Bless this Halloween

Let’s think about Halloween. “Halloween” means “a hallowed evening.” “Hallowed” means “Something to be considered and treated as holy.” Thus, “Halloween” refers to the evening before All Saints Day, which traditionally for centuries meant a day to celebrate that we are surrounded by a company of witnesses in Heaven. This comes from Hebrews 12:1: Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Because of the reference to … lay aside every… sin …, All Saints Day became, and still is, a call for purification of heart and life. Consequently, it became a day in which God’s people confessed their sins and rededicated themselves before the Lord. It was, and still is, a day of great victory for the Lord.

Somehow, over the centuries, the concept grew that the evening before All Saints Day was a night in which demonic hordes could hold one last gasp of celebration before their inevitable defeat on All Saints Day! Thus, the habit of wearing devil’s costumes and making cartoon references to witches and demons and other evils developed. But, let us remember that what is actually celebrated on All Saints Day is the purification of God’s people, the victory of lives redeemed and rededicated to the Lord Jesus. The demonic celebrations of Halloween were, and still are, a macabre dance of defeat! Let’s celebrate this Halloween, and All Saints Day, but for the right reasons, that our Lord Jesus Christ is still the Victor and always will be.

Postscript… All over our cities, churches have posted signs calling for their people, and all others, to join in Fall festivities. Let’s celebrate what is good and honorable — and give defeated evil things no glory. Have a blessed and happy Halloween this year, and every year.

John Loren Sanford is co-founder of Elijah House Ministries in Hayden.