“Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.”
1 Corinthians 8:8
Can Christians Enjoy God Through Halloween?
A brief historical introduction to Halloween:
Halloween’s origins date back two thousand years to the Celtic New Year festival of “Samhain” (pronounced sow-in) named after their god of the dead. (If it’s been a while since World History class, the Celts occupied England, Ireland and northern France.) Samhain was also one of the four high days (sabbats) of witchcraft or, more accurately, Wicca.
On the night before the November 1 new year, Celts believed that Samhain and the dead would roam the earth causing all kinds of trouble. So the Celtic priests, Druids, would demand that all light be extinguished on Halloween night and sacrifices be made to prevent trouble.
To avoid “tricks,” the villagers would bake up “treats” to appease the dead. They would also dress up in ghoulish costumes and parade to the outskirts of town hoping the departed souls would follow them out of town.
After sacrifices, villagers would carry the fire, thought to be sacred, back to their homes in carved out vegetable shells.
In the eighth century Pope Gregory II moved the church festival honoring martyrs of “All Saints” to November 1 as a Christian alternative to the Celtic New Year celebrations. “All Hallow’s Eve” or “Halloween” means the “evening of holy persons” and was to be used in spiritual preparation for All Saints Day.
How should a Christian respond to a holiday that has obvious pagan origins?
We must get the question right before we can answer. The question is not, “What are the origins of Halloween,” the question is rather, “What does our surrounding culture believe about Halloween today?” Most people who celebrate Halloween today do not worship the dead or even use Halloween to prepare to honor the saints on November 1. The purpose of Halloween today is largely to have fun as people pretend, eat candy, and attend festivals and haunted houses. I don’t understand why Christians would not be able to participate in a cultural event? Since people around us are not worshiping any deity through these festivities, then why can’t we participate? I could understand Christians abstaining if people around them were worshiping false gods through these festivities; however, this is largely not the case. The origin is irrelevant if it is not intact in the festivities. Thus, I believe it is possible to enjoy Halloween for the glory of God.
Not convinced yet? Well, listen to what the apostle Paul says,
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Cor. 8:4-6).
An idol is nothing. Just because someone on earth may worship “nothing” on Halloween through dressing up, carving jack-o-lanterns, and trick or treating, it does not mean that Christians are forbidden to do the same things for different reasons and meanings on the same day. Is dressing up wrong only on Halloween? Is going door to door asking for candy wrong only on Oct. 31? I believe we have freedom in Christ to do what we want that does not violate the Scriptures or our consciences. Scripturally speaking, it is not sinful for Christians to play pretend, go door to door for candy, and attend fun festivals on any day in God’s world. We must not participate in immorality; but, these things in and of themselves are not immoral. And a cultural holiday does not make them immoral either. Now, we don’t want to communicate to pagans that we are participating in worshiping their god(s), but I know of no one worshiping pagan gods through Halloween festivities. So, until I know (1 Cor. 10:25, 27-30), I am free in Christ to do what I want on Halloween that does not violate Scripture.
Thus, I believe if you are against participating in Halloween, then you must be against what takes place on Halloween as well. If your children cannot play pretend, receive presents, or attend carnivals on Halloween, then they cannot any other time during the year either. You cannot live as if Oct. 31 belongs to the Druids or the Devil unless you know of Druids or Devil-worshipers near you; for, there is no God but our God… and He owns all days.
Nevertheless, if your conscience will not allow you to enjoy the festivities of Halloween as a cultural holiday, submit to your conscience. But, be careful about judging others based on your conscience. Your conscience governs no one but yourself and your young children. God has freed Christians from the commandments of men. Your conscience does not own me, and my conscience does not own you. Christ owns both of us. We must submit to Him; we must submit to Scripture and hold others accountable to Scripture. We must submit to our consciences as well, while holding no one else accountable to our consciences.
In conclusion, can Christians enjoy God through Halloween? We obviously cannot enjoy God by worshiping false gods or by participating in a pagan holiday, but if we’re merely participating in a cultural holiday and we’re not violating Scripture or our consciences, we are free in Christ to enjoy God through Halloween. Remember, abstaining from Halloween festivities does not bring you near to God; we are no better if we abstain, and no worse if we participate (1 Cor. 8:8).
