"Fight the good fight of faith..." - 1 Tim. 6:12
Halloween is coming up on Tuesday, and as Christians, it is difficult for us to see people celebrating this day when they truly do not know the true history of it and what it commemorates. As Christians, we are not hopeless as we can fight Halloween and all it represents by using our faith.
It has been reported that after Christmas, Halloween is the biggest holiday for retailers. From early September, everything from lawn & house decorations, to costumes, to makeup and music are advertised openly in stores and online at many websites. Of course, the designs are centered on evil and scary images. How can Christians respond? Here are some suggestions:
1. Put Bible verses and phrases everywhere. On lawn posts, indoor and outdoor signs, candy, even carved into pumpkins, include Bible verses. The verses should be positive in nature and short. A verse such as 1 Peter 3:11 that says, “They must turn from evil and do good” is perfect as it is to the point.
You do not have to limit yourself to Bible verses, as Bible phrases are excellent and can be just as effective. For example, you can decorate a makeshift tombstone in your yard with the phrase “He is Risen”. A tombstone is very much in the theme of the day, but the message is about the resurrection of Christ rather than an evil purpose.
2. Decorate wreathes with Christian symbols. Wreaths are popular decorations for homes. However, instead of filling your wreath with black cats and bats, fill it with crosses, doves, and olive branches. All of these are symbols of Christianity that promote the message of Christ.
3. Greet trick or treaters with Bible verses. When children come to your door to trick-or-treat, plan on giving them something unique. One recommendation is candy wrapped with a short Bible verse. Again, there are many short verses that are effective:
Psalms 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Mark 10:14 “Let the children come to me.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.”
You can also look up more inspirational verses online and select the ones that you and children would like to share.
It is important that your children do not answer the door alone. You should be there to greet everyone and your children can assist you with passing out candy and verses.
By using our faith to fight Halloween, you and your children will have a lot of fun carving the pumpkins and making the decorations, all centered on the Word of God. Importantly, they will not be missing out on the fun and will learn unique ways to spread the love of God.