What’s a Christian to Do?

Sooner or later, every parent has to decide what to do with Halloween. The first option is simply not to participate in anything associated with the holiday. This means locking your front door, turning out the light, and acting as if no one is home when trick-or-treaters come through your neighborhood. One lady told me she leaves the porch light on and puts a sign on her front door each year that reads: “Our family does not participate in Halloween. Have a safe return home. God bless you.”

This is certainly a valid option, but it does present a problem that will need to be dealt with if you have younger children. Because Halloween is such a big retail holiday and celebrations have crept into our schools, kids will want to know why they can’t do what their friends at school and in the neighborhood are doing. This is definitely not an insurmountable problem, but there is even a bigger issue that we need to think about.

Since Halloween is such huge business, there is a lot of publicity given to October 31. Why not take advantage of all this fanfare and use it to “turn on the light” of God’s Word with an alternative that could take people one step closer to a relationship with Jesus? Ephesians 5:16 encourages us to “make the most of every opportunity,” and Halloween is just such an occasion for Christians who are serious about making a difference in their world.

Remember that participating in an alternative is not the same thing as celebrating the holiday. When we celebrate a holiday, we are publicly bringing some sort of honor to the day. When we participate in an alternative, we are providing a choice between Halloween and some other event. We can choose to be part of an alternative to Halloween without the stigma of expressing some type of satisfaction with the traditional celebration of the holiday. The right alternative can be safe and fun for kids and yet still honor God. It’s important that our kids do not feel as if they are missing out on something just because they are Christians. Ultimately, Halloween can be a great opportunity to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Many Shapes and Sizes

Alternatives come in different shapes and sizes. They are limited only by your imagination and creativity. The alternative doesn’t have to be complex or expensive; it all depends on what you want to accomplish and the amount of time you are able to invest. For some parents it will be as simple as planning a special family night on October 31. This could be a great time to establish some fun family traditions. Start by serving a favorite meal for dinner, then plan an evening of fun activities and games just for the kids. You could also plan to go out somewhere as a family and finish off the evening at home with a special dessert.

Reverse door-to-door evangelism

Here’s another Halloween alternative. Instead of going to someone else’s house, take advantage of the fact that trick-or-treaters will come to your door. When you answer the door, give them some candy and a Christian tract on fear or some other topic related to Halloween. Imagine being able to be involved in door-to-door evangelism without leaving your home.

Reformation Day costume party

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther is credited with spearheading the Protestant Reformation. Some historians believe that, next to the introduction of Christianity, the Reformation was one of the greatest events in all of history. The early cries for reformation (restoration of biblical Christianity) were heard through the pounding of Martin Luther’s hammer on the chapel door of Wittenberg University in Germany. The 95 theses (short statements) he nailed to the door proved to be the catalyst for a new direction in evangelical thinking. Some of Luther’s theses were written against the religious practice of people making a monetary payment in order to be set free from eternal punishment for sin. Implicit in his writings was the concept of salvation by grace alone. October 31 thus became known as Reformation Day.

Invite children to come to your home or church dressed as biblical characters. Have a contest and award prizes for the most creative costume, funniest, etc. Games and refreshments will add to the festivities. Include a time to briefly explain what the Reformation was and the impact it had on the history of the church. As you explain the concept of God’s grace and salvation, you will also have a great opportunity to give children a chance to establish a personal relationship with Christ. Your pastor or church library may also have books that provide more specific information for this part of the event.

Harvest Festival

A number of churches in our area host a special harvest event on Halloween night. Children from the neighborhood are invited to attend a festival of games, contests and refreshments. Candy is given out at each booth or game, and children are encouraged to attend wearing nonghoulish costumes or ones that represent a Bible character. One church provides free bags for trick-or-treating as well as maps to church members’ houses where they receive a “special treat.”

Progressive dinner

Help the youth group at your church put together a progressive dinner. Encourage the kids to come dressed in costumes, then transport them from home to home with a different food course at each location. Plan a stimulating game for each home, then finish the evening back at the church for dessert and a short devotional talk on evil, the occult or a related topic.

When it comes to Halloween alternatives, teenagers are often left out or forgotten. Because we are dealing with a generation that is apathetic, fascinated with evil and searching for power, we need to give these kids wholesome options to the parties that kids at school host on Halloween. It may take a bit more work to put something together for older kids, but it’s worth it.

Pete Ryder, a youth pastor in Kansas, has a “Harvest Bash” for his youth group on Halloween. Their activities include bobbing for potatoes in mashed potatoes, a nongory costume party, a food-game team competition, a pumpkin-decorating contest, a team cheer, a caramel-apple race and a devotion from 1 Samuel 16:7 on wearing masks and disguises. In the past, Pete has also had a “Harvest Family Day” with fun activities for positive family interaction.

If you’re ambitious, help your church plan a special outreach concert for youth on Halloween. Whatever you do, make sure it’s fun and relevant for “Generation Next.”

If you decide to plan an alternative for your children and their friends, remember to use the Bible as your filter for what takes place at the event. The worst thing you could do is to present an option to kids that is just like every other Halloween event in town. Don’t see how closely you can copy the world; make it appealing but different.

Whatever you do, remember the principle found in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” We can provide a fun and safe alternative to Halloween that glorifies God. Why should the devil have all the fun?

— Steve Russo


Source

We had a sort of fall bash at our church this year that was a huge success.
It was call "Trunk or Treat". The Methodist church which is right next door got together with our church with a lighted path and we were to decorate our trunks or the back of our trucks with a religious theme and we would pass out candy to all the kids from both churches. We won 1st place for the best decorated trunk!!!!Won $50.00. Anyway, there were games for the kids to play, a live band playing some good tunes and a hayride for the kids.
Polo, I think your right in saying that alot is put into it commercially. As a kid, holloween was a big thing for me because I got to dress up and get free candy. Then as I grew older I went from trick or treating to dressing up and going to parties. Now I am more into God and view Holloween in a different manner.
I just hope the kids today keep safe and no one gets hurt!!!!

I know that is a very good idea. I've heard it done so much. They hand out tracts that are written in a way that kids can understand, yet showing the truth behind Halloween, or the Gospel. A great way to witness.

I've wanted to do that, but in my area, very very few trick or treat, because many are witches and have other terrible things to do on those days. So I haven't been able to do it. My family celebrates Halloween, but they take the kids to another city where there are houses to trick or treat I really hate that time of year, but as said, we should always look for ways to witness by it . . . as long as we don't do it by walking in the darkness of this world also :iwink: :ismile: