For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light-for the fruit of the light results in all goodness and righteousness, and truth-discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.     Ephesians 5:8-11

There is a home just a few miles from my home that puts out this huge grotesque Halloween display of decorations each year. I was driving past there a few weeks ago and my great niece commented on their decorations then turned to me and said, “You don’t like Halloween, do you?” I explained to her that I have nothing against Halloween, my problem is when people put Halloween before God. I also think some people go too far in promoting darkness and evil during Halloween.

For example, across the street is a pumpkin patch.  Kids get in for free, the snacks are all one dollar, and there are fun games for the kids. No darkness, just good fun.

I see nothing wrong with children dressing up in costume and trick-or-treating. I see nothing wrong with handing out candy, but I think it’s gotten out of hand. People want to be scared and will go to great lengths and pay a lot of money to make this happen. It’s strange when you think about it.

If you are one of these people who love being scared, let me help you out with that. There are some Scripture passages that are pretty scary if you don’t know for sure that you are saved. Matthew 25:41 says, “Then he will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ ”  Matthew 25:46 says these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life. Jude 1:7 says, “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”

Matthew 22:13 says, “Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”

Tonight, we will celebrate our granddaughter’s first Halloween. We will all don our jack-o-lantern shirts while she will be dressed in her pumpkin costume and hand out candy. Many churches will host fall festivals. Halloween serves a fall kick-off. Is there anything wrong with that? I don’t think so.

But we must be careful of getting too wrapped up in the darkness that has become Halloween. There is nothing wrong with seeking a thrill or enjoying a scary movie, but we must not participate in darkness. And whatever we do, we should never let that interfere with our being obedient to God’s word and serving Him.

We can get carried away with anything we do. There are people who spend their Sundays in their boat on the water or playing golf. When we do this, we are idolizing our boat or our golf game. Anything that we put before God becomes our idol. I don’t think Halloween or anything else should come before God.

I believe when we celebrate Halloween there are those who go a bit too far into the darkness and we must be careful of that. We are told in 1 Peter 5:8 that we must be sober and alert because the devil roams around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Don’t open yourself up to anything that honors the devil.

You can have fun and be obedient to God at the same time. Put God first when you enjoy your festivities.

Have a Happy Halloween!