Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Every October, believers find themselves asking the same question: Should Christians celebrate Halloween? For some, the answer is a firm no—they associate the day with darkness, death, and the occult. For others, it’s a night of neighborhood engagement, fun with children, and even an opportunity for evangelism.

At Restoration Church, we want to think biblically, historically, and charitably about this question. We are committed to being Scripture-informed, Christ-centered, and confessionally grounded in the historic faith expressed in the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.

A Brief History of Halloween

The roots of Halloween are complex—a tapestry woven from both ancient pagan practices and Christian remembrance. The very word Halloween comes from All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day (All Hallows’ Day), a Christian feast established in the early Middle Ages to honor faithful believers who had died in Christ. “Hallows” simply means “holy ones” or “saints,” and the night before became known as “Hallowe’en,” a contraction of “Hallows Evening.”

The historical setting, however, is broader than the church calendar. Long before Christianity reached the British Isles, the Celtic peoples observed Samhain (pronounced sow-in), a festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year. It was believed that during this liminal time, the barrier between the living and the dead grew thin. To ward off evil spirits or seek guidance from ancestors, people lit bonfires, wore disguises, and offered food and drink. These practices reflected a worldview filled with superstition, animism, and fear of unseen powers.

When the gospel later reached these lands, the early church did not baptize paganism—it displaced it. The establishment of All Saints’ Day (by the 8th century under Pope Gregory III) was a deliberate act of Christian reformation of the calendar: to turn people’s attention from the fear of spirits to the triumph of the saints in glory, from the dread of death to the victory of Christ’s resurrection. Over time, however, folk customs endured. The older Celtic traditions blended with medieval European practices such as souling—where the poor would go door to door offering prayers for the departed in exchange for food—and mumming or guising, early forms of costumed plays or processions.

When these traditions crossed the Atlantic with European immigrants, especially the Irish and Scottish in the 19th century, they evolved further in the American context. The superstitious elements faded, and Halloween gradually transformed into a secular community festival, characterized by harvest decorations, costume parties, and neighborhood trick-or-treating.

By the mid-20th century, Halloween in the United States had largely shed its religious and spiritual overtones, becoming a cultural and commercial holiday. Today, for most people, it is a time for children to dress up, collect candy, and enjoy community activities. Yet for Christians, its mixed heritage still raises important questions: How do we relate to a day that once mingled darkness and light, fear and festivity? How can we engage it in a way that honors Christ, the Light of the world, who has already conquered death and every power of darkness?

What Scripture Says About Liberty and Conscience

While Scripture doesn’t address Halloween directly, it gives us clear principles for how to navigate cultural issues with wisdom and grace.

Romans 14 is especially helpful:

Paul’s point is simple: in matters not essential to the faith, believers are to act according to conscience, out of faith, and with charity toward one another.

Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 8–10, Paul teaches that Christians are free to participate in cultural activities—so long as they do not participate in idolatry or cause others to stumble. The key is that “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

So if your conscience is clear before the Lord, and your participation does not promote sin or evil, you are free to engage. But if your conscience is burdened, or if your participation would cause confusion or temptation for others, you are equally free to abstain.

What Our Confession Teaches

Our Reformed Baptist heritage helps us frame these issues wisely. The 1689 London Baptist Confession, particularly chapters 21 (Of Religious Worship) and 22 (Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience), remind us that:

• God alone is Lord of the conscience.

• We must not bind the conscience where Scripture has not spoken.

• Christians are free from “the doctrines and commandments of men” that go beyond God’s Word.

In other words, no one may command participation or forbid it where Scripture is silent.

Participating in Halloween is not an act of worship—which would clearly be forbidden if tied to paganism—but rather an issue of cultural engagement. As long as believers walk in holiness and avoid sin, they have freedom in Christ to use this day for good.

Redeeming the Time

Paul exhorts us to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time” (Colossians 4:5). Halloween presents a rare opportunity to do just that.

It’s one of the only nights of the year when our neighbors come directly to our doors. What if, instead of retreating, we opened our doors with joy and light? What if we used this moment to meet neighbors, build relationships, and share the hope of Christ?

Some families choose to pass out candy and gospel tracts. Others host neighborhood gatherings or “light parties” that offer wholesome fun for families. These aren’t attempts to baptize a pagan holiday—they are efforts to bring gospel light into cultural darkness.

Charity Toward One Another

At the same time, we must extend grace. Some believers, out of conviction, refrain from any participation in Halloween. They desire to avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), and that conviction deserves respect.

Others participate with discernment, seeking to redeem the time for gospel purposes. They too must not be judged as compromising their faith.

Paul writes:

In this, our unity in Christ must outweigh our differences in conscience.

How We Practice This at Restoration Church

At Restoration Church of Sanford, we do not forbid members from participating in Halloween activities. We simply urge every believer to be wise, discerning, and gospel-minded.

If you participate:

• Avoid costumes or decorations that glorify evil, death, or darkness (Ephesians 5:11).

• Use the opportunity to show hospitality and love to your neighbors (Matthew 5:14–16).

• Consider sharing gospel tracts or invitations to church along with candy.

If you abstain:

• Do so in faith and without judgment toward others.

• Take time for family worship or reflection on Christ’s victory over sin and death.

• Pray for gospel fruit through those who are engaging their communities that night.

Our stance as a church is simple: we are free in Christ to participate in cultural events as long as our participation is holy, intentional, and gospel-centered.

A Closing Word

Whether you celebrate or abstain, do so “unto the Lord” (Romans 14:6). Let every decision flow from faith, not fear; from freedom, not legalism; and from love, not judgment.

As the 1689 Confession so beautifully reminds us, “God alone is Lord of the conscience.”Let us walk in that freedom and charity—redeeming the time for the glory of Christ.