There’s no doubt that Christians have mixed feelings about Halloween. We can look to  Romans 14 as a guide for our behavior: we can’t allow our own convictions about a holiday to cause division in the body of Christ, nor can we use our freedom to cause others to stumble in their faith.

So, how should we approach Halloween as believers in Jesus? Here’s a helpful framework in facing anything that culture throws our way.

Reject: Refuse to engage at all.
Redeem: Participate, but modify it to the glory of God.
Receive: Participate as is; embrace all aspects of Halloween.

As an EC Youth team, it’s our philosophy that Halloween is a redeemable holiday. We believe it is possible to celebrate in a way that not only doesn’t compromise Kingdom values, but also creates opportunity to love and share the Gospel with our unbelieving friends and neighbors. With Halloween, as in all things, we are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27). This means choosing our costumes, decor, and activities with discernment.

By opening our doors to the community, we can demonstrate Christ-like hospitality. It creates space for teenagers who don’t know Jesus to forge relationships with those who do — and have fun while doing it. This is a wholesome and edifying alternative to the abundance of other options teenagers have available to them.

We are so excited to have some fun this Sunday evening! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

— Pastors Summer and Dylan Morrill + the EC Youth Team