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5 Tips for Couples to Navigate Halloween with a Christ-Centered Perspective

5 Tips for Couples to Navigate Halloween with a Christ-Centered Perspective

Halloween can be a divisive holiday for Christ followers. Many of us grew up celebrating this family tradition or maybe avoiding it altogether and are unsure how to handle it in a way that honors Christ. As we lead our own families, we can feel conflicted about the best way to approach this more controversial holiday.

In my friend group, most of the families we know approach this holiday very differently! Some are okay with their kids dressing up for events but do not trick-or-treat. Others are totally fine with their kids canvassing the neighborhood on October 31st, gathering all the candy they can carry. Still other families in our community group have chosen to create their own Halloween traditions that have nothing to do with the way our culture traditionally celebrates it in order to avoid the more dark aspects of the holiday altogether. Each of us can choose a unique way to navigate Halloween as Christ followers and remain in close community together.

The point is that there is not one perfect answer to how every family should navigate Halloween traditions and celebrations. Yet, there are a few boundaries we should put in place for how we approach this holiday and choose to best uphold these convictions while still creating memories in our homes.

Here are some tips for how you can navigate Halloween for your family as Christ followers:

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  • Hands over a candle doing withcraft

    1. Don't Celebrate Evil

    Ephesians 5:12 gives us a strong warning. It says, "It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret." Meaning as Christ followers our lives should be above reproach. We are not to celebrate evil but are called to be bringers of light and life into the dark world.

    As a family it's vital that you make sure that your own traditions for Halloween, a holiday that can be known for celebrating evil, avoid praising dark powers and ideas. This could look like setting guidelines around what kinds of dress up characters your family chooses. In our family no one is allowed to put on a costume that includes blood, death, or is scary in appearance.

    Another place to apply this guideline is around the media you encourage over the Halloween season. Many forms of entertainment that are "Halloween themed" are very dark and celebrate evil powers. We need to make sure we do not allow these kinds of images into our homes as they are shameful for Christians to enjoy.

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  • trunk or treat

    2. Create Sweet Family Memories

    The traditions you engage in as a family should be positive and joyful and should bring your family unit together. Things like choosing a fun costume to wear to Truck-or-Treat, making hot chocolate together, or gathering with friends to share goodies are sweet ways to enjoy the season.

    As a kid, my family strictly avoided Halloween; each year, I felt I was missing out on something that looked so fun. If you choose not to Trick-or-Treat, then create your own fun transition that feels festive and joyful for your people. One of our friends takes their kids to Great Wolf Lodge every Halloween for an epic family getaway! I am confident their kids do not feel like they are missing out when people ask how they enjoyed October 31st.

    You don't have to plan a family trip to make special memories, but you should create a ritual that your family can delight in while the world around also enjoys the festivities. Choose your own candies to enjoy as a family, make a special meal, plan a fall gathering, enjoy a special family movie night. Just take the chance to enjoy the chilly air and Fall treats as a family.

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  • Child as a ghost trick or treating

    3. Educate Your Family on What Is Good and What Is Evil

    Halloween is a good time to discuss the clash between good and evil. Evil is on display all over our culture through dark decor, celebrations, costumes, and shows. The Bible teaches that this world is under the control of evil forces (1 John 5:19), so we should not be surprised when our culture openly elevates these strongholds. But as Christ followers, we are agents of light that push back on the darkness.

    When our traditions, lifestyles, and choices as families differ from the culture, we may feel a little uncomfortable, but it's a great opportunity to discuss what sets us apart from others in our homes and why. We aren't trying to be "fun killers," but we are living aware that there is a war between good and evil around us. Our actions either sow into God's good kingdom or multiply the chaos of evil that is rampant in our world. We need God's Spirit of wisdom to guide us in every choice we make so we remain following the narrow path toward Heaven.

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  • Family picnic in fall

    4. Marvel at God's Creation During the Fall Season

    Halloween occurs at the peak of fall, which is a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors and marvel at God's good creation as a family. Rather than making Halloween a holiday about goblins, ghosts, and ghouls, we can celebrate the changing leaves, scenic views, and lovely fall temperatures.

    It's our joy as believers to see God in all things through every season. We have the privilege of showing our children how to see God at work all over our world and celebrating his majesty whenever possible. Some fun ways to celebrate creation include enjoying some Fall family hikes, camping trips, enjoying the fall harvest of apples and more, and taking time to wonder together as our environment changes through September, October, and November.

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  • person holding halloween trick or treat pumpkin bucket on front porch

    5. Pray for Wisdom and Discernment

    Ultimately, each family has the privilege of choosing how they handle each holiday. There are pagan roots in many of the common holidays we celebrate but most times as Christ followers we make sure to emphasize how God can be found in these celebratory moments rather than focusing on the darker rituals around these dates.

    We need God's guiding Spirit to show us his ways and to teach us his paths (Psalm 25:4). Thankfully he is faithful to convict and correct us on this journey. Maybe one year you felt okay dressing up in a certain way and this year you hear the Spirit leading you towards a new tradition. We have to practice obedience to that nudging and guiding voice in our lives for all we do but thankfully God's grace is abundant. He loves us however we approach the holidays and desires for your family to find joy in the big moments that we celebrate together as well as the small ones, too.

    What are your family's plans for Halloween this year? Join the conversation on Crosswalk Forums!

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    Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.