While there are reasons to oppose practices within Halloween, there are also reasons to oppose practices within St. Patrick’s Day, 4th of July celebrations, or any extra-biblical festivities. But the question is whether the abuse of things constitutes an argument against it. I do not believe it does.
For the uninitiated, Halloween is a contraction for All Hallows’ Eve. “The word “hallow” means “saint,” in that “hallow” is just an alternative form of the word “holy” (“hallowed be Thy name”).” All Saints’ Day, which liturgical churches celebrate on November 1st or the first Sunday after, is a festive occasion remembering the faithfulness of God to the sons and daughters of the kingdom who gave their lives and from their labors now rest with Christ. Jesus claimed victory on the cross as an act of triumph (Heb. 2:14; Rom. 16:20). He died and rose so that we might live abundant lives (Jn. 10:10). We affirm and cherish the life we have and the life of the saints gone before us, who now embrace the God-given sabbatical of eternity (Heb. 4).
Christians should delight in Halloween in our households because Jesus makes a mockery of evil (Psalm 2; I Sam. 5; Is. 46:1-5) and because joy is a distinctly Christian virtue. Christ is Lord over all human festivals, especially those that establish a background to celebrating all his saints.
God is a playful God who delights in treating evil with all the playfulness and mockery He can muster. In the divine currency, that’s an infinite supply of it. God loves to bring wicked things low, and he uses his redeemed image-bearers to replicate his acts in history.
Jesus is Lord over demons and outfits of superheroes. Now, if your eight-year-old is dressed like some sexy version of Catwoman, you’re doing it wrong, but I suspect most of you are more self-aware. You can participate in an event with Presbyterian zeal and have a blast without failing basic biblical principles of modesty.
In my estimation, the best way to prepare to celebrate the saints gone before us is by spending the Eve of that day eating candy, being neighborly, dressing up with your favorite outfit, and singing Psalm 2 with Lutheran vigor as a parting hymn.
Everything is Christ’s, and we are his, and everything the world has is ours (Rom. 4:13). They may drink like sailors and eat their candy like gluttons, but we drink in honor of St. Peter and St. Augustine and eat for the joy set before us (Heb. 12:2).
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