Shine a Light: A Biblical Perspective on Halloween
This Biblical perspective on Halloween will give you a new way to present the ideas of Halloween to kids in a way that inspires them and helps them grow their faith.
Halloween is a polarizing time for Christians. Some Christian families choose not to acknowledge the holiday at all. Others prefer to celebrate with a harvest festival or go trick-or-treating in neutral or fun costumes.
My family never celebrated Halloween when I was growing up, and we don’t celebrate with our children, either. For a long time, I thought I could just ignore it and pretend it wasn’t there.
But as my children have gotten older, they have a lot of questions. Stores are filled with costumes, and neighbors decorate their homes sometimes in creepy ways.
Rather than attacking others with different ideas about Halloween, the season is the perfect time for us to shine the light of Christ into a dark world.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:14-15, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
Let’s approach this traditionally dark day with a positive, faith-filled perspective that shares the love of Jesus with everyone we meet!
Understanding the Biblical Call to be a Light
We live in a dark world, and it feels like it’s getting darker by the day. It’s tempting to hide at home and try to protect our kids from knowing what’s going on.
But God didn’t call us to sit at home. He called us to light a candle and share His light with the world.
A couple of years ago, I took my boys to visit The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley, West Virginia. Part of the guided tour includes turning off all of the lights in the dark mine.
The tour guide then lights a very small flame on a lamp. Even such a tiny light makes a difference in the complete blackness.
It’s the same for Christians in a dark world. The darker it gets around us, the brighter eve the smallest light shines.
Halloween is scary, with witches, zombies, skeletons, and otherworldly creatures. It’s a time when people celebrate darkness and death.
This dark day gives us the perfect opportunity to spread the light of the Gospel to others. We can stand out with light and goodness, living out our faith in a visible way.
Approaching Biblical Halloween with Intention
Just like everything in parenting, we must approach Halloween with intention. If we don’t inform our kids, someone else will, and it may not be what we want.
Your kids will probably see things at Halloween that confuse and sometimes scare them. I still remember an early Halloween when I was so terrified by a costume that I ran and hid under my bed.
Before deciding how your family will or will not celebrate, it’s important to seek God’s guidance. If your family cherishes Christian values, make sure that whatever you decide to do will align with your beliefs.
Whether you choose to celebrate with trick-or-treating or something different, make sure you know why or why not. And that you can explain it to your kids.
Decide Which Events to Attend
October is full of fun, family-friendly events that celebrate all things fall, harvest, and Halloween. Sometimes, there is some crossover, and it’s helpful for moms to know what our kids may see.
Last year, a friend and I took our kids to a local pumpkin farm that also hosts a haunted house. While we rode a tractor around the corn maze, we saw decorations that had been stored there for the creepy celebration later.
Thankfully, my kids didn’t see it, and I directed their attention elsewhere.
When taking your kids to events around Halloween, make sure you know what kind of activities will be involved. It’s especially important if you have younger kids who might be traumatized by seeing scary things!
Set boundaries.
Depending on your kids’ ages and friends, there might be some peer pressure to attend a certain event. Talk about these activities and events beforehand.
Help your kids understand why they can or can’t attend some parties or trips. We never want our kids to feel left out. But protecting their minds and hearts is more important than giving them a few hours of fun.
All Halloween activities aren’t bad. And they aren’t all negative. But you must be informed and make the best decisions for your family.
Set your boundaries with purpose, and stick to them.
Teach About Faith and Kindness
No matter how you choose to celebrate or not celebrate Halloween as a Christian, someone else will have a different opinion. And that’s okay.
God doesn’t call us to be the Holy Spirit in anyone else’s life. If another family makes a different choice for themselves, that doesn’t make them wrong and you right.
Knowing the different viewpoints and perspectives on Halloween gives us the perfect opportunity to teach faith and kindness to our kids. Explain to them that there’s no right way or wrong way to approach the holiday.
Help them understand that we can be kind to others who have different opinions. It’s okay if someone has perspectives or ideas that don’t match ours.
Creative Ways to Shine a Light at Halloween
Having a Biblical Halloween sometimes means getting creative to celebrate! Here are some fun ideas to help you shine the light of Christ on this non-Christian holiday.
Hand Out Treats with a Message
Consider attaching a message to your treats. Make cards with John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.” Another idea is to attach the cards to glow sticks. Kids and parents alike love having those on trick-or-treat nights!
Share the Message of Light with Decorations
If you love decorating your yard or home for the holidays, skip the spooky stuff and share a light-filled theme. Carve happy pumpkins, or include hearts or crosses. Add some cozy to your home by including candles in your decor, and use fall Bible verses for inspiration.
Teach Children About the Power of Light
When we see all the darkness and evil that can surround this holiday, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. As Christian parents, we can use this an opportunity to share about the power of light in darkness.
Have a family devotion where you explain that Jesus came into the world to be the light in the darkness. Use John 1:5 as the basis for a powerful lesson. Incorporate fun, hands-on activities like lighting candles, using flashlights, or creating paper lanterns to symbolize the light of Christ.
Use Halloween as a Time for Family Fun
I love having the opportunity to make memories with my kids and spend time together. Whether you go trick-or-treating or stay home, use the evening for a time of family fun.
Enjoy a special meal together before you head out, or have your own little autumn party at home. Do something fun like pizza, or takeout.
Pray together as a family. Ask God for safety before you head out, and pray that God will help you to be a light.
Model kindness and generosity in everything you do on Halloween (and every day). Share the light of Christ in your attitudes and actions as you visit homes, or welcome kids onto your porch.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, Halloween is a wonderful opportunity to make lasting memories with your kids.
Overcome Fear and Darkness Through Faith
No matter how we try to keep our kids from seeing scary things, it sometimes happens. There are a lot of spooky and fearful elements involved in Halloween.
Even as an adult, I have seen things that caused me to be nervous or fearful. Sometimes kids only see something in passing, but it sticks with them.
When these moments happen, it’s good to have some Bible verses for kids. They don’t need long passages or whole chapters. Short verses like Psalm 56:3 are perfect for this situation.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
Help your kids focus on God’s love and protection in the face of fear. It’s also a great reminder for moms when we feel scared, too!
Related: Psalm 91: A Powerful Prayer for God’s Protection
Biblical Halloween: A Call for Parents
In our modern world, we can’t always protect our kids from seeing bad things. But we can use every opportunity to be lights for our children.
At Halloween, we can guide our children to understand that Jesus is the light of the world. He calls us to shine His light in the darkness.
It’s not enough to tell our kids to shine the light of Jesus, we need to model it in front of them.
No matter what you do this Halloween, be intentional about your choices, and remember that your kids will follow your example.
Embrace this holiday as an opportunity to share God’s love and goodness in a dark world.
More Halloween Fun
