From the major to the minor, there is no shortage of controversy within the Church. One of the minor disputes, which is far too often turned into a major dispute, is how, exactly, should Christians respond to Halloween? Is it safe to ignore it? Do we have to abstain from it? Can we celebrate it? The answer seems obvious, but the problem is we all think our answer is the obvious one. What, then, are we to do? Well, just as with all issues, we should turn to Scripture.
We all use Scripture
And this is precisely what many Christians, believing the Godly answer to be "no, we absolutely cannot celebrate Halloween", will do. And rightfully so, for it is the word of God, profitable for instruction in all righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). What Scripture says, we, as Christians, have no option but to believe. Therefore, if Scripture condemns Halloween, we, as Christians, must condemn it also.
In the same way, those who have no qualms celebrating Halloween (myself included) will turn to Scripture to justify our beliefs. This results in the usual "Chess game" of citing and reinterpreting each other's Scriptures. "You brought up this verse, but I think you're reading it wrong for this reason or that. Here are some verses I think prove my view instead".
But I believe the main source of dispute isn't the misinterpretation of Scripture, but rather, the misinterpretation of Halloween. What do I mean by that? Well, here's a question for you: What exactly is Halloween? You may come up with a number of answers. "It's a celebration in October". Well, what if my birthday is in October? Statistically, any sufficiently large congregation may have at least one member who was born in October, maybe even on October 31st.
The simple fact is, there is no clear definition of Halloween. It isn't a concrete thing. Rather, it is a time. A season. A festival, and one so open to interpretation, not even the most "Halloweeney" traditions are essential to the holiday. Trick or treating is not essential. Pumpkins are not essential. Witchcraft is not essential. There is not one thing, not even the very name "Halloween", that is essential to a celebration taking place on or around October 31st. You can even celebrate, as many Christians do, "Reformation Day"!
It's worth noting that not even the origins of Halloween seem concrete. Over the years, I have both seen, and participated in, many discussions on the topic. It seems no one can agree on where, exactly, Halloween came from. Did it start as a Christian holiday that the world managed to steal? Did it start as a pagan holiday that Christians took over (before the world eventually took it back)? Is it a little of both? Perhaps the Halloween we know today is a mixture of a number of different festivals that just merged into one giant Frankenstein (if you'll excuse the pun). No one seems to agree, and try though I may, I can't find a solid origins story for it either.
With neither a concrete history, nor a set of essential traditions, Halloween is a majorly ambiguous thing. And this, as we will see shortly, is going to be the main source of dispute. There are two main kinds of Scriptures used to condemn Halloween:
1. Specific Scriptures condemning an "optional" element of Halloween
2. "Ambiguous" Scriptures that oppose sin generally.
The former cannot logically oppose Halloween, because if Halloween does not involve these sins, how can the opposition to these sins condemn Halloween? If, for example, I do not include witchcraft in my Halloween celebrations, how can a verse which opposes witchcraft be used to condemn me for celebrating Halloween?
The latter also cannot be logically used to oppose Halloween, because to use a general condemnation of sin to oppose Halloween, one must assume Halloween is a sin to begin with. This is the fallacy of circular reasoning, and it can actually be used against anything. "You're sinning by going to church on a Sunday because the Bible says the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God".
Ultimately, because Halloween is not a clear thing, nor did it even exist in the times, nor places, Scripture was written, Halloween is never directly referenced in Scripture. Therefore, there are no Scriptures that say "you can celebrate" or "you cannot celebrate". However, I am going to contend that there are indirect Scriptures that strongly support my view. I believe, and am firmly convinced by Scripture, that those who do not want to celebrate do not have to, but those who do want to require only two things: To be fully convinced in their own mind, and to avoid indisputably sinful elements.
