This time of year there’s a lot of debate about whether Halloween is a holiday of pagan origin.  Frankly, to a large extent, I don’t think it really matters.  There is evidence to suggest the history is probably mixed, but regardless of where it came from, I have significant concerns about what Halloween is.

In this time in history, in our culture, Halloween is a celebration of ideas that are diametrically opposed to God, holding up in honor things He has renounced, and heartily embracing that which He has overcome.  I was so struck by the starkness of the contrast that I put the following together.

(If you scroll to the bottom, you’ll find printable options.  The longer version resembles this post, and is intended for believers.  The shorter version can be printed on the front and back of a single page, and is a better choice if you want to use it as an evangelism tool.)

Halloween revels in darkness, but Jesus is the Light of the world (and calls us to be light, too).

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” –Jn. 8:12

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. –Jn. 12:46

The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. –Is. 9:2

The Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. –Lk. 1:78b-79

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. –Jn. 1:1-5

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. –Jn. 12:46

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. –2 Cor. 4:5-7

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. –1 Pe. 2:9

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. –1 Jn. 1:5

Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. –1 Jn. 2:8

[A]s Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” –Jn. 3:14-21

You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. –Matt. 5:14

Halloween rejoices in death, but Christ has overcome death.

‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. –1 Cor. 15:55-57

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. –Rev. 1:18

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. –Jn. 5:24

Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. –Jn. 8:51

Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. –Acts 2:23-25

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. –Matt. 4:16

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. –Rom. 5:17

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. –Rom. 6:3-4

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Rom. 6:23

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. –Rom. 8:2

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. –Rom. 8:6

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. –1 Cor. 15:21

…who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. –2 Tim. 1:9-10

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. –Heb. 2:14

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. –Rev. 2:11

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. –Rev. 21:4

Halloween exults in fear, but we have no need for fear with God on our side.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” –Rom. 8:15

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ –Is. 41:10

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. –Is. 43:1

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. –Matt. 10:28

Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. –Matt. 10:31

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. –2 Tim. 1:7

So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me? –Heb. 13:6

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. –1 Jn. 4:18

Halloween glorifies evil, but we are told to stay away from evil.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. –Rom. 12:21

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. –Prov. 3:7

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. –Prov. 8:13

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. –Prov. 16:17

Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. –Rom. 12:9b

Abstain from every form of evil. –1 Thes. 5:22

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. –3 Jn. 1:11

Halloween delights in ugliness, but the Lord is beautiful, and His people are encouraged to pursue beauty and meditate on that which is lovely.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. –Ps. 27:4

Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. – Ps. 29:2

Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. –Ps. 96:6

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. – Ph’p. 4:8

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! –Is. 5:20

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