By Karen Y. Stevens

 

A lot of charismatic Christians do not celebrate Halloween due to the evil connotations.

Most churches offer a “Fall Festival” or a “Trunk or Treat” option.

When I was a child, my parents would take my siblings and I, to different neighborhoods.

When my children were growing up, we always went to the church for the Fall Festival, mainly because of all the horrible razor blades in the candy scare.  I felt my children were safer at church, and they did not know the difference.

Now that my children are grown, and my husband and I stay at home, I try each year, to attach scriptures to the candy I pass out, to use as a ministry opportunity.

What other holiday do you have children come to your door and take a scripture so willingly?

1 Corinthians 8 talks about food sacrificed to idols.  It’s too long to post everything, so please read it in its entirety, but here are the highlights.  “⁴ So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” ⁷ But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. ⁸ But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.”

You’re probably wondering what eating food sacrificed to idols has to do with Halloween.  Well, nothing, but it does show what our attitudes should be.

If you think Halloween is celebrating Satan, then maybe you shouldn’t celebrate.  I know as my children were growing up, I told them Halloween is just for fun, just like Valentine’s Day.  It doesn’t mean anything, except they got to eat a lot of candy when normally they wouldn’t.  I did not let them dress in scary costumes, but there are so many other alternatives, other than just scary.  It’s hard not to acknowledge a nation-wide holiday, so it’s best just to condition your children, whatever your conditioning is.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

My husband and I always stressed to our children the importance of putting God first in everything.  I think if you are always bringing God to their attention, they will not depart from it.  They might wander away for a period of time, but I believe God will bring them back.  That should be our hope and faith to believe that God can accomplish this.

They might not act like the Christian we think they should act like, but our walk doesn’t reflect our parents walk either.  Have faith to believe God will perfect their salvation.

 

Karen Y. Stevens is the founder of Orange County Christian Writers Guild