As Halloween approaches, some Christians struggle with the thought of participating in a holiday with pagan origins. Halloween can be connected back to the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland who believed that the souls of the dead would come back and visit their homes. It was then that people would sometimes wear disguises so the spirits would not recognize them (Britannica.com). Throughout the centuries, as with other holidays with pagan roots, the concept has completely changed. Christmas began as the celebration of the sun god, Easter was associated with the goddess Ostera as a symbol of fertility and rebirth, and even New Year’s Day was associated with a Roman god to represent new beginnings (Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church). Even so, most Christians do not have a problem celebrating any of these holidays because the purpose has changed. Halloween is simply a day of dressing up for fun and getting candy, Christmas is a festive time of gift-giving and family, Easter often includes decorating and hunting eggs, and New Year’s Day is a time of celebration remembering the past year and looking forward to the new.
It is really all about our mindset and intent. If the intent in celebrating Halloween is to glorify evil or evil spirits, then that would definitely be wrong (Isa. 5:20). If the intent of celebrating other holidays with pagan roots is to honor false gods, that would be wrong (Isa. 44:6; Mat. 4:10). If our mindset and intent in celebrating any holiday goes against the Scriptures at all, where we have no authority, that would clearly be wrong (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 John 9).
Even with this knowledge, some may still have reservations about celebrating Halloween (or other holidays) in good conscience and that’s understandable. The apostle Paul used the example of eating meat offered to an idol. It did not matter if a Christian ate the meat or did not eat the meat, but what mattered was their mindset behind eating the meat. If the meat was eaten with the intent of honoring an idol that was wrong (1 Cor. 8:7). Therefore, first century Christians who ate the meat in good conscience were encouraged not to pressure others to eat the meat when it would violate their conscience (1 Cor. 8:12). In the same way, no one should be forced to observe any holiday if it would cause them to violate their conscience and sin (1 Cor. 8:7-12). Each person must make that decision for himself (Rom. 14:5). With patience and understanding all Christians can get along with or without observing holidays simply as a matter of culture (Rom. 14:3). Whatever we do, God’s Word must always be respected and honored.
~Derrick Coble
It is really all about our mindset and intent. If the intent in celebrating Halloween is to glorify evil or evil spirits, then that would definitely be wrong (Isa. 5:20). If the intent of celebrating other holidays with pagan roots is to honor false gods, that would be wrong (Isa. 44:6; Mat. 4:10). If our mindset and intent in celebrating any holiday goes against the Scriptures at all, where we have no authority, that would clearly be wrong (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 John 9).
Even with this knowledge, some may still have reservations about celebrating Halloween (or other holidays) in good conscience and that’s understandable. The apostle Paul used the example of eating meat offered to an idol. It did not matter if a Christian ate the meat or did not eat the meat, but what mattered was their mindset behind eating the meat. If the meat was eaten with the intent of honoring an idol that was wrong (1 Cor. 8:7). Therefore, first century Christians who ate the meat in good conscience were encouraged not to pressure others to eat the meat when it would violate their conscience (1 Cor. 8:12). In the same way, no one should be forced to observe any holiday if it would cause them to violate their conscience and sin (1 Cor. 8:7-12). Each person must make that decision for himself (Rom. 14:5). With patience and understanding all Christians can get along with or without observing holidays simply as a matter of culture (Rom. 14:3). Whatever we do, God’s Word must always be respected and honored.
~Derrick Coble