Halloween = Missional? Now That’s Scary
I realize this is a little after the fact, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about for the past few years, and thought I’d bring it up while it’s fresh on everyone’s minds. What should a Christian’s response be to Halloween, particularly in the context of the “missional living” world?As a kid who grew up in the church, Halloween was seen as “Satan’s Holiday,” so the church would host a Christian alternative (aka boycott) called a “Harvest Festival” where we could invite people to join us instead of endorsing all the evil associated with Halloween by going trick or treating. There’d be pumpkins and prizes (and hay rides if it was really good), and it accomplished the goal of safely avoiding Halloween. And although we were encouraged to invite our friends, neighbors, etc., seemed like it was primarily composed of church folk, which was great for them, but didn’t seem very successful at engaging the outside world.
Now, there’s no doubt Halloween has a pretty jacked up history and purpose (as do the pagan origins of Christmas & Easter), and am not suggesting we blindly celebrate it, but since my wife and I moved into our neighborhood 5 years ago, I’ve really wondered whether attending a church alternative is the best missional approach vs. being with the people where they’re at. Let me break it down. Halloween seems to be the one time of the year where almost everyone in the neighborhood has their doors open, then seemingly closed for the rest of the year (or at least for the winter when people go into their [TV] dens for hibernation). I’ve been invited into more people’s homes and met more people in our neighborhood on Halloween than probably the rest of the year combined, despite our continual efforts to be intentional with them throughout the year (inviting them to dinner, parties, a weekly bbq we hosted at the local park, etc.). So while it saddens me that Halloween is now the crux of neighborhood hospitality, it’s seems to be the reality of the culture we’re seeking to bring transformation to. At least that’s how it is in our neighborhood.
Would love to hear your thoughts, objections, etc.
Pastor Bryan Nelson