What do you think?
Haunted houses, ghosts, skeletons (symbolizing death), demons, devils, witches etc. are central to modern Halloween celebration. Are such abominations to the glory of God “Since people around us are not worshiping any deity through these festivities”? By that logic, Christians should be free to participate in Masonic Shriner rituals as long as one does not REALLY worship the Allah of Islam as the rituals demand.
Just call a pagan holiday a “cultural holiday” and everything is OK. Be like the culture! Don’t want the neighbors to think we’re weird. Let’s join in the “cultural” fun!
This article, like so many others, asks the wrong question (“What’s wrong with it?”). The question for a Christian must always be “What’s RIGHT with it?” Can one point to a single element of Halloween that explicitly glorifies God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
October 31 is also Reformation Day (the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the chapel door). Now THERE is something that glorifies God. And THAT is something to celebrate.
Dale, I appreciate the comment.
First, is it ever okay for Christians to dress up like devils, demons, etc.? Can Christians ever pretend?
Second, what rituals are Christians participating in? Also, what mason or muslim holidays are cultural holidays in the United States? I’m not being arbitrary here. Halloween is really a cultural holiday. Why do I say this? How many kids in your neighborhood are participating in “rituals” as an act of worship on this day? It’s about being goofty, and getting candy.
Third, what’s “right” with Halloween? The same thing that’s “right” with anything else in God’s world that shows His common grace. What if we changed the name to “Dress-up Candy day,” or what if the date was changed, but people still dressed up and went door-to-door for candy. Would you be okay with that?
It is less about trying to find out what is okay and more about determining if the construct of an event or remembrance glorifies God. In my humble opinion, God provided a much better way to use our time during this fall period. He established the fall feasts. Why did God do that? The fall feasts were all about celebrating God’s provision to His people and His sovereignty. What a marvelous thing to do with our families during this time rather than trying to find a way to turn a truly pagan event with its various trappings into something remotely Christian in nature.
Is there anything wrong with candy, dressing up, etc.? That is the wrong question to ask. The more appropriate question to ask is whether one’s participation in an event honors God. There is a huge cultural ignorance of what Halloween is rooted in. This article begins by presenting its origins, a background which is clearly pagan in philosophy and practice. Why would a believer have any desire to celebrate something with such nefarious origins? This has nothing to do with “well that is not what Halloween means to me.” Nothing we do or engage in is really about us. Since everything we do should bring glory to God, the proper statement is what does God desire and what does God outline in His word.
Halloween, its origins and current practices, regardless of whether or not people have a clue as to those origins and what the practices reference, does not seem to be something we can include in the list of things that can be construed as falling into that all important latter category.
What did God tell the Israelites when they entered the land of promise?
“Numbers 33:50-52:
On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the LORD said to Moses,
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,
drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.”
Halloween is not a cultural holiday. It has been turned into something of the sort, given the vast ignorance of its pagan origins. It is celebrated by culture, however, that cannot be construed as a valid reason to be involved in celebrating it. Why would we want to dress up and pretend like we are devils, ghouls, or dead things in a celebratory manner?
I think those are the more enlightening questions to ask when it comes to the issue of Halloween. Does it glorify God and has God given us a better alternative, one that brings glory to Him?
Michael, so, Christians are held accountable to what they don’t know? Do you know that the days of the week and the days of the month are named after false gods? Does this mean we should change the names of the days of the week and the months of the year? Or, (which is what most Christians believe), does it not really matter the origins of the names, since our God owns all things? Just because I say, “Wednesday,” doesn’t mean I’m saying, “Woden’s day,” a false god’s day.
Concerning whether or not participating in Halloween glorifies God, I believe it can. My children are exercising their God-given creativity, and they’re enjoying His common grace and provision on Halloween, and I’m enjoying my freedom in Christ from the commandments of men.
