October 31st...a day for the devil?

October 31, 4:47 PMColumbus Pentecostal ExaminerBurton Campbell

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October 31st brings the celebration of Halloween, currently renown for costumes (spooky, fun, and ridiculous) and the distribution of enormous quantities of candy.

Looking back at the history of this holiday, it's pagan/celtic roots are quite apparent.  Although the name comes from an attempt to reclaim the day for Christ (All Hallow's Eve), numerous Christian writers continue to decry the day as one of evil, recommending that believers in Christ should do everything possible to avoid any activity remotely associated with Halloween.  One recent author even suggests that seemingly benign activities like dressing up, eating candy, setting out pumpkins, using the colors orange and brown, or gathering 'round a bonfire are actually open doors to demonic influence and satanic bondage.  In fact, she even asserts that all candy sold at this time of year has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

Seriously?

Let's even say this is exactly true (instead of being obviously ludicrous)...does it really matter? In Paul's day, the issue was whether to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Paul is quite clear to say that such idols are even demons. His recommendation...to go ahead and eat, giving thanks fo God for His provision, unless it causes one's Christian brother to stumble in his walk with God.

Certainly it seems that eating Halloween candy does not cause someone's brother to stumble as much as it might set off the religious crowd. If that person were a former Wiccan (or similar) for whom Halloween had particular troubling meaning, the Christian's possible response might very well be different, but surely that is not the case for most people.

How strange that Christians, of all people, should fear Halloween.  The Bible says that "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it..." (Psalm 24:1).  That includes pumpkins...and colors.  It also says, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24).  That includes October 31st.

Christians can have such a tendency to live in a ridiculous "us vs. them" mentality, couched in a spiritual framework. That is such a shame. For the believer in Christ, Halloween provides nothing to fear. What power does the enemy have over believers in Christ? Only that which they would give him. Bonfires, candy, costumes and the like do not increase his power.

Why not turn Halloween into a wonderful opportunity for outreach? When else do  so many people coming to your door looking for a treat? In one setting, folks from a church use a member's front lawn to showcase dramas set to music, complete with costumes (even demons). The focus is on Christ and His power to save, heal and set free. In addition, they give out full size candy bars and tracts by the hundreds.

Bottom line: don't hide in fear...don't self-righteously condemn, don't glorify the devil or credit him with anything. Instead...light up the night and make the most of it!