Christians and Halloween: Grace or License?

I’ve never found a solid footing for a determined position for or against the Christian celebration of/participation in Halloween. For that reason, take what follows as only my current musings, fairly considered yet not a finished product. If you’re inclined to be offended, be also willing to consider having been an offense yourself. We will all give accounts individually for the way we live this life, so at the very least, let’s allow room for differences of opinion.

I want to attack this thing in two sections: the first will be an outright and unapologetic call for Christians to stop engaging in certain behavior(s) typically associated with halloween; the second section will deal more ambiguously with what remains for me a somewhat gray area and where I admit I’ve not formulated a concrete position. In the end, my opinion matters less than the gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe, but insomuch as my opinion has been shaped by Scripture, it is in that proportion, I suppose, I’d beg your indulgence and consideration.

Part One: Just Stop It!

Streams of photos clog the Facebook freeway following another year of Hallow’s Eve Hoopla. I usually enjoy Facebook, in part, for the very ability to share photos with others and to see in pictures what status updates only allude to. What I find disconcerting at this time of year is how many friends and acquaintances I have to block to avoid being bombarded by lewd photos of women in outfits that for some reason get a pass this time of year when at any other time would only be acceptable in the confines of a married couple’s bedroom. I don’t mean to be disproportionately critical of women in this post, but let’s face it - a man in the same get-up would be more likely to induce vomiting than to tempt someone to sin. My plea is this: if you’re a woman of God, be a woman of God all year. Give the world their one night a year to do what we expect the world to do, but do not become a stumbling block to a brother in Christ. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve blocked between ten and twenty “friends” on Facebook for this reason. For anyone reading this and wondering if you might be one of them - you probably are!

I suppose I expect it from the world, but if it ended there, this post would be unnecessary. It seems the Church often mistakes the grace we enjoy in Christ for a license to do whatever we want. This is, of course, an overstatement, but as of late, I wonder how overdone it actually is. I find myself in a quandary attempting to understand the justification for certain behavior that can only be consigned to a large pile of reasons Christ’s atonement was necessary in the first place.

Part Two: Can we Talk about This?

I’ve already mentioned that my position in this section is less than concrete and I’m willing to be convinced of another’s view if it seems to square with Scripture. But let me get straight to it: is it wrong for Christians to dress up as ghouls, goblins and zombies? My immediate answer is...I need more time to answer that question. I am inclined, however, to put very strict limitations on halloween dress for Christians that would probably eliminate the aforementioned season favorites. Perhaps this is just my conservative upbringing more than anything, but I guess I don’t see much humor in dressing like a soulless vampire or axe murderer or any number of other costumes that have become mainstay personalities of this season. My first frank question is this: are any of these things honoring to Christ? Second, could any of them be demonstrated to violate any Christian principles of purity or loveliness? I understand the intention is not offend anyone by wearing such costumes, but if one must dress up (easy for me to say since I never do!), what is wrong with a cartoon character or historical figure? Why are blood and guts the first thing we’re inclined to adorn ourselves with? I submit that this is more likely evidence of an abiding sin nature than an exploration of new grace territory.

This may sound harsh, but for the past few years, I’ve really been troubled by this trend and would like to begin an open dialog. I am willing, as I said, to be convinced that these things are not as big a deal as I’ve made them out to be...and I mean that. But could it be, just as easily, that we’ve extended to the borders of Grace further than the good Lord intended? Shall we sin that grace may abound? With the Apostle Paul, let us say in unified voice “may it never be!” The hard part is now defining those boundaries! Let’s talk...