I’m so glad you brought up the days-of-the-week issue, Jared, because it’s an excellent point. Unfortunately, I know more than a handful of Christians who, with a straight face, actually DO reject the “pagan origins of the days of the week.” And though few will actually go so far as to refuse to utter the names “Monday” through “Saturday,” we do see a vestige of this in some Christians’ studious avoidance of “Sunday” in favor of “Lord’s Day.” Of course, there is some Biblical precedence for this one, but with some folks it becomes tantamount to superstition, to the point where clunky expressions like, “four Lord’s Days ago, we were studying ….” become common Ouch!
And don’t get me started on the whole Genetic Fallacy thing.
Oh, and let’s not forget: “Easter” is pagan, so you better call it “Resurrection Sunday.”
Thoroughly debunked, but why ruin a good thing?
Completely agree Dale!
Hey!!! I love your blog, I’d like to share with you my personal way as a Christian how I celebrate this holiday I’m not a worldly person but I’m certainly not hiding under a rock either lol I have a daughter and I couldn’t imagine holding her back from all the fun…. I guess you can say I took the paganism out of it and turned it into an innocent holiday instead of decorating my house in scary gouls and gobblins I did it in fall decor pumpkins black cats which black cats I just don’t see as evil lol but that’s just me personally scarecrows hay stack and corn stalks… We stay out in the yard grilling with bowels of candy and candy apples laying out for the kids to help themselves to and games like corn hole and bobbing for apples and ect. That way it keeps the kids from having to knock on the door saying trick or treat just in case and my daughter and yes me too lol dress up in costumes I mean that’s the best part right But it’s never anything that’s evil only cool and fun things we get really artistic when it comes to dressing up and carving pumpkins which we keep innocent too so that’s pretty much our way of taking this pagan holiday and turning it into an innocent and fun holiday that all us Christians can enjoy too.. Cause in the end it’s all in what’s in our hearts
Hi Jared
“Is it ever okay for Christians to dress up like devils, demons, etc.? Can Christians ever pretend?”
Pretend to be that which God calls an abomination? I cannot see how such a thing glorifies God or encourages righteous thoughts in those so pretending. Does one “hold every thought captive to Christ” while pretending to be a witch?
“Second, what rituals are Christians participating in? Also, what mason or muslim holidays are cultural holidays in the United States?”
‘Trick or Treat’ is certainly a ritual (where the name itself implies extortion – give me a treat or I will do something bad to you).
And yes, Freemasonry is very much cultural. In may places and/or families Masonic participation is very much culturally expected. Many (most?) participants do not actually believe in the occultic foundation of the rituals. Does that excuse the participation? Hardly.
Third, how does Halloween display God’s common grace? (other than He does not immediately smite participants). A “Dress Up Candy Day” which entailed pretending to be demonic creatures extorting candy from neighbors with threats of “tricks” would be just as evil regardless of the day or origin.
Dale, so you’re against plays, theater, movies, etc. where Christians dress-up as evil people? It glorifies God when they play the character excellently (without sinning). I don’t see it as an abomination. I believe Christians are free in Christ to play evil characters in the theater, and to do so excellently (without sinning).
Also, what child implies, “Give me a treat or I will do something bad to you?” My kids aren’t.
Finally, in Free Masonry, the origins are still intact in the rituals. It’s not the same with trick-or-treating. Where must those who dress up on Halloween commit to serving a false god? The origins are not intact. It’s a cultural holiday.
Jared, in plays/theatre/movies/etc. a Christian may portray an evil character to display the evil (and hopefully, display God’s triumph over evil). For Halloween, people dress up as evil characters purely for “fun” (again, how does one take every thought captive to Christ while pretending to be a witch?). Do Halloween celebrations display God’s triumph over evil? No, just the evil.
What does a child say to the homeowner when they answer the door? “Trick or Treat.” What does that mean? When I was a young tricker-or-treater, I knew exactly what it meant. I carried shucked corn in the bottom of my sack. Any home that failed to give me candy got a handful thrown against the window and/or scattered on the porch (not an overly devious “trick” but I understood the concept well).
The very fact that witches, goblins, demons, devils, etc. are the main themes of Halloween demonstrate that the pagan origins are indeed intact. Of course, it’s “Cultural”. Our culture is anti-Christian. Christians should not be.
