Is It a Sin to Celebrate Halloween'?
HALLOWEEN IS A holiday celebrated each year on October 31, … The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats. ( History.com)
Lately, the controversy surrounding Halloween is heating up on social media, and many concerns have emerged. Numerous elementary schools are choosing to eliminate Halloween celebrations, prompting a strong uproar and reaction from parents. Many are expressing frustrations, saying things like, “Schools are just taking away the fun for the children. It’s a special day for kids to enjoy candy.” This raises an interesting question: would there be such a debate if everyone truly understood the symbolism of Halloween, along with its origins, history, and overall significance?
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN?
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.
This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. (History.com)
In fact, not only did the belief that the ghost would revisit Earth but, more specifically, the practice of divinations and its association with the dead, whose souls were supposed to revisit their homes on this day:
“HALLOWEEN (in Medieval times ‘All Hallows’) kept on October 31, the eve of All Saints’ Day, was the Celtic festival at the end of summer named Samhain. It was connected with… the practice of divinations and its association with the dead, whose souls were supposed to revisit their homes on this day.”
(Reference: Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume II, p. 15, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, Halloween does not have a biblical origin. But as we just read there, history tells us it instead has its origin in ancient pagan cultures and refers back to particularly a Celtic festival at New Year’s time, the end of summer at the end of the year, called Samhain, and it was connected with divination.
Thus, it was believed that the dead souls at that time were supposed to return to their homes during that festival.
WHAT EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HALLOWEEN
Does the Bible provide any insights regarding practices associated with Halloween, such as divination, the concept of ghosts returning to homes, the tradition of trick-or-treating, and other related customs? Let us refer to the canonical text of the Holy Bible, specifically Leviticus, which states the following:
“You are not to eat anything with blood in it. You are not to practice divination or sorcery.”
(Reference: Lev.19:26 Holman Christian Standard Bible, Emphasis Mine)
The Bible offers a clear response on these matters, in short stating unequivocally, “Do not engage in such practices.” This is crucial for every Christian to comprehend regarding Halloween, as the Bible explicitly prohibits these activities.
WHAT ABOUT TRICK OR TREATING?
What about the pagan practice of preparing a banquet table for the dead returning to their homes, which contributed to the current customs of receiving treats when children and teenagers go to homes and yell, “Trick or treat!” Trick or treating is an important and popular part of the Halloween festivities. Notably, the bible also addresses such pagan acts in the Book of Job, chapter 7:
“As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.”
(Reference: Job 7:9-10 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
The biblical texts explicitly attest that the dead can never return to one’s former home, not even as ghosts or skeletons or any similar representations, such as the costumes that parents put their children in, which are rooted in the traditions of the history we’re discussing here.
Let us examine both perspectives in this debate. On one side proponents argue, “Well, even though it has those kinds of pagan cultural origins, it’s just fun for children to do. What rationale exists for its removal from the educational setting?” They contend, “Why not encourage the children to participate? It’s just fun. It’s an old tradition based on fun myths and superstitious tales.” Additionally, they assert, “Children love it.”
We get it. We understand that side of the debate.
But here’s what the Scriptures have to say. Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy addressed paganism in these terms:
“Reject pagan appeasement myths and other superstitious tales that turn off thinking; rather, train yourself to be a godly evidence-based thinker.”
(Reference: I Tim. 4:7 The Remedy, Emphasis Mine)
HALLOWEEN AND THE DEVIL
The biblical instruction is very explicit. It states to reject “pagan appeasement myths and other superstitious tales” and instead exercise being “godly.”
There is another element of Halloween that many people do not know, which is described in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Let us read:
“The autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, fairies and demons of all kinds… It was the only day in which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes.
(Reference: Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume II, Pg. 15, p. 860 Emphasis Mine)
Therefore historically, Halloween served as a period for the invocation of malevolent forces, particularly in seeking the assistance of the devil. This practice involved direct appeals to satanic entities, reflecting a complex interplay between folk traditions and religious sentiments associated with the occult.
However, there are people who may argue, “Look, we’re not considering its pagan origins, and we’re certainly not invoking the help of the devil. We’re just enjoying this because it’s fun to see the children dressed up in costumes of devils, ghosts, and various other characters. The kids love attending Halloween parties, and they receive plenty of candy.”
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PAGAN PRACTICES?
Is there biblical guidance that God wants us to know and understand concerning pagans and their beliefs as we listen to the ongoing debate in schools about whether Christians should participate in Halloween?
What did the Apostles advise the Christians about the pagans in his letter? In Ephesians 4:17-18, Apostle Paul admonished the Christians thus:
“This then is my word to you, and I urge it upon you in the Lord’s name. Give up living like pagans with their good-for-nothing notions. Their wits are beclouded, they are strangers to the life that is in God, because ignorance prevails among them and their minds have grown hard as stone.”
(Reference: Ephesians 4:17-18 NEB, Emphasis Mine)
Not only does Apostle Paul reject the ritual of pagan rituals and customs but he said that they are “good-for-nothing notions” and to “Give up living like pagans”. In fact the meaning of the term pagan gives us reasons to reject anything pagans do and practice. Webster’s New International Dictionary states:
“Pagan… the opposite of Christian… a person who is not a Christian… not a Christian.”
(Reference: Webster’s New International Dictionary)
It is interesting to note that even the etymology of the term “pagan” shows the incompatibility of Christianity and paganism.
If we are to engage in the ongoing debate, which side should we be on? Here inside the Church Of Christ, we will stand on the side by doing it the Lord’s way and will abandon all those Halloween practices that not only contradict God’s teachings but go directly against His will and commandments.
