Tis the season to be scary! By scary, I’m not talking about the undiscerning masses of mask-wearing wanna-bes who parade around in He-Man and Hogwarts costumes. What is scary though, are fear-filled and fear-led Believers who run for the hills with their pitchforks and torches in hand on October 31st! The only mask these folks wear is a sanctimonious one, held on with cheaply manufactured righteous indignation.
“Turn off the Porch Light and lock up the children, Ethel! It’s Halloween!” After all we don’t want to contribute to the devil’s high holiday by turning our front doors into altars and a Snickers into a satanic sacrifice do we? Something has to be done! We cannot allow our children to be impressed upon by the imagery of witchcraft portrayed on Halloween. That’s why for the past several years many Wiccans have called for a boycott of these Fall festivities.
“Don’t you mean Christians have called for a boycott!?” No, I mean Wiccans! Apparently they feel that a grave injustice has been done and that their religion as been entirely misrepresented. In fact, some say that it could be equal to a Hate Crime. Due to legal pressure by one Wiccan Coven a School Board adjusted it’s policy quickly to read;
“the Wiccan religion is a bona fide religion under the law, and its followers are entitled to all the protections afforded to more mainstream religions. Building administrators should not tolerate such inappropriate stereotyping (images such as Witches on flying brooms, stirring cauldrons, casting spells, or with long noses and pointed hats) and instead address them as you would hurtful stereotypes of any other minority.”
Could this mean that Christians and Witches will unite to take on these dually recognized evils of Halloween? I wouldn’t hold your breath! It is interesting however that what many Christians believe to be harmful forms of witchcraft, actually have no bearing on real Wiccan practices at all. I’m concerned that our lack of discernment combined with our tendency to overreact will actually cause our children to be unable to trust us where it matters.
That being said, there are some things Christians should be mindful of. Witchcraft, Tarot Cards, Ouija Boards and the like are real gateways to and openings to evil spiritual influences. We should teach our children to stay away from such things but the Wicked Witch of the West or Harry Potter for that matter, are fictional characters that have no relation to actual witchcraft. If we insist on telling our children that these benign entertainment figures are evil incarnate, they will grow up and learn that their parents weren’t telling the truth after all, about that children’s movie and, “I wonder what else they were wrong about?” This allows the real enemy of their soul to bring into question every truth that they have been taught. Our loved ones don’t need blanket statements, mindless maxims, or broad brushes; they need the truth and the truth will not only set them free but it will keep them free as well.
Do You Celebrate Halloween?
As a Pastor, I get asked every year about whether or not I celebrate Halloween. My response is normally, “I celebrate everyday!” But, it is a sincere question. People who are new to the things of God want to honor God and they certainly don’t want to give any place to the devil. The Bible does teach us that we are in a war with the forces of darkness. At the height of World War II it would have seemed odd or even treasonous for Americans to run around with Hitler masks on and yet we see Christians running around each year wearing demonic faces, attempting to inspire fear, and to scare one another.
As Christians we don’t need to worry about Trick-or-Treaters or Jack-o-Lanterns! In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” We serve a Faith God and fear should be the one thing that we refuse to tolerate on any day of the year. Ironically, in an effort to keep our children away from the devil, we teach them to be afraid of carved pumpkins. “Well Pastor, don’t you know the origins of Halloween?” Listen, motives are what really matter. What someone may have used a pumpkin for 300 years ago, isn’t nearly as important as what they’re using it for today. In my house I’m not near as concerned with Halloween symbolism as I am with fear getting into the hearts of my children.
Honestly, I don’t attend Halloween Parties with my family where scary images may be present but we do love our yearly Fall Festivals and Hallelujah Parties. Regardless of what your convictions may be, it’s vital that we never take anything away from our children, in the name of God that we don’t replace with something better! God’s children should always be having more fun than anyone else on the block. After all, we’re the ones with a real reason to celebrate!
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out our blog on, Harry Potter!
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