A Preface on My Views of Halloween
Ah yes, Halloween. To many Christians, this is a massive point of contention. I am not here to argue whether Christians should celebrate Halloween or not, that's a hill I'm not prepared to die on. However, I will offer you this one Biblical insight:
When it comes to the controversy of Halloween, I look upon the principle found in 1 Corinthians 8. In my opinion, Halloween is not a pagan holiday, Inspiring Philosophy has a video on this that you can check out. However, even if it DOES have pagan origins, we know that there is only one God, and all others are frauds, so based upon the principle in 1 Corinthians 8, I believe Christians with discernment and good conscience can partake in activities like trick or treating, which is not sinful. HOWEVER, if your celebration of Halloween is causing other Christians to stumble, please have some regard for the weaker brethren, is having a little fun for one day worth bruising the conscience of a family member in Christ? I really don't think so. Additionally, celebrating Halloween may be dangerous, after all, I know there are many ungodly practices that may happen during a Halloween celebration, again, is it really worth it? Let each be fully convinced in their own mind!
My Halloween Experience
You would not have found another boy who loved Halloween as much as I did in the whole land of China. My mom was gracious enough to organize a few family friends to prepare candy for me and a few friends to visit with costumes on. It was so much fun.
When I moved to Canada, I finally was able to partake in real Halloween. Going to every neighbor's house for Candy. That was an AMAZING experience. So much fun. To my dismay, my family was told that Halloween was evil and pagan and that it celebrated spirits and is basically sinful. I cried my eyes out when my parents told me I could not go trick or treating ever again. I had to settle with my Church's "Harvest Festival" Which was the lamest thing when compared with other Halloween activities. This was very infuriating because another prominent family in my Church had no problem going trick or treating. Anyways, I digress, that's in the past now, I probably escaped gaining significant weight from all that candy anyway.
Years passed, and I never participated in Halloween again. I got too old and it's no longer "socially acceptable" to go trick or treating. Now I sit at my desk on Halloween, my house pitch black, signaling to trick-or-treaters that we do not have the candy they want so much.
Rediscovery (this part is a joke)
But then I discovered that Reformation Day is on the same day. Now I have something else to celebrate. Now instead of the wimpy call of "trick or treat!" I can say with a triumphant voice:
"SOLA SCRIPTURA"
"SOLAS CHRISTUS"
"SOLA GRATIA"
"SOLA FIDE"
"SOLA DEO GLORIA!!!!!!"
I can stand before the diet of wyrms and proudly proclaim: "HERE I STAND!"
I can stand alongside Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and many more to celebrate that Salvation is by GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE!!!!
Okay, I'm done with the jesting. The Reformation is indeed very important and very historically significant. Without it, we might still be paying indulgences for the forgiveness of sins. But then again, the Reformers weren't angels or mega Saints like many Reformed Christians would say.
Don't make it your personality, anyway, have fun celebrating whatever you're celebrating, just make sure you're honoring God with it!!!
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