Recently, I have been thinking a lot about what to do for Halloween this year.

Now, I am not the legalistic type and I do not think that every Christian needs to make the same decision that we made, but I wanted to share with you my thoughts on this subject, as they pertain to our family.

(Read full post)

Bob and I came to Christ around three years ago. Before that time, my children were not raised Christian. Little E does not remember a time that we were not followers of Christ, but the older children do. As such, they have celebrated Halloween every year, except last year.

Last year, we had a little party with some Christian neighbors of ours who do not celebrate Halloween and we stayed home from trick-or-treating, though we handed out candy.

We would be happy to do that again this year, but they moved.

I have spent some time reading articles for and against Christians celebrating Halloween and have come to the conclusion that it is a topic about which there is a lot of disagreement.

There is a lot to be said for the point of view that Halloween is harmless in its present-day form, as practiced by most people, and as would be by us.

In the “for” article linked above, the author makes the case that Christians should not hide from the day, but instead take it as an opportunity to laugh at the Evil One, whom we all know is also a proud one.

Halloween as a day to mock Satan? An interesting perspective, indeed.

I would perhaps be more open to this if the author had not characterized his opposition as those who “shun make-believe.”

That’s news to me. If Halloween is just a day for kids to dress up and enjoy their imaginations, I guess everyday is Halloween in our house. I can’t think of a single day in the past several months that Little E did not have a costume on.

I don’t think we will be mocking Satan this year. See, we have just come out of a many-months’ long period of intense spiritual attack.

I know that I am opening myself up to ridicule by sharing this, but spiritual attack is not something to laugh at and Satan is not a foe to be taken in good humor.

Every one in our home felt this evil working to hold this family back from doing God’s work.

I don’t know if you have any idea how spiritual attack occurs, or how to deal with it, but I have been immersed in studying it for the past month, trying to claim my freedom as a child of God.

Coming through this dark period in our lives and seeing the light on the other side, I see no reason to glorify all that is evil, even with the intent of making a mockery of the Evil One.

This year, we will spend the week leading up to Halloween in intercessory prayer on behalf of those who are to take part in Halloween festivities, especially anyone dabbling in the occult. Then on Halloween night, we are going to shut out the lights, as to not attract the trick-or-treaters dressed in scary costumes (because I don’t want to taunt the boys with what they are *missing*), and pop in a family movie.

And share a bag of candy, of course.

If you are interested in learning more about spiritual warfare, I highly recommend the following series of podcasts from Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram.

Spiritual Warfare 101 - parts 1 and 2
(part 2 is incorrectly labeled as part 1, but it is part 2)

Spiritual Warfare 201 - parts 1 and 2

Spiritual Warfare 301 - parts 1 and 2

Spiritual Warfare 401 - parts 1 and 2