The question that remains is why so many people choose pagan cultures and incorporate their traditions into the holidays of current times? They have missed something, and what they have missed was mentioned by Apostle Paul in the form of a warning. What was the warning of the Apostle Paul given in the Holy Scriptures? Here’s what he said in his letter to the Colossians:
“Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.”
(Reference: Col. 2:8 NLT-Tyndale House, Emphasis Mine)
The Bible provides a very clear warning against being misled by human traditions, human ideologies, and philosophies that they have themselves invented or incorporated from pagan cultures. This message is reinforced by the opening of the same passage in The Remedy translation of the Bible, which states, “Be sure your minds are not enslaved with lies about God–stemming from the empty traditions of paganism…” (Col. 2:8The Remedy NT).
Apostle Paul also provided a clear admonition in a similar way to the Galatians, highlighting the urgency of being vigilant against deceptive influences. He explicitly warned them, “Don’t let someone lead you astray.” This critical insight underscores the danger of straying from sound doctrine, which many in the Galatian community at the time of the apostles were failing to recognize. Furthermore, Paul elaborated on this caution, articulating the consequences of succumbing to these misleading teachings:
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell!“
(Reference: Gal.1:8 GNT, Emphasis Mine)
Even if others claim or try to convince us by stating, “It’s just for fun; no one thinks of it as a pagan practice,” the truth is, it doesn’t erase where this holiday came from. Simply put, celebrating Halloween means embracing something that is not Christian.
To conclude, therefore, on that point, Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians said thus:
“Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith] By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].”
(Reference: I Cor. 15:1-2 AB, Emphasis Mine)
Just like Christmas and Valentine’s Day, Halloween may appear harmless on the surface. However, after gaining the knowledge provided, we urge you to make an informed decision about whether or not you want to participate in such pagan rituals and whether you want your children to participate in them, too. Keep in mind, Apostle Paul urged us to “hold firmly” to what was preached if we want to be saved; otherwise, our faith is “just superficially and without complete commitment” or, as put, we “believed in vain.”
Apostle Paul further went on to say to those who practice pagan customs:
“In particular, I want to urge you in the name of the Lord, not to go on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live. Intellectually they are in the dark, and they are estranged from the life of God, without knowledge because they have shut their hearts to it.
“Now that it is hardly the way you have learned from Christ, unless you failed to hear him properly when you were taught what the truth is in Jesus.”
(Reference: Eph. 4:17-18, 20 Jerusalem Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Apostle Paul attested to the fact that pagans live an aimless life, being estranged from the life of God. Living the way as they do is hardly the way of Christ, and Apostle Paul urged all Christians not to go on living as pagans do. Moreover, Christ detested and spoke about those who chose to uphold their own “traditions”:
“And he said to them, ‘How ingeniously you get around the commandments of God in order to preserve your own tradition’.”
(Reference: Mark 7:9. Jerusalem Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Despite Christ’s detestation of such traditions, there are those who will continue to argue that it’s just a “custom” and there is no harm in them but what did Apostle Paul say about copying the “behaviors” and “customs of this world”:
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think…”
(Reference: Romans 12:2 The Living Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, the Apostles have spoken. True Christians should heed their call. We must give up living like pagans with their “good-for-nothing notions” and not “copy the behavior and customs of this world.”
Here in the Church of Christ, we use the Bible only as the basis of our beliefs. We stand by it, no matter what people around us may say, do, or believe about us, because we cannot risk becoming “estranged from the life of God.”
Some may think that the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) members are against fun and enjoyment, but this is not the case. When a celebratory holiday is based on a pagan custom or ritual, we don’t participate in such acts, for anything pagan is abhorrent to Christ. Engaging in such celebrations is not only unscriptural but also constitutes a profound disrespect and insult to God’s words.
IN CONCLUSION
1
Halloween was traditionally viewed as a day steeped in mystery and darkness, a time that is believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. Historically Halloween served as a period for the invocation of malevolent forces, particularly in seeking the assistance of the devil. This practice involved direct appeals to satanic entities, reflecting a complex interplay between folk traditions and religious sentiments associated with the occult.
2
Not only is Halloween “pagan,” but pagan is the opposite of Christian. A person who practices such pagan customs can not be called a true Christian. Not only does Apostle Paul reject the ritual of pagan rituals and customs, but he said that they are “good-for-nothing notions” and to “Give up living like pagans.” As members of the Church Of Christ, the meaning of the term “pagan” gives us reasons to reject anything pagans do and practice.
3
It is crucial to note that no other New Testament writer used the expression (“begotten God”); in fact, no writer in the entire Bible has ever used the expression “begotten God.”
Our 'Fundamental Beliefs'
WITH THE AIM of aiding others in achieving a more comprehensive understanding of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, a series of readings has been developed. These readings encompass a range of significant topics, from the nature and work of Christ to apostasy. We encourage all those who are curious or in search of truth to engage with these articles. They are designed to encapsulate the comprehensive doctrines and beliefs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
The Great Apostasy
LEARN ABOUT “The Great Apostasy” that led to the transformation and change of the Church of Christ, gradually becoming the Catholic church, which later in turn gave birth and rise to the Protestant faith, both of which continued to hold conflicting and unbiblical doctrines. Many sought the truth during this time but were unable to find it. Despite their belief in God and Jesus Christ, they did not have access to the pristine gospel truth. Consequently, each generation inherited a deeper state of apostasy, perpetuating changes to Christ’s gospel.
Reach Out
If you wish to acquire a deeper understanding of our Church Doctrines and have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be delighted to direct you to one of our local resident ministers in your vicinity. Kindly include any queries you may have so that we may forward your inquiry in advance. Thank you.
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“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)