Halloween Alternatives

Many people wonder why we try to balance the difficult issues surrounding this holiday. For us, it is about learning how to take on difficult issues and work our way through them as Christians. We believe by taking on these issues that are very relevant to children and young families, it helps all of us learn to discern and think biblically in a culture that has lost its moral compas in many ways. There are many ways to think about Halloween from a Christian perspective. Although there are many ways to look at this, the KEY is looking at it from a perspective that honors the Lord. The articles below provide a lot of great information about everything from how to talk to your kids to the origins of the holiday.

• Why We Don't Celebrate Halloween At The Center
• Five Ways that the Devil Sneaks into Halloween!
• How to talk to your kids about Halloween by focusing on being Light
• What did Billy Graham say about Evil and the Occult?
• The 10 Christians You Meet on Halloween  
• What are some reasons to not celebrate (Charisma Magazine)?
• Paganism and Wicca
• What is the Church's position historically?
• "I recently saw a church advertising they were having a Zombie Run. Seriously?"     
• Answers in Genesis: "What about Halloween?"
• Answers in Genesis: Halloween History for Kids 
• Halloween; what's a Christian to do? by Steve Russo
• Mommy, Why Don't We Celebrate Halloween by Linda Winwood 
• Christian Broadcasting Network: "Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?"

Alternative Halloween ideas:

• Give candy with a really good tract geared toward kids, or tape a nickel or dime to an orange pumpkin that has the words "Jesus Loves You!" prominently written on it.
• Go door-to-door with your kids dressed in Biblical or other positive character costumes and bless the people with "God bless you!" or "Jesus loves you!" as you leave. Give them a gift as well in the form of a good, non-religious-looking tract.
• Host a safe non-halloween party for the neighborhood kids where they play games, eat snacks, have fun, hear the gospel, and take it home with them. On his radio show, Chuck Colson pointed out that October 31 is also the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Maybe, we could focus on the history of the Reformation.