The Real Deal With Halloween

People get crazy around Halloween. Christians are the worst.

I remember church people that were freaked out by Halloween - “Satan’s holiday” they called it. They preached about the costumes, demons, razors in candy, and devil-worshiping wackos they seemed to believe were given free reign on this night. As a result they hid in a back room, lights out, praying for the night to pass. They missed the greatest “love your neighbor” outreach opportunity of the year. Satan must hate Halloween outreach.

Halloween is like the greatest opportunity ever. When else can you dress up, drop in on your neighbor, and be in an immediate conversation? It’s a night of neighborhood community. Here are some suggestions…

• DON’T hide in your closet. Put on some silly clothes and hang out with your neighbors. On this night families care about safety, costumes and candy. Don’t give Satan a holiday – he doesn’t deserve it.


• DO worship on Halloween morning. At Cottonwood we’ll learn about the history of Halloween, The Day of the Dead, and All Saints Day – and worship through communion. Just don’t go back to church Sunday night.


• DON’T do the Halloween alternative with Bible character costumes. First, it’s lame. And second, someone may come as one of the seven naked sons of Skeva! Instead take church out of the box and into your neighborhood.


• DO have fun. Make Halloween the beginning of a connection. Start some conversations, make some friends. Invest in your neighbors now and maybe you will get to invite them later.


• DON’T go weird the other way and enjoy the night too much – in ways that are inappropriate for followers of Christ.


• DO overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Have some cheap flashlights ready for those who may need them, give some hot cocoa to the parents, scare some kids by jumping out from behind a bush, give the best candy on the block. In short – love your neighbors. Satan will hate it.

Dan