As far as I’m concerned, as Christians we should be enjoying God EVERY day. Why not on Halloween? I recently published a post on my personal blog about my thoughts on Halloween and about the freedom I have finally experienced with regards to it.
http://melindatarcon.blogspot.ca/
Duet 18:8-13. What has culture made of Halloween is the question. First one does not have to go further then the living room to see all the Horror movies that fill the television on Halloween night. Although when children are young they dress in the cute costumes, but as the compromise in which has been passed on by parents it is easily found the same small children when they are teens are dressing as witches, vampires, zombies, and others factions that represent the evil and dead. Then lets look at the cultural adults and Halloween that fill the bars dressed in representation of evil and of course lets place as addition with the adults where costumes include that of sex objects. There is no other night of the year as well looking at crime reports where more rapes, murder, animal sacrifices and other grotesque crimes take place then on the night of Halloween. This is the truth of the Halloween cultural event that one may try to ignore and compromise, but it does not change what really takes place.
In other input it is a common theme for those who try to provide evangelism on Halloween night, like we do to give out comic tracks to the children, if a piece of candy is not given with the track find out how fast the house can be egged. We pray over the tracks in hopes that even one child will come to Christ through the outreach. Do not think for one second the tricks (bad) do not take place.
We are called to give all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength unto Christ, and although we all fall short, we should take every opportunity that is provided to do so. God created me, us, we are brothers and sisters in Christ, why should we pretend to be anything else when there is nothing greater in who He made each of us to be in glory to Him, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Love In Christ, Matt
I very much appreciate Michael & Dale’s Biblical responses to this article.
I guess I grew up around a different crowd. My friends went to the grave yard to celebrate on Halloween. The witches went to their covens and the guys tried to cast spells on people. It was pretty private, but they did it. Being a witch is a lot more accepted now, and people aren’t so quiet about their beliefs. Several witches though will probably celebrate Halloween quietly in your neighborhood. They are suffering and need Jesus and to know that Christ died for their sins and God raised Jesus from the dead. I pray you all have the hope of the gospel to hand out everyday – people are going to hell if they don’t receive Jesus’ gift of eternal life through believing he was raised from the dead and suffered their sin’s punishment on the cross. Praise God for such a wonderful salvation – Christ lives!
Good article from Al Mohler on the subject: http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/10/30/christianity-and-the-dark-side-what-about-halloween-5/
Hey Jared,
Good article. Some people just want to suck the fun out of everything. Hallowe’en has always been about fun, dressing up, maybe giving or getting a bit of a scare, and lots of free candy. The pagan origins of the day are no longer part of it, except for a very few druids and wiccans but they’re not the ones walking around with a bed sheet over their heads or a princess tiara visiting their neighbours and collecting treats. It’s time that a lot of overly serious Christians lightened up a whole lot.
Tom – I think you may need to change your idea of what fun is. This helped me very much. And yes, the wiccans and pagans are very much walking around and being extra sweet and wonderful hoping you’ll join them. They have a very special interest in Christians becoming like them.
Philippians 4:8 guides my thoughts on Halloween. I just don’t see the benefit of having my children immersed in what’ is not just or pure, and that which is ugly, of bad report, bad reputation, and evil. For the record, we don’t watch horror flicks or violent shows.
I can see believers playing the role of the “bad guy” when good and evil are clearly demonstrated in the script, but so often entertainment seeks to be morally ambivalent.
Hey. Ive been having problems with my mother lately on this concept. She just wont accept that halloween is good. That it depends more on how YOU celebrate it;not anyone els. Please help me on what I should say to her.
In the quest to uncover the pagan day of Samhain and its modern meaning or affect in today’s 2014 world I thought to look no further than Anton LaVey.
Anton LaVey is best known as the founder of the Church of Satan (1966), creating LaVeyan Satanism, and of course, writing The Satanic Bible (1969).
In The Satanic Bible , LaVey writes, “the two main Satanic holidays (after one’s birthday) are Walpurgisnacht and Halloween.”
Not only can we not ‘Christianize’ satanism, no true follower of Jesus Christ would attempt such a thing. But I have more respect for those who call darkness, darkness.
What does that say to those who claim Christ, yet want to participate in satanic celebrations? Can we have it both ways? Not according to the Word of GOD.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (kjv)
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
So tell me again how you serve two masters?
