How to Respond to Halloween

During this time of year many parents find themselves in a difficult situation because they need to answer their children’s question about why Christians don’t participate in Halloween. The children want to know why it is bad to dress up in costumes and go out trick or treating like all the other children do with their parents. “Because it is of the devil.” “We are Christians, and we don’t celebrate this day.” These short and simple responses don’t really answer the sincere questions of our children, and they deserve better.

With the goal of counteracting the influence of Halloween on the family and providing a safe place where children will not need to go out into the streets and expose themselves to different dangers such as poisoned candies, razorblades in fruit, or the accidents that can be caused by being out in the dark, some churches hold family festivals with entertainment, games, and candy and invite the community. Unfortunately there are legalistic Christians who think that the churches are celebrating Halloween when in fact they are simply giving parents and children a fun and wholesome alternative to the world’s celebration of Halloween.

When parents don’t know what to say to their children (approximately 4-10 years old) who want to dress up, they can suggest that they dress up like people from the Bible. If a child says, “But I want a scary mask like my friend!” parents lovingly and firmly should guide them to make other choices. When we do this, it isn’t that we are in agreement with Halloween, but at the same time we aren’t disappointing our little ones with a short NO. The truth is that when they become adolescents, they will understand better for themselves. As parents we know that from the time they are little, it is our responsibility to teach them the truths from the Word of God. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. (Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 127:3-4)

Promise of the Week: May the LORD give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 115:14-15)