Let me first say that we should offer a ton of charity to other Christians who may have a different answer than you regarding this question. There are many God-fearing, well-intentioned Christians who will not touch Halloween with a 10-foot pole. There are also many God-fearing, well-intentioned Christians who pass out snack-sized Snickers and walk their kids around the neighborhood to collect fun-sized M & M’s. With that in mind, let me tell you how I think about Halloween and my family’s participation on that evening.
First, we should never celebrate our enemy. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against . . . this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil.” Satan and his demons are our enemy. That’s who we wrestle. Therefore, there should be a great amount of discernment about what costumes we allow our children to wear. And while my neighbor’s 20-foot tall skeleton was quite impressive to look at, we should have a great amount of wisdom over the decorations we put out in our yard. Do our decorations and costumes honor the Lord (I Cor. 10:31) or celebrate our enemy?
Second, Halloween is an incredible opportunity. I am an introvert. Nothing scares me more than when my wife hands me the plate of homemade cookies and tells me to take them to our new neighbor. I’m not a great conversationalist. Knocking on someone’s door who I don’t know is terrifying. But my job is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes more disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19). Halloween is that one day a year I get to walk around with my kids and introduce or re-introduce myself to all my neighbors and it’s not awkward! And I get candy for doing it! Halloween is the one day a year I don’t wonder why someone is at my front door. I get to joyfully sit on my front steps and show the love of Christ and even have a conversation or two with other parents about Jesus.
Third, let’s not fight about it. Because of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul urges us Christians to walk “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” Eph. 4:2-3. If there are other Christians who celebrate the holiday a little differently than you would prefer, let’s offer grace over a very non-essential, non-salvation issue. And PLEASE, do not get in an argument or conversation with a non-Christian who celebrates this holiday too much. Darkness will celebrate darkness and we shouldn’t get mad when someone whose heart has not been changed by the love of Christ values different things than we do. Darkness will do what darkness will do.
So, go buy a big bag of candy (and please don’t buy the cheap kind-no one likes “that” house). Talk to your neighbors. Show the love of Christ. Let your house be known in your neighborhood for what you’re for and not for what you’re against.