What a condescending and smarmy – not to mention uninformed – comment from ol’ Israel there. Really, that’s a highlight of Christian commentary trolling, at least for 10/5/14.
October 31st is not objectively good, bad, or otherwise. Any meaning or significance it has is assigned. It is assigned in a negative sense with LaVey; it is assigned in a very significant way by Martin Luther’s launching of the Reformation. Again, they are assigned.
Also, to note, the Lord is not obligated to honor our assigned meanings. He is free to drop His Son into history in the Incarnation at any date He pleases. He is free to return His Son whenever He chooses, on whatever date He chooses.
Modeling that, His people are free under His sole mastery of the cosmos – a mastery that LaVey or any other earthly power cannot touch – to bring the redeeming message of the Gospel to any date. The idea that Christians cannot participate in Halloween is a [false] concession to the idea that those who assign evil value to a day have greater power and authority than those who assign redemptive.
My family and church celebrate the Reformation on October 31st. If we didn’t then we would enjoy celebrating Halloween. We’re not disqualified by questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. As Christians, all things are ours. Amen.
“As Christians, all things are ours.”
This is true. It is equally true that…
“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
It is also true that…
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10)
Every pro-Halloween argument I read (in Christian circles) is about me and mine. “I enjoy it. My kids enjoy it. You can’t find a Scripture against it.” However, when I look in the greater scope of God’s Word what I see is life isn’t about me. It’s not about how much I enjoy mini-Snickers or how cute my kids look.
Is celebrating Halloween profitable? I imagine one could find profit in the same way one could find profit in eating Kraft Mac n Cheese. Is participating in it a stumbling block for some? Of course. Is not participating in it a stumbling block? I’m not sure how.
This verse takes care of it for our family:
Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Of course I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with dress up. Nor do I think there is anything wrong with ingesting candy. I don’t see Halloween (dressing up – often as dark creatures – and begging for candy from door to door) as a necessarily God-honoring activity, but I imagine that some can redeem the activity. What I ask myself is whether or not this is the best use of my finite resources. Does this further the Kingdom? Does this point people to Christ? Some might find ways to do this, but when I talk to Christians about Halloween, their reasons rarely have anything to do with Christ, and everything to do with what brings me and my kids pleasure.
In my opinion, the question should not be, “can we” but “ought we.” Not “can I” but “does this honor God?”
Farm School Marm,
Yes, it’s profitable to bring the presence of the Gospel and church to bear on cultural events. We “should” do it because our Lord’s grace has made sure we “can” do it (to use your questions). It honors God to enjoy time with our family, engage our neighbors, build relationships in our community.
You say you haven’t found Christians asking “should I?” Most I know who participate have. You know what I haven’t seen? An opponent who tries to build their case on something other than the assumption that Christians are participating in the fullest expression of paganism and occultism when they go trick-or-treating. Seems like, to me, straw men have to be stuffed (now doesn’t that sound Halloween-ish) in order to make the case.
Mr. Wright,
Interesting comment. How, exactly, do Christians participating in Halloween (and, I do mean in the most benign sense: dressing up and begging candy of neighbors) “bring the presence of the Gospel and church to bear on cultural events”?
FSM
Conversations, building relationships, modeling freedom in Christ – those are the ways that most immediately present themselves.
Hmmm.. You know, there are Christians who go into bars to preach the Gospel…and there are Christians who go into bars to have a drink and socialize. Barring drunkenness or some other sort of sin, I don’t necessarily see anything wrong with either one of these…but it’s easy to see that the former is serving the Lord and the latter is serving himself – and, yet, one could describe the activity of the latter as “Conversations, building relationships, modeling freedom in Christ”…
Earlier you said that we “should” because we “can.” Paul disputes that…saying, that just because we can, doesn’t mean we should (all things are lawful, but all things are not profitable…).
I can watch whatever is on television (barring pornography or some other outright sin), but I’d be a fool to do that. In fact, with a few caveats, I can wear whatever the fashion designers put out, I can watch whatever is on television, I can read whatever I find to read, and I can go wherever my feet take me – but not all of those choices honor God; not all of those opportunities are good for my spiritual health; not all of those possibilities increase my witness to others. To say that we “should” because we “can” doesn’t square with Scripture or logic.
