Is it Biblical to Celebrate Halloween? (Part 1) - Be Whole, Mom

Goblins, Ghouls, zombies, skeletons, vampires, witches, sorcery, and more.  Only one season in the year provides ample promotion of all of these things.  Welcome to Halloween!

When my oldest kids were about three and four years old, the Lord put us on a journey to evaluate and better understand the various days that are celebrated in our culture.  Honestly, I don’t think I was prepared for all I would learn and come to understand.  It has completely altered the way we now see and associate with holidays and taught us whether or not we ought to participate to any degree.

There are a lot of days celebrated in our culture, and some have added a Christian spin to them, for one reason or another.  This month, though, celebrates Halloween…and there is wisdom in assessing it from a biblical stance.

“Do you Love Me?”

If we profess to believe in the God of the Bible, we must also be willing to see what He says about these things in His Word.  If we say that we Love God, then we must be willing to love Him the Way He wants to be loved.  If we are walking in relationship with Him, we must be willing to address things that He does not like and turn away from them in order to protect our covenant relationship with Him.

This is our Heavenly marriage.

In addition, we are charged to “nurture our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).  Many of us have been on our own journey of revelation and learning about what the Bible says, and while we do so we must also be sure to teach these things to our children.

As moms, our greatest responsibility is to hold out the Word of Life to the next generation that they may, too, hopefully see clearly and embrace all that it says.  It may not be easy, but it surely is simple.

Abba, I pray that this post is received by those with eyes that can see and ears that can hear, people who desire to embrace You in Your fullness and be in communion with You always.  May You soften our hearts and reveal areas where we need to be awakened.  Open our eyes, always, Abba.  Amen.

Okay, I feel the need to work on things from the inside out, and for many of us, the introduction to Halloween in our families begins when the children are little and innocent.  Dress-up and play are completely natural to little children, so to them there is nothing quizzical about a day to enjoy these things.

I recognize the simplicity of this foundation, and for many of us this is where we met Halloween in our youth.  We may even have many fond memories of Halloween and wish to enjoy equally fond memories with our children.

Let me start with saying that I have great empathy for the emotional turmoil that can emerge as you navigate these things.  It is not easy, and sometimes we experience great sadness as we face the Truth of scripture and realize areas in our life where our choices do not line up.

We can also have a lot of confusion and uncertainty as we begin to see, but our spiritual eyes feel blurry, and our hearts unsure.

In addition, we must be careful not to condemn those who do not understand, nor have eyes to see.  Instead, let us pray for them and for wisdom to open their eyes, too, especially for those who love and walk with God.

For those who are already feeling the leading of the Spirit to analyze these things, you are being given an opportunity to fortify your mind and bring it into alignment with God.  This is part of the fulfillment of the greatest command, to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Matt. 12:30, emph mine).  Wisdom and understanding come from God.  What a great opportunity to give thanks for this gift freely given.

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” ~ Prov. 2:6

Pray for wisdom

If this is where you are in the journey, I encourage you to continue to pray for clarity and wisdom, and for our Abba to open the eyes of your heart and to show you how He sees things in this world.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” ~ James 1:5

We must remember that we are welcomed with grace through the perfect Work of Christ so even when we err we are also forgiven.  We must continue to ask for wisdom and clarity one step at a time, and seek the renewal of our minds from the earthly plane to the heavenly realm.  This process takes time.  May we be patient with both ourselves and others.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ~ Romans 12:2

Prepare Your Heart

The next post in this series will analyze the day and its celebrations from a biblical perspective, and bring up some things to consider for those who love and follow Yahweh.  I don’t know your form and what the Lord is specifically leading you to do, so I encourage you to pray for a heart to receive what He wishes to speak to you.

There are many things in life that are clear-cut, right and wrong when it comes to the Ways of our Abba; and then there are others where a gray area exists and it is the heart and the heart alone that determines whether or not sin is present.

May your heart be prepared to see clearly so that in these upcoming days you will be ready to walk with Him with every step.

Shalom.