Halloween: Clean or Unclean?
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:17).
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean." (Ro. 14:14)
"And that you may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;" (Lev. 10:10).
"And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." (Ezek. 44:23).
1. Introduction: A Dilemma
On Halloween last year my young children really wanted to go trick-or-treating. On the other hand, many of my close Christian friends would have nothing to do with Halloween. I shared my dilemma with several brothers, and got extreme responses on both sides, with very little middle ground. One brother indicated that he considered trick-or-treating as tantamount to participating in demon worship. Another brother told me that trick-or-treating is obviously innocent fun, and to think otherwise is silly fanaticism.
Another brother mentioned a church which was holding a carnival on Halloween evening. This seemed like a nice compromise, and I decided to take the children. However, I became occupied with one thing or another, and by late afternoon we still hadn’t left yet. Some neighbors’ young children had already come to our house. My seven-year-old son came up to me almost in tears. "Daddy," he pleaded, "They’ve already started trick-or-treating. Can’t I go too?"
This was a crucial moment. I felt like Abraham raising the knife over Isaac; or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego told to bow to the golden statue; or Peter being told, "You also are one of this man’s disciples". I knew this was a test, and that my response would have a far-reaching impact on my son’s life, and mine as well. My response now would reveal the true contents of my heart.
I thought of heros of faith who had courageously said "no" to the world, risking their lives and their comfort. I thought of saints I had met in China, who edured years of prison rather than deny their faith. Surely if I take a stand now, I would be following in their footsteps, and teaching my children to do so as well.
But at the same time, another train of thought was passing through my mind. Was saying ’no’ to trick-or-treating really saying ’no’ to worldliness and ’yes’ to holiness? Or was it rather saying ’no’ to innocent enjoyment and ’yes’ to irrational fear and prim legalism? I had gone trick-or-treating as a boy, and for me it was nothing more than having fun dressing up in costumes, going out and getting candy. So what if some used Halloween as an occasion for devil-worship? I had nothing to do with them. So what if the holiday has origin in pagan religion? So does Christmas--and so do the names of the days of the week and months of the year, for that matter. Does that make them demonic?
I had to make a decision, one way or the other. So I brought the kids together in the kitchen. I told them that if we did go out trick-or-treating, our purpose was to make friends and to have fun dressing up (my son knows that I like them to go outside for exercise, so he put that in too). Then we prayed together. I told the Lord that, as far as I could see, there was nothing wrong with the kids going out. I asked Him to prevent us from going out, if He would not be pleased with our going. We offered the occasion to God in the spirit of 1 Timothy 4:4-5, and then went out.
The weather was great that evening. Outside the street was crawling with little children under 10 years old. Most of the costumes were TV characters, princes, princesses, animals, and the like: almost no ghosts, witches or ghouls whatsoever. The occasion had the feel of a neighborhood get-together -- parents gathered on the sidewalk and talked while their children went from house to house. We had just moved to the neighborhood--this was our first opportunity to meet many of our neighbors.
It appeared to me that our trick-or-treat outing had been entirely positive. However, when I discussed it later with other Christians, I felt awkward and embarassed, because I knew about their strong feelings against Halloween. It seemed that our trick-or-treating drove a wedge between us and some very dear friends.
2. Pork or carrion?
Did we really participate in demon worship? Did I dishonor God and violate His law in front of my children? Rather, I believe that all we violated were the qualms of certain fellow-Christians. They might compare me to Peter denying the Lord; but I would liken myself rather to Peter going to Cornelius’ house over the objections of his squeamishly kosher fellow-believers.
I continue to maintain that kids’ trick-or-treating is perfectly harmless, wholesome fun (except for sugar overdose!), and a good way to meet neighbors and their children. But we have many close Christian friends who will never agree, and will always shun any kind of Halloween observance.
