We are new Christians and I was wondering is it wrong for us to take our children out trick or treating?

Question

Halloween is coming up and we have in the past taken our kids who are 3 7 and 10 but now being a Christian family we was told that Halloween is basically is a night to celebrate the Devil and by trick or treating its kind of supporting that idea of it but my wife thinks its just a fun way to get candy for the kids I am totally confused please help us out. Thank You

Answer 1

Welcome to the family of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Paul said that "Every thing is permissible but not everything is beneficial."  But he also said "Do not be yoked together  with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?"

Do not let anyone tell you what is or is not permissible, let the Holy Spirit convict you of those things, and follow His leading.

Answer 2

My daughter went to a private christian school and I know that going out trick or treating was very frowned upon.  However, some parents did allow there kids to go, it just wasn't publicized.  My daughter knew the meaning either way.  My daughter went 2 out of the 4 years and she was o.k. either way.

Answer 3

I believe in trick or treating and in no way to do i believe it is worshipping the Devil. My church even has a "Trick-or-Treating" lock-in and allows the children to have a scavenger hunt thru the church. If Halloween was bad then we wouldn't have Christmas, St. Patrick's Day... or any other holiday for the matter.

Answer 4

It is NOT a night to celebrate the Devil. Halloween is an ancient Celtic festival to celebrate the first night of winter (in the Celtic world there were only two seasons, winter and summer. Summer began May 1 and winter began on Halloween.). It was obligatory to give thanks to your ancestors, and so each family laid out a feast for the dead. Does this sound devilish to you? People wore masks because they were afraid that some of the angry dead might be wandering around, and the humans didn't want to be recognized. Superstitious, yes, but devilish?

Satan plays such a large part in Christianity that he has become a rival deity.  Satan  was invented.

My advice is to think independently.

Answer 5

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or hallow-mas (from Middle English All-hollow-messe meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it (Oct. 31), the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.

Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallow mas.

I'm Christian and I celebrate Halloween with my daughter... I tell her the history of the holiday and we honor past relatives and the Saints.

Hope this helps...

Answer 6

On the one hand, many Christians think the holiday is in celebration of all things occult and evil.

On the contrary, the holiday is actually a mockery of all things occult and evil.  I read a very good essay once on the origins of All Harlow's Eve.  You see, the following day is All Saint's Day, a day to celebrate the saints and apostles that have gone before us.  The night before, we send our children out dressed as ghouls and goblins to mock the evil forces that cannot silence His voice, that cannot darken His light, who will be ultimately defeated by His vengeance.  Children go around having fun, "spooking" adults into giving them sweet treats.  In the end, there is no evil, except maybe tummy aches and cavities.

Now, if you have an issue with how secular and commercial the holiday has become, and how the whole concept in modern times completely throws All Saints' Day out the window, by all means attend a "Harvest" fest at your church.  Personally, I think that's even more occultist because that's exactly what the wiccans and druids celebrate, and what the sun-worshippers celebrated in fall feasts.

It's more of a personal choice.  Talk to your pastor and see what your church's custom is.

Answer 7

Not really, i've moved a lot and each halloween the CHURCHES (christian ones of course) had halloween things. Like on halloween the kids go to the church and play games to win candy. The only thing was, the costumes couldn't be anything too evil looking or something that would scare the younger kids. If you don't get anything evil (like a devil costume!) then it'd be perfectly fine to take them trick or treating. Maybe (girl)- Angel, princess, fairy, etc. (boy) pirate, ninja, a power ranger, etc.

Answer 8

No, it is not wrong. Halloween is not and has never been a night to celebrate the devil.  It is not about satanic worship or any other such nonsense that a few people try to bully us into believing.  It's an ancient holiday with roots in both pagan and Christian beliefs, but the current celebration is not about either. It's simply a time for pretending and having fun.  It's completely harmless.  If you are uncomfortable about how some people view the holiday, you can talk to your kids and explain to them that it is a celebration of fall and a time for dress up and pretend.  Good luck as you grow in your new faith, and enjoy your family Halloween!

Answer 9

It's wrong for anyone.  Stupid tradition.  I'm an atheist and I don't let my kids do it.

Answer 10

Noo no its not wrong at all! Pagan traditions yes, but they're just going out for candy! Seems pretty harmless to me.

Answer 11

Well there is pagan traditions behind Halloween, but really trick or treating is harmless. It's up to you; if you feel the slightest that it is wrong, then you shouldn't do it. Put it up to prayers and ask God for wisdom and guidance. Don't rely on your own understanding.