This issue need not divide us
Now that we have established that there is no clear definition of Halloween, it is wise look at some of the most commonly cited verses against it. As stated above, there are two main kinds: Condemnations of specific sins that are not necessary for Halloween, and general condemnations of sin, which are inadmissible due to requiring the assumption that Halloween is sinful. But before we do that, I feel it is vital to point out the importance of unity, even in diversity. No one goes to Hell for having a wrong opinion on this issue. Neither does anyone need to be excommunicated. In fact, I'm going to extend this particular olive branch: Even being firmly convinced that my position is correct, I can see why many Christians might disagree with me. And, so long as they themselves do not divide the body on the basis of this disagreement, I have neither desire, nor obligation, to change their mind. With that firmly established, let's look at the most commonly cited anti-Halloween Scriptures.
Anti-Halloween Scriptures
Galatians 5:24
"And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
Note the absence of any specifics here. It does not mention October 31st. It does not condemn any kind of festival or celebration at any time. It doesn't anathematise any kind of tradition associated with any holiday. Neither in the verse, nor in the entirety of the book of Galatians, is Halloween mentioned, nor is it in view.
In fact, if we back up to verse 19 and read from there, Paul does mention specifics. "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (v19-23, emphasis added).
Opponents of Halloween may note here that it does mention things which are commonly associated with Halloween. An obvious example would be sorcery. Isn't sorcery a huge part of Halloween? But remember what we established before: Not necessarily. Halloween means many things to many people. Yes, witches may be involved. But I submit that any thinking Christian who celebrates Halloween also has the wisdom to separate witchcraft from it. This is a key point that must always be present in our minds. There is a difference between celebrating Halloween and participating in various "Halloweeney" traditions, just as one may gladly read Luke's account of Christ's birth without paying any attention to Santa Claus. Thus, if you want to use Galatians 5:24 to speak against witchcraft, you're in good company. Extending this to "therefore, Christians must abstain from Halloween entirely", however, is a leap I'm not willing to take.
1 John 2:15-17
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."
Once again, note the absence of any mention of Halloween or its associated traditions. As previously established, it can be used against some traditions found within Halloween. But if we try to paint a thin line with this broad brush, we will make a mess of ourselves. A vital distinction must be made between sin, which is explicitly condemned in Scripture, and everything else, which is not.
To illustrate this, let us draw a distinction between sex within marriage and sex without. Sex without marriage is fornication, which would fall within the worldly category. But can a man not love his wife, or a woman her husband? Are we to embrace radical Asceticism, using sex as nothing but a process by which to produce children, or can we say, with Paul, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4)? Fornication is a lust of the flesh, but the enjoyment of the marital bed is not. In much the same way, enjoyment of Halloween, without genuinely and provably sinful elements, is not intrinsically worldly.
James 4:4
"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Similar to the above, this verse says nothing specific enough to condemn Halloween. If Halloween can be proven to be inherently worldly, James 4:4 works perfectly as a condemnation thereof. However, the previous verses we have examined make it quite clear what "friendship with the world" actually means. It means a compromise with heresies, murder, envy, sexual immorality etc. Most notably, some works of the flesh are "contentions" and "dissensions". Now, as I have done above, it must be noted that many opponents of Halloween are sincere, conscientious objectors, who are even quite capable of discussing this issue charitably, and with love for those who disagree. However, a large portion of them are passionate, aggressive, and divisive (and probably not even wise enough to have read this article this far before calling me some very unkind names for having written it). Thus, ironically, this verse may as easily be used as a condemnation of those who use it to condemn Halloween. You are far more worldly if you divide the body over trivial things than I am if I carve a cross into a pumpkin.
Colossians 2:8
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ."
Perhaps the greatest irony of this verse is that it was sent to me by a (gracious and conscientious) objector to Halloween not 24 hours after I published an article entitled "Halloween and the freedom of conscience". In that article, I cited Colossians 2:11-17: "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ."
This is an example of clear vs. unclear. Colossians 2:8 is not as clear as opponents of Halloween would like it to be. If we assume the celebration of Halloween is philosophy and deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ, then we may absolutely condemn Halloween. However, when we expand the reading to verse 17, we see that this is an unjustified assumption. It states far more clearly that no one may judge us in food or drink, or regarding... a festival.