The basic issue at hand may be clarified by comparing with dietary laws in the Old Testament. The Israelites could eat neither pork nor carrion. In addition to the spiritual significance of these rules, they made good health sense, because eating improperly cooked pork or decayed meat can be dangerous. However, now that we understand the source of the dangers involved, we may eat pork. Pork is sanitized by cooking -- and the New Testament reaffirms that we may partake. Knowledge and experience has rendered part of the Mosaic law to be obsolete. But until now, we still don’t eat carrion! That part of the law is still sound in practice.
The Christian controversy over Halloween may be summarized in the following question: Is Halloween pork or carrion? Can it be sanitized from its unclean associations, or not?
3. Pork, not carrion
It should be clear that I belong to the “pork” party. To justify this stance, I will give my responses to what seem to be the major concerns of the “carrion” faction.
‘Carrion’ concern #1: Halloween has its roots in pagan religion. As Job 14:4 states, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one.” Halloween is unclean from its inception--how can it be made clean?
‘Pork’ response: Must everything with pagan roots be shunned? Then Christians must give up much more than
Halloween! Musical instruments and metalworking were both originated by descendants of Cain (Gen 4:21-22), whose posterity was so notoriously wicked that it was wiped out in Noah’s flood (Gen 6:5-7). The earliest known printed books are Buddhist scriptures. The names of weekdays and months are based on the names of pagan gods.
It is clear from the Gospel that the grace of God through Jesus Christ supercedes the principle stated in Job 14:4. Otherwise no man or woman, being the posterity of Adam and Eve, can be blameless and holy in His sight. “ For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Ro. 8:2).
Romans 12:2 says, “And do be not conformed to this world; rather, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Just as our minds are transformed, so may all of our activities be transformed, and brought into reconciliation with God’s will. The apostle Paul mentions that we have the power to “... bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Co. 10:5). If every thought may be taken captive, then why not every habit, every activity, every celebration?
Music provides several good examples of cultural transformations which were effected by God’s grace. Some of Charles Wesley’s hymns were drinking songs furnished with new words (at least the new converts knew the music!) Christian pop music grew out of a musical culture that was notoriously profligate and immoral. Is this music therefore to be shunned? Can it not be sanctified to holy use? “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Ti. 4:4-5).
‘Carrion’ concern #2: Not just the origin, but the current atmosphere of Halloween make it unclean. Satanists celebrate it as a special “unholy” day. Many kids use Halloween as an occasion to play destructive pranks.
‘Pork’ response: If some abuse, must all abstain?
Many churches preach abstinence from alcohol because alcoholism is so widespread. By the same token, then, we should also abstain from food, because so many people are overweight! Similarly, we should abstain from sports, conversation, reading magazines, etc., because many overindulge in these things.
Abstinence may not be the most constructive way of dealing with the issue. Might not balance rather than abstinence provide a better example?
Abstinence does create distinctiveness. The Amish are highly distinct because they abstain from modern technological conveniences. In their lives we may see the fruit of their convictions, and weigh for ourselves the benefits and drawbacks. But sheer distinctiveness does not necessarily further the Gospel, and may even confuse people. In China, Christians are characterized as people which neither smoke nor drink. How much better if they were characterized as people who are prayerful, honest, and loving!
We must be meticulously careful to separate personal convictions from gospel necessities. We have no business laying burdens on others who do not share our convictions (Acts 15:28) -- and indeed we do disservice to Christ if we do so.
For some, abstinence brings clarity and spiritual liberty. For others, it mires down in joyless, morbid, monotonous legalism. Let each be convinced in his/her own mind! The cornerstone of the Christian life is not abstinence, but living one’s life for the benefit of others, even one’s enemies (Ro. 15:2-3).
The Bible says, "flee immorality" (1 Cor. 6:18). But does that mean we should flee from everything which is misused by the servants of Satan? Of course not! What kind of strategy is that, for soldiers of Christ whose mission is to take back the world for Him? (2 Cor. 5:18-19). Should we retreat at the drop of a hat, and leave the field wide open to the enemy? Then when we move elsewhere, the enemy comes and drops another hat, and we clear out again! Under these conditions, the only way to keep from retreating is to barricade ourselves up inside the strictest, most rigid form of legalistic holiness. And Satan rejoices at this, because that was his intention in the first place!
