Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. (Romans 14:5-6)

The short answer is found in the verse above from the book of Romans and elsewhere.¹ So, if you can celebrate Halloween in a godly manner and observe it to the Lord, it is okay. However, the "if" is the key word. Most celebrations of Halloween not only do not honor God, but actually dishonor Him.

There is an easy way that Christians can honor Christ. For years, our family has been handing out gospel tracts along with candy. The people who come to your door are more than willing to accept gospel tracts. In fact, the kids are often quite excited about getting the "little comic books." We have found that out of 200-300 tracts passed out, only 2 or 3 are found to have been discarded the next day. A few years ago we added something a little different, in that we lined the entrance to our home with verses. Some of the verses were printed and mounted on "gravestones" and told of the bad news about our behavior (see below) and its consequences (along with the good news -the gospel). At the porch was printed John 3:16 - the good news of God's grace to us extended through faith in Jesus Christ.

So consider sharing the good news of the gospel with your neighbors on Halloween. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

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References

Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16)
However, there is are qualifiers to this verse:
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17)
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, (Colossians 2:18)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24)

"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Last updated 10/23/01