If I would ask what is celebrated on October 31, nine out of ten Christians would reply: “Halloween.” On this day death and the devil are celebrated worldwide and in the last few decades Christian churches have joined in this awful celebration.
Now, before you reply angrily or complain about this statement of fact, I am not saying that all churches do celebrate Halloween like the world does (though many do), but I am declaring that many churches feel the need to provide an “alternative” so that our “poor” Christian children don’t miss out on the festivities and feel left out.
As a matter of fact, in most communities, the churches place more emphasis on Halloween activities than the secular society. Who has not heard of such events as “Harvest Festivals” or “Trunk or Treat” or even evangelistic “Haunted Houses” in our cities and towns?
Am I the only one that believes that Halloween is evil? Am I an alarmist or old fashioned when I think that churches should never celebrate Halloween in any form or fashion?
There is a big problem when churches start providing alternatives for sin. The word “alternative” means another option or possibility for people to choose from. Halloween should be irrelevant for believers. There is nothing to celebrate on that day for us…or is there?
Well, since you ask so politely I will reply. God, in his infinite wisdom has provided a reason to celebrate October 31 and it has nothing to do with Halloween, death, Jack-o’-lanterns, costumes, candies or the devil. I am referring to the celebration of Reformation Day.
It was on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the church of Wittenberg, Germany; protesting all the abuses and heresies of the Roman Catholic church. This event lead to a revival of the true church of God and a separation from apostate Christianity.
This is what the Christians should celebrate and proclaim for all to hear! Instead of providing alternatives for an evil and pagan feast, we should rejoice that exactly 500 years ago, God used one repentant monk to change (not to imitate) the world.
And one last thing. The devil is the one that has always attempted to bring chaos into the world by providing other “alternatives” to the people of God. He did so with Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3) and “disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) to bring confusion, chaos and destruction in the world.
The church does not need to provide altenatives, but preach the truth. The church does not need disguises or costumes, but to show forth the light of Christ to a dark world. Finally, the church does not need to celebrate death and sin, but rejoice in the life we have in Christ.
Alexander Gonzalez
