October 29, 2009
This week, many families will take time to celebrate Halloween. I use the term celebrate loosely. In the majority of households it is simply a great excuse to get high on sugar, with a little partying and fear thrown in for good measure.
Even in the Bible-honoring Christian community, the observance of Halloween is met with mixed reviews. Some see it as harmless fun, bags of candy, and an opportunity to dress up. Others actually use the occasion as a witnessing tool, creating haunted houses to attract non church-going youth to a church event. Some offer a Halloween alternative, commonly called a harvest party, hosting treats, toys and games in a less frightening atmosphere.
At Heartland Christian Academy, we do not have Halloween parties in the classroom, nor do we decorate our rooms with black cats, witches and spider webs. As Principal, I want to focus on things that will exemplify the biblical mandate found in Colossians 3:1-2: “1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
I see Christian adults and children making three potentially serious errors by focusing on the dark side of what has been an historically pagan event now called Halloween.
First, some ignore Satan and evil by pretending it is all make-believe, and harmless make-believe, at that. The Bible warns, however, that our spiritual enemy is neither fantasy nor harmless. To put witchcraft, sorcery and Satan in the same category as the tooth fairy is not safe for the hearts of children. The devil would like nothing better than to dismiss him as a horned, pointy-tailed prankster in a red suit.
Second, some get into Halloween so much that they find themselves overly interested in the “dark side,” becoming increasingly curious about demons, spells and death. Young children’s minds can be severely affected by an over-exposure to things that they have no business knowing about or talking about in whispered conversation. Hebrews 5:11-12 states, 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
With the fascination that the world has with the occult and the powers of darkness, It is not surprising that even among Christian children, popular books include vampires, witches and spells as primary themes. Every evening, not just at Halloween, cable TV brings to your living room the search for the paranormal and the supernatural, but not through the perspective of godliness. Are you aware of what has engaged your child’s attention?
Finally, some begin to believe that, in their own strength, the spiritual realm is something that can be controlled. Telling fortunes, casting spells and playing with ouija boards can fool a young person into believing that they have personal power over spirits. Popular television programs promote this false concept. Apart from Christ and His Word, I believe that the spirit realm is nothing to mess with.
Ultimately, you as a parent or grandparent must prayerfully consider if the pleasure of candy and parties is worth the mixed message Christian children may receive at Halloween. As for me and the school I serve, that is one day when we will be praying for our community to be spiritually safe.
Our program today was sponsored by our friends at the Blackduck Sawmill.