Now of course, we could say "well that's still not clear", because there is a wide gap between the ambiguous word "festival" and the specific festival of Halloween. However, there are no clarifying remarks regarding which festivals are, and are not covered. Thus, since Halloween is a festival, it is covered by this verse. Thus, rather than being an empty and deceitful tradition of man according to the flesh and not Christ, Halloween is actually a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. The clarity of verse 17, as opposed to the relative ambiguity of verse 8, means Colossians 2 makes a stronger case for, rather than against, the liberty to celebrate Halloween.
Romans 12:2
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
At this point, it seems redundant to repeat what has been addressed above. The only real addition here is "that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God", which again is not specific enough for us to say that the celebration of Halloween is not within that will. Later in this article, I plan to address where Scripture strongly suggests it is.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
"Abstain from every form of evil."
This is by far the most commonly cited verse in this discussion. To complicate matters, it actually varies between translations. The KJV says abstain from every appearance of evil. The NKJV says from every form of evil. The HCSB says from every kind of evil. The NIV is particularly interesting. It says reject every kind of evil.
The question about what the verse actually says makes it really rather difficult to understand what it actually means. Now, to give a point to opponents of Halloween, the Greek word "eidos" (εἶδος) genuinely does seem to mean appearance. Every other verse in which it appears bears this out. In Luke 3:22, for example, the Holy Spirit appears in the "eidos" of a dove. So, maybe we should abstain from the "eidos" of, for example, the devil?
To me, even before I became a Christian, this just seemed obvious. Why would I want to dress up as the devil and bang on my neighbor's door demanding candy? It seems contrary to all logic and reason to enjoy portraying, in a positive light, something so clearly evil that it is the personification thereof.
But things get more complicated when literally anything can give the appearance of evil. Consider the following joke: "Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed monitor of the church’s morals, kept sticking her nose into other people’s business. Several members did not approve of her extra-curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake however when she accused new member George of being an alcoholic after she saw his old truck parked in front of the town’s only bar one afternoon.
She emphatically told George, and several others, that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn’t explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his truck in front of Mildred’s house, and left it there all night."
I was recently reminded of a similar scenario in Scripture. Not regarding a church gossip, but rather, the widow visited by Elijah in 1 Kings 17. An outside observer may find this suspicious. A poor widow, a Gentile no less, so poor that she is preparing a "last meal" for herself and her son, suddenly has a man stay with her, and is "miraculously" nourished. With Elijah's truck parked in front of the widow's house, so to speak, a gossip may suspect she is engaging in "the world's oldest profession". Of course, we know this would be a ridiculous accusation. There was absolutely no prostitution involved here. But in our world, the cohabitation of a single male, and a single female, is regarded as suspicious.
Perhaps more amazing is the most famous "winebibber" in all of Scripture: None other than Christ Himself! "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”" (Matthew 11:18-19). This man ate with a prostitute, a tax collector, and various other sinners. Several times, He and His disciples were collared for the "appearance of evil", because they didn't fast, and they picked food on the Sabbath, yet none of these accusations stuck. How could they? Our Good Shepherd, though being tempted in all ways as we are, did not sin! He ate with a prostitute, He did not sleep with her. He visited a tax collector, He did not steal a penny. He drank, He did not get drunk. He healed on the Sabbath, He never once violated it. He gave the "appearance" of evil without ever actually committing it.
It's interesting to note that even going to church on a Sunday can give the appearance of evil. To begin with, consider the very word "Sunday". Do you know why it has that name? It's not because it is usually marked by fantastic weather (especially here in England). Rather, it is because pre-Christian Anglo-Saxons dedicated this particular day to the worship of the sun. Yet, even with no Biblical command or precedent, we tend to dedicate it to the worship of the Son. We don't even re-name it Sonday, we just keep it as Sunday, and off we go to church.
As do many heretics.
It is a tragic fact that Satan works hard to destroy the image bearers of God. That includes setting up false churches, and getting his foot in the door of real ones. Heretics outnumber us a hundred to one, and yet every Sunday, we do the same thing they do. Perhaps we even have the same kind of building. Personally, I don't. My congregation rents a space from a local primary school. But what if yours happens to meet in a Gothic building with a steeple and stained glass? Perhaps it was even built by the same people who used to spill Christian blood by the gallon.
