OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Play the video “Ghouls, Grace and the Gospel.”
INTRODUCTION: A PAGAN LEGACY
Brothers and sisters in Christ, as the people of God chosen to walk in His marvelous light, we are called to live separated from the unholy ways of the world. Today, as we reflect on the culture around us, we must pause and confront one particular tradition that threatens to pull us away from the purity of our calling. That tradition is the celebration of Halloween—a day that glorifies darkness, death, fear, and demonic practices.
For centuries, Halloween has been rooted in ancient pagan rituals such as Samhain, a celebration where people communicated with the dead, revered spirits, and sought to ward off evil entities. It was a time when people believed the veil between the living and the dead was thin, inviting communication with spirits and fostering fear of the unknown. From its inception, Halloween has been mired in occult practices—divination, necromancy, and sorcery—all of which are utterly condemned by Scripture.
God speaks plainly on our relationship with such things in Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Leviticus 19:31:
When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, "or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. "For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. How, then, can we who are called to be holy partake in a celebration rooted in sorcery, witchcraft, and death?
Church, we are living in a time when the lines between light and darkness are blurred, when the world celebrates what it calls “harmless fun” while dressing up the grotesque, the ghoulish, and the godless. But I came to tell you today: God is not mocked! What fellowship does light have with darkness? What communion does Christ have with Belial?
WHAT ARE CHRISTIANS CALLED TO?
1. TO BE SET APART (2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Peter 2:9)
The Bible calls us to live lives that are set apart, marked by light, and free from the corruption of the world. 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us of our identity in Christ: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
If Christ has called us out of darkness, why would we return to it, even for a single night? Halloween is not an innocent cultural tradition—it is a celebration that mocks the holiness of God by exalting evil.
Our participation in Halloween sends a message, whether intentional or not. Will our neighbors see us as ambassadors of Christ’s Kingdom, or as those who have one foot in the world and another in faith? Matthew 5:16 exhorts us: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." To honor God, we must forsake all appearances of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and stand firm as witnesses of His truth.
You are not ordinary. You are not common. You are not of this world. You are a royal priesthood, set apart to declare the praises of the One who shattered the chains of death and brought you into marvelous light!
• So, this season, don’t dim your flame—fan it into fire.
• Don’t entertain evil—evict it from your heart.
• Don’t follow the crowd—follow the cross.
• Let your home be a sanctuary, not a haunted house.
• Let your words be Scripture, not spells.
• Let your joy be rooted in Christ, not candy.
• This is your moment to stand. To shine. To speak.
• To say with boldness: “I will not bow to the culture—I will burn for the King of all kings!”
2. TO CONSECRATION (1 Peter 1:16)
God is calling His people to be set apart. Not weird. Not judgmental. But holy!
When the world celebrates darkness, we must shine brighter. When culture bows to fear, we must stand in faith. When others decorate their homes with skeletons, we must decorate our hearts with Scripture!
Church, we are not called to blend in—we are called to stand out. We are not called to compromise—we are called to consecrate. And in this season, when the world celebrates shadows, we must shine with the fire of holiness!
Halloween may parade as innocent fun, but beneath the masks lies a celebration of fear, death, and deception. The enemy doesn’t need your worship—he just needs your participation. He wraps rebellion in costumes and calls it culture. But God says, “Come out from among them and be separate!”
• Holiness is not about costumes. It’s about covenant.
• Holiness is not about candy. It’s about consecration.
• Holiness is not about tradition. It’s about truth.
We are the blood-bought Spirit-filled, fire-branded children of God! We do not flirt with darkness—we expose it. We do not entertain evil—we overcome it. We do not compromise with culture—we confront it with Christ!
So, I declare:
• No witchcraft in my house!
• No fear in my children!
• No fellowship with darkness!
Let the world dress up in death—we will be clothed in righteousness. Let the world glorify ghosts—we will glorify God. Let the world chant spells—we will speak Scripture!
• This Halloween, don’t dim your light—ignite it.
• Don’t hide your faith—declare it.
