How did you celebrate Halloween growing up? Was it a fall festival at your church or were you a trick-or-treater? For me, it was fall festivals at my church. I would dress up as a Bible character every year and my family would head out to bob for apples and play various carnival style games at our church. My parents were very strict about Halloween. There was absolutely no celebrating anything even remotely related to Halloween. I never dressed up as anything except a Bible character on October 31. I remember once I went fancy as Pharaoh’s daughter, another year I went as a Ruth. One year I decided I was so bored with basically just wrapping a sheet around my body and head that I declared that I was going as Jezebel. Much to my mother’s chagrin, I might add. But I needed some hoop earrings and some makeup, just something to change it up! HA 

My mom was the kind of mom who left a bowl of salvation tracts out for children to pick up as they came by expecting candy. We were probably the most ostracized house on the street! When we got home from the fall festival it was lights out immediately so that we didn’t get any trick-or-treaters. Well…I don’t necessarily see anything wrong with that kind of upbringing, I understood their reasons and for the most part I accepted them. However, I don’t practice that with my own kids. 

My kids have celebrated Halloween from day one. I have never let them dress up in scary costumes though. We mainly stick to whatever the popular superhero or cartoon character is at the moment. When my oldest son was 13, I let him dress as a werewolf, that’s about as scary as we’ve gotten. Don’t get me wrong, I also don’t go all out. There are no scary decorations at our house, only pumpkins and mums. I do believe there is something to be said for staying away from ghosts, goblins, witches and demons. I never taught my kids that was what Halloween was about. Maybe it is for some people… I’m not really sure, but not for us. And I enjoy showing kindness to the neighborhood kids as they come knocking every year for their candy.

Even though I see a division among what Christians do or don’t do regarding Halloween, I don’t believe the Word of God says much exactly about celebrating or not celebrating it. What I do see clearly in God’s Word is that He doesn’t want us to FEAR. 

Psalm 118:6 – “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

I have taught my kids from a very young age that they never need to fear because they are never alone, Jesus is always with them. Just knowing that you’re not alone is comfort enough for me! 

So whether you’re at a fall festival at your church this Halloween or hiking it around your neighborhood getting candy with your kids, I pray you will not fear and I pray you will know that God has promised to never leave you alone!

Angi Flatt – Project Manager – Engage Media Partners