Recently on Halloween, millions of kids dressed up to go from
house to house in hopes of getting enough candy to give them a stomach ache for
three days. It seems like innocent fun
but many Christians wrestle with whether to let their kids participate.
Here are a few questions at play on this issue. Am I teaching my
kids to worship Satan by letting them do this?
Am I personally worshipping Satan by letting my kids do this? Will I open my kids up to demonic attacks? Every parent must answer these questions if they are to live a life pleasing
to the Lord in this area. Ellen
and I had to do this ourselves when our kids were very young as we were coming
out of legalistic Christianity into our freedom in Christ.
What does the New Covenant teach us about Halloween in the Bible? The closest passage to this is found in 1
Corinthians 8. In this case, the issue
was whether or not a Christian could eat a grilled steak whose meat had been
sacrificed to idols. It’s an eye opening
read because the Holy Spirit does not say through Paul that they shouldn’t do
it because it would displease the Lord or open them up to demonic attacks. He
comes at it from a perspective of freedom in Christ and loving our brothers and
sisters in Christ.
Paul made clear the knowledge of the Gospel and how God provides
freedom for some Christians to do this, but not all. He hedges a little by saying in verse 4. For even if
there are so called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are
many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the
Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him: and one Lord, Jesus
Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. The first part might be a reference to the
demonic world.
The Christians who knew this and believed it were simply living out their
freedom in Christ. Yet, Paul warns that
they may need to put the brakes on their freedom for the sake of loving a
Christian who doesn’t understand that freedom yet. Because, if they saw them
eating in the temple and went and did the same without understanding our
freedom in Christ, it would be sin for them.
Love sometimes limits our public freedom in Christ.
Similarly, many of you may have a completely clear conscience before
God that your kids can go trick or treating.
Others of you are not there yet and for you, no matter how many of your
Christian friends let their kids do this, you shouldn’t. Why? Because for you, it would be sinful. Take your kids to a local church instead as a
wonderful alternative.
Christians who live free in this area, don’t invite your friends who
don’t. Show them the love of Christ and
don’t make them stumble in their conscience before God. And Christians who don’t believe you are free
to participate in Halloween, don’t condemn those who do. No matter which of these camps you fall into,
your decision will be pleasing to the Lord according to 1 Corinthians 8 as well
as Romans 14:1-22 through 15:1-12 as long as you live in love towards those in
the opposite camp.
Whether you think it is safe for your kids to get candy from your
neighbors is a different matter which each parent must weigh as well. I’ve simply written from a New Covenant
perspective.
Concluding words:
I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is
unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that
person it is unclean. Romans 14:14
Believe it. It’s the Gospel.
Live Free in Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!
