4 Ways to Find Balance Between Cultural Engagement and Christianity This Halloween

  • Becky Weber Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
  • Published Oct 15, 2024
4 Ways to Find Balance Between Cultural Engagement and Christianity This Halloween

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. The leaves on the trees change color, the temperatures cool down, and of course I love that I can start to pull out all of my warmer clothing and give my wardrobe a refresh.

The main reason I am of fond fall is because my birthday is on October 31. I’ve always liked that my birthday is on Halloween. I grew up celebrating my birthday and trick or treating all on the same day, I thought that was extra special. I should probably mention my dad was a pastor, and growing up with Christian values I never felt like we crossed any lines when it came to celebrating Halloween. It felt like it was a good balance between participating and not getting involved in any of the things that might go against what we believe. I’m grateful that my parents took this approach.

It can be hard to know what to do in a situation when we want to engage with culture, but at the same time, keep our Christian values in mind. Halloween is one of those things that brings up several different viewpoints. There are some who stay completely away from the day, those who celebrate what they think is appropriate, and those who go all out. We can agree to disagree, but is there a way we can engage with culture in order to be a light to others, yet not go too far? I believe we can. 

Here are four ways to find a balance between cultural engagement and Christian values this Halloween:

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/kali9

  • halloween trick or treat handing out candy fall autumn neighbor

    1. Use Trick-or-Treating as a Way to Engage and Minister to People in Your Neighborhood

    This is such a simple way to engage with others. Families will be going door to door for a couple of hours in the evening, and we have the opportunity to treat each person with dignity and kindness. Strike up a quick conversation with each adult that comes to your door. Compliment the kids on their costumes or ask them what their favorite kind of candy is. We can make a person feel special just by treating them like a human being.

    If you are able to, buy full size candy and hand that out. It is the perfect opportunity to be generous. Don’t go overboard and hand out Jesus tracks, but be known because of your friendliness and for having the best candy. We often think it has to be complicated to minister to others, it doesn’t. It shows the love of Jesus to others when we make them feel seen. 

    Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/gpointstudio 

  • mom and dad holding little kids hands trick or treating on halloween

    2. Wear Costumes That You Feel Are Appropriate

    There is something that can be so much fun about putting on a costume and pretending you are someone or something else for an evening. Be creative and go all out on your costume if you want to. I appreciate the people who take the time to really think about what they are going to be, something that usually no one else might think of, and make it a reality. Costumes can be appropriate and something that you feel comfortable with. You can have limits and enjoy it at the same time. This is a great way to balance celebrating Halloween, but at the same time not feeling like you are pushing your limits. 

    Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Sara Monika 

  • Girl dressed up as angel Halloween costume trick or treating

    3. Take the Initiative to Plan a Trunk-or-Treat Event, and Invite People in Your Community

    If you have the ability to, plan something that you can invite the community to attend. Hosting a trunk-or-treat is a great way to engage with people and have a family-friendly event that others feel is appropriate. You can get as creative as you want to with an event like this, that is the fun part. I have loved when I have taken my kids to something like this and people have gone all out. I am amazed by the themes that people can come up with. It is also such a great alternative for people who want to celebrate Halloween but might not feel comfortable with all that Halloween represents. On the flip side, people who are okay with Halloween can also feel comfortable at an event like this because they aren’t being shamed for the choices that they make.

    Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Lisa5201 

  • family trick or treating in neighborhood on halloween

    4. Keep Your Focus on Community Engagement and the Fun, Family-Friendly Things You Can Do to Celebrate

    What we focus on can be the most important thing. If we know what we are comfortable with and what boundaries we want to keep, we can then focus on how we can engage with others. We can get so caught up in the things that we are against that we sometimes isolate ourselves from society. It does take balance, but the focus should not always be on what we are against. The focus should be on how we can love others as Jesus does. We should be known more for our love. That does not mean that you agree with everything that society does. Instead, we can find ways to meet people where they are and intentionally be where they are. When others see that we are different and hopefully see Jesus in us, they may start to ask why we are the way we are. That is when we can share about our faith and who we live for. If you know what your standards are, go ahead and participate in what you feel comfortable with. While having fun, use it to be a positive influence on others. Even if there are those who disagree with you, you can still love them if you don’t agree on something. Each person will have different convictions. 

    I don’t want to downplay the fact that darkness and evil do exist. It is good to be aware of it, but it doesn’t have to be what we celebrate. If you have kids, you can have an honest conversation with them about the fact that it is real and explain to them why you do things the way you do. It is good for them to have an understanding of what is important, but we can also model what it looks like to engage with culture and follow Jesus at the same time. 

    Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/FamVeld 

  • Family walking outside among the Autumn leaves

    Different Approaches to Halloween

    In the end, not all of us will agree that this is the right way to approach Halloween, and that is okay. Not everyone is the same, and again, we each will have different convictions. It is important that we understand that about each other and when we interact. Division can happen when we let an issue become bigger than it actually is, and it can drive us apart. I hope each one of us can respect how another feels and realize that the important thing is how we show the world the love of Jesus. That is what really matters. A day like Halloween can be used as an opportunity to engage with people who might not know the Lord. Yes, it includes dressing up and candy, but it is possible to have fun with it and for it to have a purpose. I hope we all can respect each other, learn to be civilized when it comes to issues like this, and remember what is most important.

    Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages 

    headshot of author Becky WeberBecky Weber is a wife, and mom to 4 kids. She loves to write and speak. She is a pastor’s wife in Sioux Falls, SD where her husband Adam is the lead pastor of Embrace Church. Her passion is to encourage others (especially women) to learn how to walk with Jesus on a daily basis. You can find more writing over at www.becweber.com and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.