of-halloween/

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