Should Christians Celebrate Death and Darkness?
Every year as Halloween approaches, Christians wrestle with how to respond. But maybe the most important question is not whether Christians should celebrate Halloween. The more important question is this: should Christians celebrate death and darkness at all?
What Does Halloween Actually Celebrate?
Americans are expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, with 74% of Americans planning to participate in the holiday. That is a staggering number of people celebrating what is, at its core, a celebration of death and darkness.
It should not surprise anyone that Halloween is the most significant day of the year for both the Church of Satan and the Satanic Temple. Skeletons, tombstones, ghosts, and goblins are not symbols of life. They are symbols of death, and dressing them up as fun does not change what they represent.
What Does the Bible Say About Light and Darkness?
Scripture is clear about the nature of Jesus Christ and His relationship to light and life. John chapter one opens with these words:
"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." - John 1:4-5
Jesus Christ is life. He is light. That is not a metaphor to be taken lightly. It is the foundation of the Christian faith.
Why Did Jesus Tell Nicodemus He Must Be Born Again?
In John chapter three, a religious leader named Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. He was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, and a man who clearly respected Jesus. But the very first thing Jesus said to Him cut straight to the heart of the matter:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, He cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
Jesus did not ease into the conversation. He went directly to the most important truth. Every person is born spiritually dead. The apostle Paul confirmed this in Ephesians 2:1, writing that believers had been dead in trespasses and sins. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and Romans 6:23 follows with the sobering truth that the wages of sin is death.
But Christ came to change that. In John 10, Jesus said plainly:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." - John 10:10
Why Do People Love Darkness More Than Light?
Jesus gave a direct answer to this question in His conversation with Nicodemus. Just a few verses after John 3:16, He said:
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." - John 3:19-20
This explains why those who embrace evil celebrate darkness. The light of the gospel exposes wickedness for what it is. Those who love their sin will always prefer the dark.
Jesus Christ Is the Light of the World
The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of a light to the Gentiles centuries before Christ was born. In Isaiah 49:6, God declared:
"I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." - Isaiah 49:6
When Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus to the temple, an elderly man named Simeon, moved by the Holy Spirit, recognized the fulfillment of that prophecy. He described Jesus as "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32).
Later, the apostle Paul testified before King Agrippa that Christ would "show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:23).
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have received that light. You have received that life.
What Should Christians Celebrate Instead?
When a child is born, we celebrate. We throw parties, buy gifts, and gather together because life is worth celebrating. The same principle applies spiritually. Being born again is cause for the greatest celebration of all.
Jesus said in John 10:27-28:
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." - John 10:27-28
Paul wrote to the Colossians with gratitude for what God had done:
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." - Colossians 1:12-13
Christians have been delivered from darkness. Why would we want to go back and celebrate it?
Is the Occult Really a Growing Concern Among Young People?
This is not a distant or abstract concern. According to a May 2025 Pew Research Center poll, nearly 25% of Americans aged 18 to 29 reported consulting tarot cards within the previous year. Social media increasingly portrays occult practices as harmless, entertaining, or even spiritually helpful.
Young people are being pulled toward darkness sometimes without even realizing it. The enemy uses every available opportunity to draw people away from the light of the gospel and toward a dangerous fascination with the occult.
Should Christians Use Halloween as an Outreach Opportunity?
Some Christians argue that Halloween is a good opportunity to share the gospel with neighbors who come to the door. That is a well-meaning thought, but it raises a deeper question. Should we not be going to our neighbors the other 364 days of the year?
Mark 16:15 does not say to wait for people to come to your doorstep. It says to go into all the world and preach the gospel. The call to be a witness is not seasonal. It is a daily calling.
What Does It Mean to Be the Light of the World?
Jesus gave His followers a clear identity and a clear responsibility in Matthew 5:14-16:
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16
Being different from the world is not something to be ashamed of. It is part of what it means to follow Christ. Helping young people understand that they are set apart, that this world is not their home, is one of the most important things a Christian family can do.
Life Application
This is not just about one day on the calendar. It is about a daily mindset. Every day, Christians face a choice between celebrating life and light or drifting toward the values of a world that loves darkness.
This week, take an honest look at the choices you make, the things you celebrate, and the messages you send to those around you, especially the young people in your life. Ask yourself whether your daily habits and decisions reflect the light of Christ or blend in with the darkness of the world.
Consider reaching out to a neighbor this week, not because they came to your door, but because you chose to go to them. Let your light shine in a practical and intentional way.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do the things I celebrate and participate in bring glory to God or to something else?
Am I helping the young people in my life understand that being different from the world is a mark of faithfulness, not something to be embarrassed about?
Am I waiting for opportunities to share the gospel, or am I actively going to the people around me?
In my daily life, am I walking in the light that Christ has given me, or am I allowing the world's love of darkness to creep in?
Comments