As Halloween draws near, so also do the voices of many Pharisees, who are more than willing to excommunicate all the brethren who so much as purchase a pumpkin. "It's a pagan festival, you devil worshiping apostate!" But the Bible paints a very different picture of times and seasons. Specifically, it tells us we, as Christians, are to abstain from actual sin, regardless of season, but are quite free to sinlessly regard any time or season we see fit, if indeed we see fit to regard any at all.
The primary Scripture demonstrating this principle is Romans 14. This tells us, quite plainly, that we, as Christians, have absolutely no right to judge each other with regard to the observance of times or seasons. "Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 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...." (Romans 14:4-6a).
It is clear, then, that one's own mind is what dictates the morality of his personal practice. While there are some things we may never legitimise by simply being convinced in our own mind, there are other things we can. Where no Scripture explicitly tells us "this is sin", no sin is committed where no conscience is offended.
A similar concept is found in Colossians 2, where this same Apostle tells us "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." (Colossians 2:11-17).
From this, we see that Christ has won, and His victory is very public. Our actual sins, our lies, our fornication, our envy, our theft, even these (and more) have been nailed to the cross. But what of the other things? What of the food? The drink? The festivals? These, it seems, will actually be present in the Kingdom! They are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ! Thus, no one may judge us in them.
But perhaps there is some exception. After all, at least when it comes to Halloween, one can hardly deny the pagan, worldly aspects. How can a Christian justify participation? The Lord leaves us no room for illusion here: This, too, has been purified. Again, not the sinful elements. Your Ouija board is an actual tool of the devil, explicitly forbidden by several Scriptures. But one would think, of all things, food sacrificed to idols would be likewise forbidden to us. In reality, however, this is the teaching of Scripture:
"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." (1 Corinthians 10:23-33).
A key element we see here is that everything is the Lord's property. God did not sign away the deed to October 31st to Satan. It is His day. Just as the Earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, so also are the times, and the seasons. Why, then, would we assume there is something inherently evil about celebrating one of them? "Why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?", Paul asks.
Now of course, there is the flip side. Earlier in this epistle, Paul asserts "Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." (8:13). Sacrifices may be made for the sake of another. This might mean abstaining from pork to reach a Jew, or beef to reach a Hindu. Human beings are precious in the sight of the Lord, and not even our most cherished liberties are so precious as to justify the destruction of their souls.
But can there be balance? After all, as far as we know, Paul never did cease his carnivorous lifestyle. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make, but he doesn't appear to have done so. And Christ Himself, having temporarily laid aside His divine power and glory, still publicly enjoyed liberties that offended people in such a way that they believed they had an excuse for rejecting Him. "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).
Now, to echo Paul, if my drinking makes my brother stumble, I will never drink again, lest I make my brother stumble. But I think the key word there is "if". I don't think there is any burden upon a man to give up his liberties just because someone is offended. Otherwise, why would Christ, the sinless one, drink a drop more than John the Baptist? Well in this case, we have many Christians preaching "Halloween is evil!" But are they stumbling?
From experience, the overwhelming majority of anti-Halloween Christians seem more interested in conflict than conscience. I have heard the odd story about a Christian who was saved out of witchcraft, who then needed to avoid Halloween for sake of conscience. But far more often, it's a matter of Legalism. Either they enjoy judging their fellow Christians with a Holier than thou attitude, or they have been disturbed by someone else with this attitude. Thus, they are not likely to stumble if other Christians participate.
On the flip side, I am quite convinced in my own mind that my Halloween practices are pleasing to God. And while I am quite aggressively judged by Pharisees, I don't think I actually stumble anyone. By contrast, I actually witness to people! Every year, rather than me going out into the world with the Gospel, the devil himself brings potential converts right to my door. "Trick or treat!", they chant. So they get their trick...
But then comes the treat. Many ministries publish Gospel materials specifically for Halloween. In the above image, you see me in a booth I built, with my head attached to a puppet so I look like a shrunken pirate with a normal sized head. I'll never forget the pastor's daughter's reaction. "He's shrunk in the wash!", she laughed.
But that wasn't the highlight of my night. That came later. See, in that tub of candy, there were also little business cards for Creation Ministries International. Linking to their website, the cards ask various questions, encouraging readers to visit the site for answers. And a little boy picked one up. "Does God exist?", he read aloud. "Absolutely!", I replied in the world's worst pirate impression. "Can I take this?", he asked. And he was not alone. Many cards were taken that night. God alone knows what fruit that effort bore, but I sowed those seeds on Halloween. Tell me, where is my sin?
If there was eternal benefit, I would give up Halloween this year, and every year for the rest of my life. But I see more benefit to continuing as I am, and Scripture is firmly on my side in that regard. Who dares judge me, if Romans 14 means anything to them? Who should I allow to judge me, if I treasure Colossians 2 in my own heart? And if I may eat whatever food I find in the marketplace, regardless of who sacrifices what to which idol, then why should I care what sins other people commit on this night?
And my Christian brethren, all of that applies to you, too. If your conscience cannot handle Halloween, then may God bless you in your abstinence. But woe betide you if you should judge those who celebrate. And if, like me, you are fully convinced in your own mind, all glory be to God! Avoid sin, consider our weaker brethren, but let the Pharisees sulk while we have fun, enjoying the liberties Christ died to buy for us. Let us all, whether in abstinence or observance, love the Lord our God, love each other as ourselves, and put all fruitless bickering aside. All for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.