• Don’t follow the crowd—lead the charge.
Because when the world goes dark, the Church must burn brighter.
3. TO BE CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT (Ephesians 5:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:5)
We are called to live by the Spirit, not to flirt with the demonic forces that seek to destroy us. We become hypocrites when we knowingly dabble in festivities that glorify what Christ came to vanquish. The enemy seeks every opportunity to masquerade as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), but Halloween strips away the mask, openly celebrating the darkness Christ defeated. How, then, can we, as vessels of God’s radiant glory, partake in a celebration that glorifies the very darkness Christ died to defeat?
Consider the words of Jesus in John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Following Jesus means rejecting every practice that celebrates darkness, fear, and evil.
Children of God, our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil lurking in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Halloween is not simply about what the world sees externally—it is a spiritual invitation. It invites fear, death, and rebellion into our lives, opening doors to the enemy and permitting his influence in our homes, families, and communities. Through its customs, symbols, and atmosphere, it glorifies the kingdom of darkness, undermining the victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and the devil.
Halloween is not just a night—it’s a mirror. It reflects a culture that trivializes death, romanticizes fear, and flirts with the occult. It’s a season where darkness is not just tolerated—it’s celebrated. But we were not saved to blend in. We were saved to burn bright.
• You were once in darkness—but now you are light. Not flickering. Not fading. Flaming.
• You were not redeemed to wear masks—you were redeemed to bear His image.
• You were not called to mimic the world—you were called to move mountains.
• This is not about legalism. It’s about lordship.
• This is not about fear. It’s about fire.
• So let the world chant spells—we will proclaim Scripture.
• Let the world glorify ghosts—we will glorify God.
• Let the world dim the lights—we will shine like cities on a hill.
• This Halloween, don’t just avoid the darkness—confront it.
• Don’t just reject the culture—redeem it.
• Don’t just whisper holiness—declare it with thunder.
• Because when the world goes haunted, the Church must go holy.
• When the world bows to fear, the saints must rise in faith.
• When the enemy roars, the righteous must roar louder.
🔥 You are not of the night. You are of the light. So, burn, children of God—burn with holy fire. 🔥
THE DANGER OF SPIRITUAL COMPROMISE
Brothers and sisters, Scripture warns us that the enemy is cunning. 2 Corinthians 11:14 reveals that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Halloween comes disguised as “harmless fun” for children—costumes, candy, and laughter—but behind its mask lies spiritual compromise. This day provides a foothold for the devil in the lives of many unsuspecting believers. Remember the warning in 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
Engaging in Halloween opens doors to fear, ungodly influences, and spiritual attacks. Horror movies, séances, haunted houses, and costumes glorifying witches and demons create an atmosphere that gives the enemy legal right to operate in the lives of God’s people. We wonder why our children are having nightmares and live in fearfulness when we open the portals to evil. Shall we hand over the keys of our homes, minds, and hearts to the forces of darkness? By no means.
APPLICATION: WHAT SHOULD CHRISTIANS DO INSTEAD?
Instead of celebrating Halloween, let us use this day to proclaim the Gospel, celebrate the light of Christ, and take a stand against spiritual darkness. Here’s how we can respond:
• Pray for Deliverance and Holy Conviction: Pray for yourself, your family, and your broader community, asking God for greater discernment and boldness to resist the influence of worldly customs.
• Teach Your Family the Truth: Use this opportunity to educate your children about holiness, the spiritual dangers of Halloween, and the joy of living for God.
• Replace the Darkness with Light: Host a prayer meeting, engage in acts of service, or gather to celebrate the victory of Jesus over sin and death.
• Be a Light in the Darkness: Use this time as an opportunity to witness to others about the hope found in Christ.
As we close, hear the call of 2 Corinthians 6:14-17: "What fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? ...Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
Let us not conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2) but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Let us not flirt with darkness but walk boldly in the light. Let us not be silent spectators, but holy rebels—declaring with fire in our bones: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
May we walk in the light as He is in the light, preserving holiness and bringing glory to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!