Clearly, therefore, the appearance of evil thing can be taken too far. It can be used correctly to condemn the willful portrayal of demons, but there must be a limit to it, or we are ultimately forced to cease practicing our faith for fear of appearing to contradict it. But if we can go to church on Sunday in spite of its association with paganism and heresy, why can we not celebrate on October 31st in spite of the same?
And again, keeping in mind we do not have to take every Halloween tradition, why can't we enjoy clean versions of the same? It's all well and good saying "abstain from all appearance of evil", but not every costume is evil. For example, in 2024, I dressed as a spider while I gave out Gospel tracts in party bags filled with candy. Tell me, who made spiders? Who made geckos, which I dressed as in previous years? Or frogs, as people thought I was dressed as? Scripture says every creature of God is good (Genesis 1:31, 1 Timothy 4:4), and that nothing is unclean of itself (Romans 14:14). Therefore, to accuse people of "taking on the appearance of evil" for dressing in one of the millions of possible clean costumes is nothing short of slander.
It's worth noting, on top of this, that some of the most Satanic people on this planet are as opposed to Halloween costumes as the average Pharisee. Not for dressing as a spider, or even something like a ghost, but for dressing as anything they deem inappropriate. Which, as it turns out, can be literally anything. In other words, Satan himself is often a bigger hindrance to Halloween celebrations. Can Satan drive out Satan?
Ephesians 5:11
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
This is yet another verse which can only apply to Halloween if you assume it applies to Halloween from the beginning. Once again, further reading refutes this, as just one verse later, Paul says "For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret." Dressing your 8 year old up as a cowboy and going on a (very public) quest to fill a bucket with candy hardly applies here.
But how do we know what does apply? Simple: By searching the Scriptures. Paul, in particular, regularly gives lists of these things. We've already seen his list in Galatians 5:19-23. He has another such list in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and yet another in 1 Timothy 1:8-11. The things mentioned in these lists are undoubtedly the unfruitful works of darkness to which he refers in Ephesians 5, especially as many of them (especially in his culture) would have been done "in secret".
Noticeably absent from any of these lists is the celebration of Halloween. Once again, there are things associated with Halloween, like witchcraft, which do feature. But what if witchcraft is not on the list of things a Christian celebrates on Halloween? If the Bible says "you shall not practice witchcraft", but a Christian is not practicing witchcraft, then how can such a verse be used to judge such Christians? It would be like accusing you of trespassing in your own house because you didn't knock first.
1 Corinthians 13:11
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
This is actually an excellent opportunity to give a lesson about context. See, this verse tells us not to be like children, which of course the Halloween advocates would use to say adults shouldn't participate. Interestingly, this argument would leave it open for children, which of course is not a realistic argument if we wish to argue the celebration is demonic. But ultimately, in Matthew 18:3, Jesus says "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." So, we have one verse saying to become like children, and one verse saying not to. The solution? Context.
In context, Matthew 18:3 tells us to become like children by relying on God for our protection and provision, as a child trusts their parents. By contrast, in 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul is telling us to be mature in understanding. Notice, neither verse can really apply to Halloween.
Pro-Liberty verses
As previously established, there are no clear teachings on Halloween in Scripture. However, as shown above with Colossians 2, Scripture is more explicitly supportive of liberty than obstructive to Halloween. Thus, we who are on the side of liberty have a wider range of Scriptures in our support. In fact, whereas opponents of Halloween tend to focus on few verses, I'm going to look at entire passages and show how they can be applied to this topic. Remembering that we have established Halloween as a time, season, and festival, let's first look at how Scripture views such things.
The first, and most obvious passage I'm going to look at is Romans 14. Romans 14 is easily the most Libertarian chapter in all of Scripture. In 23 verses, it eloquently explains the importance of unity within the Church, in spite of our individual differences, while being sure to tell us that there will be differences. Most notably, it tells us that these differences usually depend on the strength of our faith.
Consider the following extract: "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it...." (v5-6a).
