Every October, as pumpkins adorn porch steps and fall leaves lay scattered across lawns, there is a great question that crosses the minds of many Christians about what to do with the holiday coming up at the end of the month. Maybe you too feel a little torn about what to do about Halloween. Perhaps you desire to honor God with your choices and lead with grace, not fear, but still wrestle with what that looks like specifically for your family. Our goal is not to convince you for or against participating in Halloween with your family. Our challenge for you is to use this as an opportunity to guide your kids towards a Biblical worldview. Whether your family chooses to participate in Halloween or not, you can still use this season to point your children to the gospel and create moments for them to share that hope with those who do not believe.

1. Know the origins: Halloween unfortunately has a complicated history. It is undeniable that parts of the origin of the holiday are rooted in Satanic traditions and other parts are simply cultural and spurred on by a desire for fun. As believers, we are called to walk in wisdom. Spend some time researching how this holiday originated.  Communicate what you learned with your children in a way that is age-appropriate. Our children need to be aware of the very real spiritual battle that is happening around them, but we should always bring it back to the truth that we do not have to fear darkness and evil because of Christ’s work on the cross.

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2. Pray and use discernment: While we do not have to walk in fear this holiday season, we should absolutely practice discernment, especially when approaching matters of good and evil. There are plenty of blatantly evil aspects of Halloween that we as believers absolutely should not participate in, but there may be some parts that you as a family feel like you can participate in with good conscience. Whatever you decide, make sure you have spent time in prayer beforehand. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you discernment as you choose how you will approach this holiday. Remember that it is ok to change your mind as God leads you and your family.

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3. Use it as an opportunity for discipleship: We can’t shelter our kids from every dark thing they will encounter. But we can use these opportunities as a chance to teach them what Scripture says about good and evil, truth and deception, light and darkness, and how to walk wisely through it all with confidence and peace in Christ. You don’t have to know all the answers and you don’t have to communicate everything perfectly. What matters most is that your children see your desire to honor God and follow His word and know you are a safe place for them to come to with their questions.

4. Invite people to a better way: Many Christians see Halloween as an opportunity to connect with neighbors or unbelieving friends. If your family is able to participate in trick or treating or other festivities without glorifying the evil aspect of this holiday, by all means, go and be a light in your neighborhood. There are many ways you can be intentional with this. For example, consider praying together before you go out trick-or-treating, asking God to help your family shine His love to those you come into contact with. You could also hand out candy with Bible verse cards or goodie bags with Christ centered toys or treats. However, if you are looking for an alternative way to connect with neighbors and other friends without participating in traditional Halloween festivities, consider creating a better option that you can invite people into. For example, host a backyard movie night. Pull out the air mattresses and projector. Rent a popcorn machine and exchange the bite sized Halloween candy bars for full size movie theater style. Or host a fall feast complete with a chili cookoff competition and seasonal desserts. Consider a game night or a “light night” at home with worship music, snacks, and prayer. Whatever you decide, this is undoubtedly a chance to engage in community with others and create meaningful moments with your family.