‘Carrion’ concern #3: Halloween abounds with images of witches, demons, and ghosts, and it’s not healthy to
expose children to these things.
‘Pork response: Play-acting or fantasy with witches, demons, etc. is not the same as glorifying or approving them.
C. S. Lewis provides an excellent case in point. Lewis is the author of Mere Christianity, which has been enormously successful in leading many to Christ (including Charles Colson). Lewis also wrote several children’s fantasy books which are full of witches, wizards, and magic--but in which the Gospel message is symbolically presented with extraordinary force. He also wrote The Screwtape Letters, which purports to be a collection of letters from a prominent demon to his inexperienced nephew. In his preface to Screwtape Letters, Lewis writes something to this effect: there are two mistakes we make with Satan--one is not to take him seriously enough; the other is to take him too seriously.
Satan hates being ridiculed, just like people do (Isaiah 14:4ff). Why not use Halloween as an occasion to rub Satan’s nose in the dirt? Consider for instance two children dressed up, one as a demon and one as an angel with a sponge-rubber sword to hit the demon with (of course, your kids will want to come up with their own ideas...)
Dressing up and pretending is fun for kids, stimulates their God-given imagination and creativity, and is certainly not intrinsically sinful. Why not use these advantages as a way to glorify God?
‘Carrion’ party concern #4: If you observe Halloween, you may cause someone with weak faith to stumble (Ro.
14:15-22).
‘Pork’ party response: If I take my child trick-or-treating, then my example may indeed encourage others to do the same. It’s true that trick-or-treating might cause problems for a Christian brother or sister who have a past history of Satanic involvement. In this area, sensitivity is certainly required. But as we have indicated above, there are innumerable ways that we may offend others with weak faith, without even realizing what we’re doing. In fact, not trick-or-treating may offend some who grew up in an oppressively legalistic atmosphere. We offend some if we do, and others if we don’t . So in all things our motive must be to please God--and we must constantly pray and trust His grace and mercy, that our well-intentioned actions will not nudge others down the road to Hell.
I do not deny the remote possibility that trick-or-treating might quicken a child’s interest in darker things, so that he sinks deeper and deeper into Satanic practice. On the other hand, over-restricting a child from innocent enjoyments might so frustrate the child that he rebels and turns to Satanism. There is no safe way, outside of prayer and seeking the will of God.
My conclusion is, no definitive statement against Halloween observance should be added to the gospel of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ. Any adulteration or addition to the message of the Cross distract from the message, create divisions, and cause offenses. God is not glorified, but rather the cause of Satan is furthered.
4. Conclusion: glorify God
Though I stand firmly in the ‘pork’ camp, and will support and defend Christians who go trick-or-treating, yet there have been years when we have decided not to go out. This may appear hypocritical--but the Apostle Paul acted similarly when he vigorously defended the uncircumcised believers, yet circumcised those who ministered with him (Gal. 5:1-6, Acts 16:3). Paul did not want to needlessly offend the sensibilities of other Jews . His personal observance of the Law gave him credibility when he preached against requiring the Law. No one could charge him with preaching out of self-interest.
It is crucially important to recognize that offending others’ sensibilities is not the same thing as causing them to stumble and fall into sin. Paul did offend the sensibilities of Jewish fellow-believers by hobnobbing with Gentiles. But he had to -- how else could he reach the Gentiles? It is impossible to witness for Christ without offending the sensibilities of other believers. Some are offended by one thing, and others by its opposite: overdressing or underdressing; makeup or the lack thereof; drinking, or teetotaling; meat eating, or vegetarianism; untraditional or traditional worship; overfriendliness or unfriendliness; and so on and so on. It’s unfortunate that even Christians are so touchy and particular-- they fail to realize how severely they are limiting the possibilities for God’s grace to work in and through them.
In summary, we must be zealous to do all to the glory of God. If we do something that may cause a brother or sister to take offense, we must make sure that the offense is unavoidable, and continue to shower the offended party with love, concern, and prayer.