Now, October 31st is a day, is it not? More than that, is it not a day that the Lord has made for us to rejoice and be glad in (Psalm 118:24)? Notice, Romans 14 does not leave open the option to esteem a day as particularly evil. Rather, every day belongs to God. Not one day, not one hour, not a single second, belongs to the devil or his angels. This includes October 31st. Thus, there is a problem if we regard it as an especially evil time. Consider the implications! "The world has decided to celebrate evil on October 31st, therefore Christians should avoid celebration on this day it at all costs". Is this not poor stewardship? We, who have been given dominion over God's creation, hand an entire day - the very first thing God created (Genesis 1:3-5) - to the devil, purely because his servants demand we do so?
But Scripture says no, one person esteems every day alike, but another esteems one day over another. There are no asterisks here. It doesn't say which days we may esteem above others. Nor does it leave us with days we must specifically cede to the devil. It's entirely open ended, with the sole criteria being one's own conscience. If you want nothing to do with Halloween, that is your absolute right in Christ. And this is why I have no desire to change the mind of a brother who, being "weak in faith" (v1), believes Halloween is unconscionable. It is not my right, nor is it my responsibility, to judge them for it, nor make that choice for them. But what if I see some significance in Halloween?
And indeed, what if I see an opportunity? Consider the words in Ephesians 5:15-16: "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Wait! Isn't that contrary to what I said above? Try not to misunderstand: The days are evil. But not because they are days. In fact, Ephesians 5 does not have any days in particular in view. It speaks of all time: Every minute since the day that ancient serpent uttered the words "did God really say...". We do live in a fallen world, and as such, the creation of which God said "...indeed it was very good..." (Genesis 1:31) is utterly stained with sin. The whole creation groans, says Paul (Romans 8:22). Thus, there is a major difference between "the days are evil" and "a day, especially this particular day, is evil in and of itself". Indeed, Paul tells us "I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself..." (Romans 14:14a, emphasis added).
But note, Paul also tells us to redeem the time, because the days are evil. This, he calls wisdom. Now, if our days are so evil that the world literally dedicates a whole day to celebrating evil, how might we redeem such a time? I will say, firstly, I don't think Christians should take any excuse to take a day off. The Great Commission is a very important work of God, which we should take very seriously. Therefore, if you can preach the Gospel, you should, even on October 31st.
This, of course, does not require participation in Halloween. But it seems wise to exploit the particulars. On this one day, we do not have to go out into the world to share the Gospel. The devil himself brings the world to us! *Knock knock* "Trick or treat!"
So personally, I give them their trick. For many years now, I have sat outside my house, and in one way or another, have pranked the trick or treaters. I have thrown on a costume and remained completely still, appearing to be a lifeless prop. A sign sits on me, "Gone trick or treating, please take only one".
"Take two, they won't know", said one sneaky child. "I'll know...", I whispered, as I came to life, causing her and her friends to rethink their covetous plans to rob us. There is perhaps an analogy in here about how even when man is not watching, even when we think we may get away with sin, God is not aloof; He always watches, always records, and will always ensure our deeds are accounted for.
I play many other pranks, the specifics of which are usually discussed several streets away. I've been a severed head inside a box of treats. I've been a priestly mannequin, "Bible" in hand. I've worn a ghillie suit and erupted from the bushes. Every year, people come to my house just to see what sort of mischief I'll get up to next.
Then comes the treat, and I don't just mean candy. Many ministries around the world produce tracts and other Gospel materials, more than suitable to be passed out with the sweets. And it yields fruit!
To be sure, there is difficulty in figuring out how to give out the material. My pastor's family have a good strategy. When the kids come knocking, they say "Jesus is the light of the world, so here, have a glowstick". Simple. Efficient. Wise.
In similar fashion, my candy displays typically contain, or are in close proximity to, Gospel materials. In 2023, I didn't manage to obtain any tracts, but I did have a large supply of CMI business cards. These cards direct people to the CMI website, where they will find a wealth of Christian material. The cards themselves have bullet-pointed questions, such as "Does God exist?" on them. I was thrilled when one particular boy read it aloud. "Does God exist?", he read, to which I replied, in full pirate character, "absolutely". To my delight, he actually asked if he could take the card! Now, what does that tell you? It suggests he's interested in whether or not there is a God. And he was holding the key to a giant library of materials that will tell him yes, there is.
