To the editor:
Most pastors see Halloween as an opportunity to reach out, says Scott McConnell, director of LifeWay Research. McConnell says, “This is a time when your neighbors literally come to your doorstep and Pastors don’t want their church members to waste that chance to make a connection or invite someone to church.” A survey by LifeWay found that two-thirds (67 percent) of Protestant pastors say they encourage church members to ask their neighbors to a church-related event like a fall fair, trunk-or-treat or judgment house. About 25 percent of pastors encourage church members to hand out gospel tracts at Halloween with their candy. Only 8 percent of pastors (mostly old pastors) want church members to skip Halloween completely.
Christian parents should make careful decisions based on a Bible informed Christian conscience.
The Bible says do everything for the glory of God. Some Halloween practices are clearly out of bounds. Such things as watching violent bloody “slasher” films staring Michael Myers and Freddy Kruger are things the Bible says not to think on while “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is suitable for children. Halloween is a good time for Christians to remember that evil spirits are real and that the Devil will use every opportunity to get attention and promote his agenda. There are 1.5 million real witches in America. They have been praying against President Trump and Judge Kavanaugh. The world is getting darker and more violent and evil. However, God has the ultimate power over evil forces.
As Christians, we possess the wonderful knowledge that Jesus is the Light who has overcome the darkness (John 8:12) which people at Halloween tend to glorify. Rarely are we Christians provided with such a perfect opportunity on which to shine as lights in the dark world as on Halloween. Modern-day Halloween depictions of graveyards, ghosts, witches and gruesome horrors provide a perfect contrast to the light, life and goodness to be found only in Jesus. Angie Mosteller said, “Rather than abandoning Halloween to the lost, let us reclaim it for God’s glory. May God help us to be light in the darkness and find ways to creatively bring the”hallowed” back into Halloween.” Rather than spending time wondering what God thinks about Halloween, whether you participate in Halloween festivities or not, commit October 31 to thanking Jesus for overcoming darkness and death, and share that good news with others.
Albert Mohler said, “On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther began the Reformation with a declaration that the church must be recalled to the authority of God’s Word and the purity of biblical doctrine. With this in mind, the best Christian response to Halloween might be to scorn the devil and then pray for the Reformation of Christ’s church on earth. Let’s put the dark side on the defensive.”

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton