What Should Christians Think About Halloween?
- Illuminate the Truth
- Oct 25
- 5 min read
By Ashton McGraw & Chris Jaeger In The Light of Truth – A Podcast by Illuminate the Truth.
Welcome to In The Light of Truth, a podcast where biblical truth meets real life. Whether you’re new to the Bible or have studied it for years, this is a space for honest conversations about the struggles, joys, and peace we experience as followers of Christ. Walking with God isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Let’s grow together in the light of truth.
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
— Ephesians 5:11
As we step into October, conversations about Halloween begin to surface everywhere — schools, neighborhoods, stores, and social media. For many families, it’s a season of costumes, candy, and fun. But for believers, this time of year can stir important questions:
👉 Should Christians participate in Halloween?👉 Is it harmless fun, or something deeper?👉 What are some God-honoring alternatives for our families?
In this week’s episode of In the Light of Truth, we share our personal journeys from celebrating Halloween to understanding its spiritual roots — and how we, as followers of Christ, can walk in light rather than darkness.
The Origins of Halloween
It’s important to understand where Halloween came from before we decide how to approach it.
Most historians trace Halloween back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan religious event marking the end of harvest and the start of winter. People lit bonfires and wore costumes to “ward off spirits.” When the Catholic Church later established All Saints’ Day on November 1st, some of these pagan traditions were absorbed into what became known as “All Hallows’ Eve” — eventually “Halloween.”
Over time, the celebration evolved but retained many elements tied to the occult, witchcraft, and death. Immigrants from Europe brought these customs to America, and today, they’ve been repackaged into what seems like innocent fun — costumes, scary movies, haunted houses, and candy.
But beneath the surface, Halloween still glorifies darkness. And Scripture makes it clear that believers are not to participate in, or imitate, the practices of the world:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who practices divination or sorcery… For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.”— Deuteronomy 18:10–12
From Darkness to Light
Before coming to Christ, both of us celebrated Halloween fully — haunted houses, horror movies, costumes, all of it. It felt normal and even exciting. But when we were born again, our hearts changed. The things that once seemed harmless began to feel wrong.
Our culture normalizes darkness and calls it fun. But the Bible calls us to something different.
“Satan masquerades as an angel of light.” — 2 Corinthians 11:14
The enemy loves to disguise evil as entertainment. And when we participate without discernment, we open doors we were never meant to. That’s why discernment is so crucial — especially as parents raising the next generation of believers.
This isn’t about condemnation; it’s about awareness and obedience. God calls us to be holy as He is holy — and that means we can’t blend light with darkness.
What About the Kids?
We understand the tension. You don’t want your kids to feel left out, and you want to create fun family memories. But we also want our children to grow up discerning what glorifies God and what doesn’t.
The good news is — there are alternatives! You can celebrate the beauty of fall without celebrating darkness.
🍁 Host a family worship night or a bonfire with friends, hot cider, and worship music.
🧡 Bake pumpkin bread or caramel apples together while reading Scripture.
🎃 Celebrate God’s creation — the changing seasons, the harvest, and His goodness.
🙌 Join a church fall festival or a Christian community event.
✝️ Or simply spend the evening in prayer and gratitude as a family.
God gave us the seasons to enjoy, not to fear. His creation is beautiful — and we can celebrate that in ways that bring Him glory.
Ignorance Isn’t Innocence
One important truth we discuss in this episode is that spiritual ignorance doesn’t excuse participation.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6
Sometimes we avoid looking deeper because it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. But as believers, we are called to seek truth, even when it challenges tradition. Willful ignorance — knowing something might be wrong and doing it anyway — gives the enemy a foothold in our lives.
God isn’t trying to take away our fun. He’s protecting our hearts. When He says “don’t,” He’s really saying “don’t hurt yourself.” His boundaries are born out of love.
Alternatives That Honor God
So what can we do instead of celebrating Halloween?
Here are three prayerful options to consider:
Abstain Entirely — Choose not to participate in any Halloween activities or decorations. Treat it as any other day, set apart for the Lord.
Quietly Skip It — Downplay the day, focusing instead on family time or devotion.
Shine Light in the Darkness — Use it as an opportunity for outreach or encouragement. Host a faith-centered event, share the gospel, or offer blessings to your community.
This last one is what we felt led to do this year — and we’d love for you to join us!
🌟 Following Jesus: A Family Event at Illuminate the Truth
📅 October 31 | 1 PM – 6:30 PM📍 Illuminate the Truth Bookstore, Downtown Fargo, ND
Bring your children and family for an uplifting time of blessing, treats, cookies, candy, and door prizes! No costumes — just joy, Scripture, and encouragement as we celebrate the light of Jesus together.
We believe Satan doesn’t own any day on the calendar. Every day belongs to the Lord (Psalm 118:24), and we want to use October 31st as a day to glorify Him, not the darkness.
Final Encouragement
If you’ve celebrated Halloween in the past, this isn’t about shame — it’s about transformation.We all have things the Lord has opened our eyes to over time. The goal is not condemnation but conviction that leads to freedom and holiness.
Pray, seek Scripture, and let the Holy Spirit guide your decisions. God will reveal truth to those who desire to walk in it.
Let’s be a people who shine light in dark places — who follow Jesus boldly, even when it looks different from the world.
🎧 Listen to Episode 17: "What Should Christians Think About Halloween?" https://open.spotify.com/episode/57nW2eLjReqOmrWckdULgF?si=b_khHuS1T0SXr16qz32XVg
📍 Visit us in downtown Fargo: 21 8th St S Fargo, ND 58103
📩 Need prayer? Reach out—your burden doesn't have to be carried alone.
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