3 Tricks to Redeem Halloween

Pumpkins. Costumes. Candy. Tick-or-treating.

Halloween always takes me back to my childhood with my three brothers dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jedi Knights, and G.I. Joes.

Every year we canvased the neighborhood for hours collecting as much candy as possible. Then, we came home to divide our spoils, and binge eat sugar to the brink of nausea.

It was all good fun, wasn’t it?

Halloween is a controversial “holiday” among Christians because it can celebrate evil.

While some pretend to be princesses or pirates, others masquerade as demons, witches, and serial killers.

Because of this, when I was young, there were a few years when my family opted out. We bought the idea that good Christians boycott Halloween.

Instead, we went to a local restaurant and played arcade games with a few other Christian families. We rejected celebrating the “Devil’s holiday” and enjoyed fellowship, Skee-Ball, prayer, and pizza.

But was that the best way?

Two Options

Halloween is an interesting phenomenon.

We live in a culture that believes good fences make good neighbors.

Most people don’t know their neighbors. Few can even name the people living in the immediate houses surrounding theirs.

But for one night, on Halloween, this all changes. Most families with kids will walk door to door through the neighborhood and interact with their neighbors—possibly for the first time all year.

As far as I see it, we have two choices when it comes to Halloween:

1. Reject it.
2. Redeem it.

For many years the church has rejected Halloween because it celebrates wickedness.

I believe this is one of many reasons the church has lost ground in America.

What if instead of rejecting Halloween, we redeemed it?

What if Christians leveraged this opportunity to meet their neighbors, begin relationships, and shine the light of Christ in a dark world?

3 Ways to Redeem Halloween

1. Participate and Have Fun

Embrace the good parts of the festivities. When Christians take a “holy” stand against Halloween, we confirm the suspicion of unbelievers that Christians are out of touch and boring.

Get a costume. Throw a party. Hand out the best candy.

Jesus went to the parties of tax collectors and sinners because they needed him more than anyone (Mark 2:15-17).

Plus, when Jesus brought wine to the wedding, he gave the best wine (John 2:10). So bless people with the best candy.

2. Join What’s Already Happening in Your Community

A lot of churches are tempted to host their own event. While your church’s Trunk-or-Treat or Fall Festival will probably draw a crowd, you are taking your faithful people out of their neighborhoods (where most of the Halloween activity is happening) and gathering them at your church.

Strategically speaking, your people have a better chance of reaching their neighbors if they stay in their neighborhood instead of driving miles away to your church. Again, though he did not sin, Jesus went to the parties of tax collectors and sinners (Matt 9:10).

What if you encouraged your people to participate in that big community event or their neighbor’s party instead of getting stuck serving at your event?

3. If Nothing Is Happening in Your Community, Start Something

One of my family’s favorite new traditions is to throw a party in our front yard on Halloween. We hang out with neighbors, pass out candy, play games, and eat great food. We don’t sit in our house and hope people come by. We meet them outside and invite them to join the party.

If there is not already an event in your neighborhood, start something—even if it’s as simple as throwing a lawn party.

BONUS Trick: Don’t Scare People

No, I’m not just talking about scary costumes or jumping out from behind the bushes. I also mean don’t freak people out with aggressive, in-your-face Christianity.

DO: personally invite people to your church when you have built a relationship.

DON’T: pass out those embarrassing tracts that make Christians look bad. Even if they were good, this is just a cowardly way to avoid building relationships and actually loving your neighbor.

How will you redeem Halloween?