Everything is lawful, but not everything is profitable or edifying… It seems to me that our decisions to participate in any event (and *how* we will participate if we do) boils down to Spiritual profitability and Spiritual edification. I agree with you that some can and do do that, but they are the minority, not the rule. In my experience, most are the Halloween equivalent of the guy having drinks and socializing in the bar.
The thing is, that proof-texting approach is going to get you nowhere; it is easy to point out that Paul contextualized his ministry (1 Corinthians 9:19-23), was familiar with pagan culture and art (Acts 17:8, 26:13; Titus 1:12), and sought out pagan audiences where they customarily gathered (Acts 17) – all things that you oppose because they aren’t “profitable” in your schema.
Furthermore, you misrepresent my point about “can” so “should”; your misrepresentation is what fails to square with Scripture (as does your proof-texting). Specifically, you cut out the part where we can (under the freedom of Christ) and thus “should” *because it is profitable to the Kingdom and our neighbors*.
I don’t know what to do with your evaluation of what “most” are doing. I suppose I should just say that “most” of the people I know who don’t participate are entrenched in Christian ghettos with no meaningful contact with the people and culture around them. I don’t believe, however, that our individual experiences speak to what should be normative.
Mr. Wright,
Ahhh….the dreaded Proof-Texting Accusation. (Good thing old Satan wasn’t in on this latest rage back when Jesus was using the “proof texting approach” against him – the poor Lord might have “gotten nowhere”. 😀 )
Let’s see…the only Scripture I referenced in my last comment was 1 Corinthians 10:23 – that all things are lawful but not all things are edifying/profitable. Please, illustrate for me how that text was inappropriately used.
You write, “Furthermore, you misrepresent my point about “can” so “should”; your misrepresentation is what fails to square with Scripture (as does your proof-texting). Specifically, you cut out the part where we can (under the freedom of Christ) and thus “should” *because it is profitable to the Kingdom and our neighbors*.”
No, sir…I specifically asked you for an example of this profitability and your response was…well, not very convincing. Frankly, kids knocking on the neighbor’s door demanding candy most certainly does not “bring the presence of the Gospel and the church to bear on cultural activities.” It was after you acknowledged that by “bringing the presences of the Gospel and church to bear on cultural activities” you really meant “Conversations, building relationships, modeling freedom in Christ –” that I illustrated that the same can be said of any activity of questionable Spiritual value – that “can” does not equal “should” merely because we can extrapolate, like a gifted grant writer, “benefits” that are questionable at best.
Obviously, we are not going to agree. May we both continue to seek the Lord’s will and follow hard after Him.
God bless!
This will probably be long. Obviously Halloween has passed, but I’ve recently been reading about it and educating myself for the next time it rolls around. I grew up in a Christian household where we didn’t participate because of alleged pagan origins. Now that I’m an adult with a child of my own I see things differently.
First of all, pagan origins is not what makes something sin. Sin is sin across the board regardless of who did it first. Fornication=sin, blasphemy=sin, murder=sin… 24/7 and 365. Dressing in a costume and going around the neighborhood on the last night of October, or any night for that matter is not sin regardless of who did it first, and why. Just because there are some people who misuse their freedom and participate in ungodly things on Halloween doesn’t mean that a Christian cannot participate out of a place of purity. Since when are we defined by the actions of others? Am I condemned for celebrating New Years Eve with a simple party even though it is a holiday associated with drunkenness? Am I condemned for celebrating Thanksgiving even though many people participate in gluttony that day? Nope.
The mindset some Christians have towards Halloween never seems to be consistently applied to other holidays or cultural events.
Nobody asks how God is glorified by a Christian going to a football game, or going to watch the fireworks on July 4th, or playing a game of chess with a friend. Nobody asks “how are you being set apart at that Bears game? You don’t look any different than the nonchristians in attendance!” The fact of the matter is, as a Christian everything we do is supposed to be done in love, in faith, and with a heart of thanksgiving. That is true worship. It’s not the activity, it is what you do with it and the position of your heart.