Where is the sin here? I have "fished" for men, reeling them in with harmless pranks, and I have distributed the Gospel, encouraging them to feast on the bread of life. I contend this is a fantastic way to redeem this evil time!
But perhaps some might disagree. Seeing the day as somehow belonging to the devil, perhaps there is no way to redeem October 31st. You can abstain from all witchcraft. You can call it Reformation Day. You can hand out Gospel materials. But all of this, in their mind, is marred by the simple fact the world considers this a celebration of evil. A simple question, lifted straight from the pages of Scripture: "Why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?" (1 Corinthians 10:29).
Much like Romans 14, the context of the latter end of 1 Corinthians 10 is liberty. But whereas Romans 14 tells us that we are not to judge each other, 1 Corinthians 10:29 tells us that we are not to accept such judgments from each other either. Keep in mind, this is within the context of food sacrificed to idols. From verse 23-33, we read
"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."
This whole issue of liberty, then, is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it is profitable to maybe give up our liberties for sake of other peoples' conscience. As Paul says a little earlier, "Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." (1 Corinthians 8:13). But the only way to give up a liberty is if we have it in the first place. Thus, Paul says, you can eat whatever you find in a marketplace. It may well be that those beef patties were once a cow, slaughtered on an alter to some pagan deity. But God made the cow, and gives you full permission to eat it. It is only when it offends someone else's conscience that it becomes wise to abstain.
Well as we've already established, every day is the Lord's, and no day is unclean in and of itself. Thus, you don't ever need to ask the question "can I celebrate on this day?" Now it may be that for sake of another's conscience, you may wish to abstain. But why should their conscience judge your liberty?
Stronger still are Paul's words in Colossians 2. As we already looked at earlier, Paul tells us "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." (v16-23, emphasis added).
Now, are all opponents of Halloween showing false humility? Certainly not. One must distinguish between a weaker brother, with genuine conscientious objections to a thing, and an outright Pharisee who just wants to look wise and righteous. I am pleased to say that while many Christians have suggested I'm heading to Hell with the devil I supposedly worship, I have also had many pleasant discussions with those who cannot mentally separate Halloween from paganism.
Nevertheless, Colossians 2 still seems dead set against the former category, and firmly in the Libertarian camp. Halloween is a festival, Colossians 2 says let no one judge you regarding festivals, the substance of which is Christ. Colossians advises against subjecting ourselves to regulations of abstinence according to the commandments and doctrines of men, abstaining from Halloween is a commandment and doctrine of men, found nowhere in Scripture. Abstaining from Halloween seems wise, especially if you define it as a celebration of evil, but it is merely self-imposed religion, and is of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Now of course, if I'm going to be a Libertarian, I must stop far short of saying it is better to celebrate Halloween than to abstain. After all, hearkening back to Romans 14:14, "I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean." Do you consider Halloween unclean? Then let this entire case fall out of your mind. For His own reasons, the Lord has laid this opinion on your heart, and I will not be responsible for your stumbling. Halloween, for you, is unclean.
But when we take all of the Scriptures cited above together, and in their proper context, a man such as myself is free. I am fully convinced in my own mind that I am not sinning, and indeed am doing good, by celebrating Halloween/Reformation Day, and thus, to me, and others like me, it is not unclean.
Conclusion
With all of the above, hopefully we all see that the answer to the question "how should Christians respond to Halloween" is not as obvious as any of us initially believed. Those who believe it is "obviously" evil are wrong. Those who believe it is "obviously" good are wrong. And given that I just wrote a 20 minute article, evidently the Libertarian view is anything but obvious.
While I believe I have comprehensively demonstrated the Libertarian view in this article, one thing that I hope is still obvious at the end of it is that unity is more important than liberty. Whether you esteem October 31st as a special day, or esteem all days alike, it is the precious blood of Christ that binds us tightly in love. And this is why the two greatest commandments are "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind", and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:36-40). Therefore, however we view Halloween, let us take the same view of our Lord, our Savior, our brother, Jesus Christ.