Why Halloween is Not My Friend

Never in my life have I gone trick-or-treating. The only time I ever resented that was when I was in 8th grade and all my friends were going and I wasn't allowed to join. (So unfair.)

That's because, my entire life, my family didn't celebrate Halloween.

Now, before you go feeling sorry for me and my deprived childhood, please know that my parents took care to not be the "grinches of Halloween." My sister and I weren't allowed to attend class Halloween parties at school, so instead, my mom, who was actually a teacher at my elementary school I attended, would get a substitute teacher and take my sister and I out someplace fun that was not related to Halloween. We would see a movie or go to the local indoor playground, and I never felt like I was missing out on anything. Also, we still passed out candy on Beggar's Night, and it was fun seeing all the other kids' costumes.

We also usually had an abundance of candy year-round.

I feel like I had to ask my mom every year why our family didn't celebrate Halloween. Even though I started disliking this time of year by the time I high school, I couldn't fully explain why I was personally against Halloween until now. Here is my argument about why I don't like Halloween, based solely on my own thoughts, the Bible, and unbiased sources.

1. Theme of death

All around there are skeletons, ghosts, mummies, zombies, and blood. Frankly, I don't see how all these dead things glorify the God of Life in any way.

Genesis 2:7 "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

John 11:43-44 "When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go.'"

John 1:4 "In [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Revelation 1:18 "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!"

2. Theme of fear

Many decorations, costumes, and traditions surrounding Halloween attempt to instill a sense of fear. Haunted houses, decorations of spiders in faux cobwebs, monsters, horror movies, and all the death-related items listed above, to name a few. I truly believe that fear is completely of the devil.

2 Timothy 1:7 "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Also, the Bible uses the phrase "Do not fear" or "Do not be afraid" almost 150 times. (http://pastormark.tv/2012/05/09/4-reasons-why-we-fear)

3. Pagan roots

History shows that Halloween started as an ancient Celtic tradition where a bonfire and animal skin costumes warded off roaming ghosts. Sure, Pope Gregory III made a lame attempt to "Christianize" the day, but it clearly didn't stick. There is nothing "Christian" about Halloween today. (Feel free to call me intolerant of other religions.) (http://www.history.com/topics/halloween, http://www.halloweenhistory.org/)

4. Virtue of greed

While adults are greedy for money, children are greedy for candy. (I see a similar problem here in Easter and Christmas, but that's a topic for another day.) Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with giving children candy, but as they age, they start to understand that if they come up with a clever costume, if they visit more houses, etc., they can get more candy. More, more, more, gimme, gimme, gimme. This is obviously sinful and does not in any way foster generosity. (However, my 7th grade boyfriend very sweetly gave me an entire gallon-bag full of his Halloween candy, since I hadn't acquired any myself.)

Proverbs 15:27 "The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live."

Luke 12:15 "Then [Jesus] said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"

Sure there are some "harmless" aspects to Halloween. Like I said, giving children candy is not inherently wrong, nor is dressing up your two-year-old as a pumpkin. But I personally am glad that I do not (and never have) celebrate a holiday that is so closely associated with many kinds of evil, and I am happy that my parents prayerfully considered their decision to keep me away from it as a child.

God bless.