Each year around this time, RiverLife hosts a big costume party. In fact, it’s our second-highest attended event next to Easter. Why do we do it?

Some Christians see Halloween as a pagan holiday that glorifies evil and religions like Wicca or Satanism are celebrated. Some of you may have even heard a sermon or two preached against it.

While it’s true that Halloween has some roots in the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, it also originated with the Christian holiday of All Hallows’ Eve. This celebration was held on October 31, a day that honored the saints and martyrs of the Church.

Christian Responses to Halloween

Among Christians, there are three primary responses to Halloween: rejection, acceptance, or redemption. Here at RiverLife, we choose to thoughtfully redeem the holiday.

It’s an opportunity for families to spend time together and do crafts together, like making costumes and carving pumpkins. It’s also an excellent opportunity to talk and pray together about what aspects of Halloween you’re comfortable with and what you’re not.

Rather than seeing Halloween as “us vs. them,” make it an opportunity to love and engage with your neighbors.

Instead of turning off the lights and locking the door, be the house that gives out great candy, greet kids with a big smile, wave to the parents, and be an incarnation of Christ in your neighborhood.

There is plenty about Halloween that Christians should avoid, like its emphasis on death, evil, and gore. But there is also plenty to love about the holiday, like spending time together, loving your neighbors, and showing hospitality to strangers.

Of course, there is no pressure to participate in the holiday or in RiverLife’s costume party. This isn’t a cut-and-dry issue. Each of you can and should discern this holiday for yourself through prayer, reflection, and conversation.

Jesus said in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I am making all things new.” If that can include sinners like us, then it can undoubtedly include Halloween as well.