Answer: There are a number of reasons why I think it is unwise for Christian parents to permit their children to go door to door collecting candy on Halloween. First of all, dressing up like witches, ghosts, or goblins is incompatible with a Christian's testimony.

Furthermore, many of the customs of Halloween are associated with the worst kinds of pagan beliefs and ceremonies; they are usually centered on sinister things such as demons, witchcraft, and superstition.

If we as Christian parents simply disregard the unChristian aspects of such practices as mere fantasy or superstition and then encourage our children to participate in them, we run the risk of communicating the message that the spiritual battle waged by the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:10) is not to be taken seriously.

Halloween has its origins in an ancient Celtic harvest celebration. The superstitious Celts believed that demons, ghosts, and hobgoblins roamed free in the dark and barren days of winter, and the end of October was the onset of that season. Their celebrations grew out of their superstitions, and they have been passed down to the present day, along with other pagan and satanic beliefs.

Another reason I don't advise parents to permit their children to celebrate Halloween by dressing up and going door to door is the issue of safety. The possibility of a child's being struck by an automobile, kidnapped, poisoned, or otherwise injured is greater on Halloween than on any other night of the year.

Still, I think it is wise for parents to give their children a creative alternative to celebrating Halloween. They shouldn't feel like they've missed something because they are Christians.

Our family likes to spend Halloween together. We plan special activities that are more fun for the kids than begging candy. In the past, we have all gone out together for ice cream, or we might stay home and have a special evening together doing something just for them.

That way when the children face the inevitable pressure of talking with their friends about what they did on Halloween, they can share their faith in positive terms, rather than having to speak of what they can't do because of their parents' Christian faith.

Transcribed by Tony Capoccia
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