Grace full mama

Halloween has always been a bit of a tricky subject for me. I started out as a mom not celebrating it. Then, I put my kids in public school and I celebrated it, but without the “death” ornaments etc. Just the bare minimum. Now, faced with a world where there is more open occult and wicca than ever before… a world where evil has become blatant and more accepted than good, I have returned to my question to God. As a Christian, is celebrating Halloween sin?

I have done all of the research on Halloween’s origins. The druidic celebration of Samhain, the human sacrifice, the rampant evil. Most people know this. Most Christians know that a yard full of skeletons and demons, witches and black cats is not something Jesus would put up in his own house.

I’ve talked to Christians who vary on their feelings about the subject. “As long as we don’t put up skeletons or scary decorations.” “It’s ok if it is just for the kids, it’s about dressing up and getting candy.” “I don’t want my kids to feel weird.” So many of us have turned our discernment off and wondered to ourselves how we can get away with celebrating and not seeming-ahem- set apart, but also not feel like we are sinning. How much evil can we allow in without feeling evil?

When did this become about our feelings? And when did we start looking to them to dictate the truth rather than the word of God?

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light… Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:8-11

“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12

“What fellowship can light have with darkness? Therefore Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord” 2 Corinthians 6:14 and 17

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

I am feeling more and more like there isn’t any wiggle room here. There isn’t some “safe” amount of darkness to allow to seep into our lives. Celebrating darkness gives the king of shadows room to work in our lives. It gives him permission to set up shop. It robs us of our “separateness,” our ministry, our testimony. It makes us salt that has lost it’s flavour.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses it’s flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” Matthew 5:13

We need to make the choice to take a stand for light. That DOES mean having nothing to do with the darkness. It means not being afraid to be different. It means choosing to stand apart, to be separate.

Truth is always found in Jesus. The truth is always found in the word. We aren’t supposed to be figuring out how to fit in and follow Jesus at the same time. We can’t serve two masters. We. Are. Supposed. To. Be. Different. No matter what. No matter if it is uncomfortable. We are supposed to be the light in the darkness. We can’t do that and participate in the darkness at the same time.

So, friends, as you make your Halloween decision, I ask that you base it on the word of God. Base it on the truth. Be the light.