5 Ways Christians Can Celebrate Halloween

Halloween is one of those often debated subjects among Christians. I get it. Every year the conversations start and most people are heavily to one side, somewhere in between, or have never given it a second thought. I’m not here to stir up the debate on any side, but to challenge you to think about Halloween differently. In fact, if you challenge your thinking enough, you might even find ways Christians can celebrate Halloween!

Now, I’m not really saying you have to agree with everything that comes with the territory of Halloween. I know that in itself can bring up some debate. But despite why Halloween first came to be, what started the traditions, or the meaning that comes from hundreds of years ago – think about what is taking place now. It’s a night that your neighbors are out. It’s a night that you don’t have to seek people out, but they’re coming right to your door! So maybe before I tell you how you Christians can celebrate Halloween, let me start by telling you why.

Why Christians should celebrate Halloween:

Halloween is the number one night that your neighbors are sure to be out in your neighborhood. Your neighbors are getting out of their cozy homes and going door to door with their families. All those neighbors that never come out of their homes, this is the perfect time to meet them! You don’t even have to try hard. Your neighbors are outside and if you haven’t met them yet, now is your chance! As Christians this is huge. It’s not by handing out church invites, asking people if they know Jesus, or asking them about their spiritual life that makes a difference in our neighborhoods (although sometimes that may be good). It’s when we get out their and do life with our neighbors and show them how someone who loves Jesus, loves others!

There are so many of our neighbors that never come out of their home until Halloween night, and it’s one of our favorite nights to carry on conversations with them! It’s a great chance to go where our neighbors already are and do life with them!

So now that you know why you should celebrate Halloween, let me tell you how Christians can celebrate Halloween.

How Christians can celebrate Halloween:

Make it a neighborhood party. One of my favorite things about Halloween in our neighborhood is how so many of our neighbors get outside with their fire pits and make it a big gathering! Some houses will combine at one place with multiple buckets of candy, set up a fire pit, and hand out candy to kids. If your neighborhood doesn’t do this, start it! Ask your neighbors if they want to join you in putting your fire pits outside and handing out candy. Maybe this looks like the houses next to you, maybe it looks like your entire street, maybe it looks like asking your entire neighborhood. Whatever it is, give it a try!

Hand out candy. Please. The number one way to crush the mood on Halloween is to not hand out candy. I truly believe we speak a lot more about how we love Jesus when we are able to hand out candy to the little kids with a smile, rather than a paper that tells them about Salvation. It’s more than the stories that impact lives, it’s our love to others.

Go above and beyond. Halloween can get expensive! Have you ever bought Halloween candy? I totally get that it can add up. But if you can, go above and beyond. Think about the kids who have allergies and offer an alternative. Think about families with toddlers, and give out something toddler friendly. When you go the extra mile to cater to others, it’s a great way to show you care! I have even seen some homes have hot chocolate or water bottles – I might have to steal that idea myself!

Introduce yourself. If you see a neighbor out and about that you haven’t met, introduce yourself! Strike up a conversation with someone, ask questions! Get to know your neighbors!

If you feel lead, invite them to church…with candy! If you feel like inviting them to church is important to you, then invite them! We have been coming up with ideas for our church kiddos to invite kids to church on Halloween night with glow sticks and invite cards for kids that come to their house. We want to encourage them to share about their church, but also to still offer something fun. You’ll have a greater impact if you hand something out that they want with a small invite to church, rather than nothing at all!

Most importantly, remember that it’s your life that speaks the most volumes about who Jesus is. The more you get out there and love your neighbors and the less you hide away from them, the better! I can’t tell you how many relationships have started on Halloween night just by getting out in our neighborhood!