Christian perspectives on Halloween are sharply divided. What does the Bible say about it? We don't celebrate the traditionally "Christian" holidays such as Christmas and Easter, and we also don't celebrate other holidays such as Halloween and Valentine's Day that are based on occult and pagan beliefs and practices. What is a holiday? There is no mention of it in the Bible. In Old Testament Israel, witchcraft was a crime punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27). Halloween falls on October 31 because the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, considered the earliest known root of Halloween, occurred on this day, and it also has connections to the Christian holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Are we here to live in a safe, protected environment, guarded against the evils of the world, or are we called to reach out to a world filled with dangers and be the light of Christ? The Bible never actually talks about Halloween and Christianity, and there are excellent arguments on both sides of the Christian Halloween debate. ", "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. God reminds us, through the Apostle John, not to gravitate toward such worldly holidays (1John 2:15). What Does the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) Mean to Christians? Some say this was the church's way of claiming the celebration for Christians. And while the Bible doesn’t outright say the word “Halloween,” here’s a key verse I learned from a minister that provides guidance regarding traditions rooted in beliefs of the dead … There are those who say that demonizing Halloween is an attempt on the part of some Christians to remove themselves from the world. It means nothing. What Does the Bible Say About Church Discipline? For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. While the Bible doesn't mention Halloween specifically, it does, of course, have lots to say about the forces of evil. If you are torn between whether or not you should celebrate Halloween, the following Bible verses about Halloween might help. Inevitably, some pagan practices associated with the season persisted and have been mixed into modern celebrations of Halloween. ", "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ", "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! God does not want us to keep Halloween because He loves us. ", "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. What does Halloween mean in the Bible? The Bible vs. Halloween . In all probability, the dilemma over Halloween is a Romans 14 issue, or a "disputable matter." Halloween (also called All Hallows Eve, All Saints’ Eve, Samhain, Hallowed End) has its … Let others do the same without condemnation from us. Below are a few scriptures that speak of these abominations. When Should You Take Your Christmas Tree Down? Scripture says that believers are supposed to "become all things to all men so that by all possible means" they might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22). By using Learn Religions, you accept our. And although the Bible does not forbid us from remembering our loved ones, neither does it ordain the practice, and attempting to contact them was punishable by death (Leviticus 19:31). Our beliefs are rooted in the Bible. The dark spiritual world is real, and we must not dabble and mess with it. Question: "Should a Christian celebrate holidays?" As the Druids danced around the fires, they celebrated the end of the summer and the beginning of the season of darkness. The word holiday means different things to different people around the world, but when I say holiday, I’m referring to a repeating celebration on the calendar, not necessarily a vacation. Given the slightly morbid tone of Halloween, Christians often find themselves asking if it is appropriate to celebrate such a holiday. The basic concept is that when someone dies their soul lives on as a spirit to live in the afterlife and it is these sprits who are honoured, celebrated, feared and remembered at Halloween. ", "The night is far gone; the day is at hand. Is there a biblical way to observe this secular holiday? Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (We are not Jehovah's Witnesses, we are Bible-believing Christians.) Such remembrances can be very meaningful. More about us. Are Ghosts Real? While Christians who are opposed to the celebration of Halloween frequently claim that it descends from the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, the first attempts to show some connection between the vigil of All Saints and Samhain came over a thousand years after … a time to celebrate and remember. ", "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Scripture Doesn't Authorize It. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 37 Fall Candles That'll Make Your Home Feel Cozy, 41 Scary-Good Halloween Dinner Party Ideas, 49 of the Best Halloween Songs of All Time. If you liked this video, give it a thumbs up over on YouTube and please subscribe! Is the Date of Easter Related to Passover? Ben & Erin Napier Talk 'Home Town' Season 5, 93 Best Easy Low-Carb Recipes With Tons of Flavor, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Here are the best Bible verses to read as Halloween approaches. Halloween means the evening before All Hallows Day or All Saint’s Day, celebrated on November 1. The Bible expressly forbids celebrating holidays that are or were held by pagans. In fact, the Bible PROHIBITS this practice. Many Christians believe that participating in Halloween is a form of involvement in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness, which is forbidden in Scripture: Ephesians 5:7-15. Is it possible that there is no right or wrong answer to the Halloween dilemma? What if you came to the Christian faith from a background in the occult? We have compiled a list of Bible verses that speak to issues and circumstances relevant to the celebration of Halloween: 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. These quotes from scripture capture the spirit of our favorite spooky holiday. Halloween actually means “holy or hallowed evening.” Jeremiah 10:2 ESV / … Answer: The Bible nowhere instructs Christians to celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. In light of Scriptures, consider carefully the appropriateness of judging another Christian for observing Halloween. In other words, the BIBLE says we can NOT “christianize” the pagan holidays. While the Bible doesn’t specifically talk about Halloween, it does talka bout witchcraft and the state of the dead. Halloween is devil’s holiday and Christians shouldn’t celebrate it, ex-Satanist turned evangelist says Many choose to boycott or ignore it, while a number of believers celebrate it through positive and imaginative observances or Christian alternatives to Halloween. This harvest festival of the Druids ushered in the New Year, beginning on the evening of October 31 with the lighting of bonfires and offering of sacrifices. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.". How many are calling forth the spirits of the dead? “The Bible says to ‘take no part’ in these things.” But other Christians think Halloween can be a way to celebrate family, neighborliness and, yes, Christ. There are Biblical principles that correlate to the celebration of Halloween. On that note, there’s no place that understands the dark, evil—and even the demonic—better than the Bible. “Thus says the Lord, “Do not learn the way of the nations…” As Christians we ought to be repulsed by a holiday that celebrates the very things that our God and Maker calls abominations. And how do we reach out to unbelievers in a way that will attract them to faith in Jesus Christ? Ultimately, Christians must decide for themselves and follow the convictions of their own heart. As you're planning your Halloween festivities, with all of the Halloween costumes for kids and special Halloween treats, you may be wondering why we really celebrate Halloween in the first place. Most Christians would condemn drug abuse by using the principle that since the Word condemns drunkenness, it also condemns getting high from drugs. How should Christians approach Halloween? With Halloween's pagan origins, many Christians are a little freaked out about acknowledging October 31. Some see it as a dark day full of evil influence while others deem it a harmless time for fun costumes and candy. This pastor does not celebrate Halloween and neither does her church. It is addressed in Deuteronomy 12:29-31. Halloweens History and Origins. Jamie Morgan is pastor of Life Church (Assemblies of God) and the Life House of Prayer (24/7 prayer). Many Christians believe that participating in Halloween is a form of involvement in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness, which is forbidden in Scripture: On the other hand, many believers consider the modern-day Halloween activities of most to be harmless fun. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Cavalry. We do not comercialize the holiday as the world does, but celebrate it for its true meaning; the birth of our Savior. With no direct references to Halloween in the Bible, resolving the debate can be a challenge. The Bible doesn’t specifically use the word Halloween, but the bible does speak of the essence of Halloween or the synonym words associated with Halloween, i.e. Scripture does not speak at all about Halloween, but it does give us some principles on which we can make a decision. ", "But test everything; hold fast what is good. A Christian Perspective on the Feast of Pentecost, The Bible Says 'No' to Talking to the Dead, Should Christians Be Reading "Harry Potter?". Halloween brings our neighbors out into the streets. We cannot accurately judge the motivations and intentions of another person's heart. Ignoring Halloween or celebrating it only with believers is not exactly an evangelical approach. ", "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. But how many Christians are sacrificing their children as burnt offerings on Halloween? Bible verses related to Celebrating Halloween from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order 1 Corinthians 10:21 - Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. witchcraft, fortunetelling, wizardry, witches, magic, spells, divination, sorcery and so on. Some feel complete freedom to observe the holiday, while others run and hide from it. For Christians, as per the Church Epistles, there are no prescribed “holidays.” Every day is to be a special day as we live for the Lord. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Can we be in the world, but not of the world? Pope Gregory IV broadened the feast to include the entire church. Some Christians do not celebrate Halloween, citing its pagan origins, close ties to witchcraft … We should never conform ourselves to this world, but yet conform ourselves to the image of Christ. What if, before you became a Christian, you did practice some of these dark deeds? So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. ", "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Christians can celebrate Halloween to the extent that they feel the freedom to do so and to the degree that the particular practices do not celebrate the occult. Sorry, that is still not biblical. Simply put, Halloween and its symbols originated not in Holy Writ but with people deceived by the devil to worship false (pagan) gods. That is not to say that it is wrong to celebrate the birth of Christ, or his Resurrection. The holiday is a great opportunity to develop new relationships and share our faith. Don’t participate in the things these people do. It was believed that at this time of year the invisible "gates" between the natural world and the spirit world would open, allowing free movement between the two worlds. These holidays came into existence centuries after the Bible was written, and Halloween as we know it today became popular in the 1930s. Country Living editors select each product featured. Perhaps the appropriate Christian response to Halloween is to study the matter for ourselves and follow the convictions of our own heart. "However, it also does not have a specific text condemning the use of heroin or cocaine either. During the 8th century in the diocese of Rome, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints Day to November 1, officially making October 31 "All Hallows Eve." The origin of Halloween comes from ancient Celtic harvest festivals. Perhaps refraining from Halloween and its activities is the safest and most appropriate response for you as an individual. ", "Submit yourselves therefore to God. 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