If you run around in Christian circles for more than a few years, you realize that attitudes and practices of Christians around the Halloween celebration vary.  Some Christians embrace the holiday as a completely secular experience with harmless fun; some Christians reject the holiday as a pagan-based practice that leads people to the demonic; some Christians use it simply as an opportunity to connect with the community with Fall-themed parties and “Trunk or Treat.”   

However, the church used to celebrate Halloween, or All Hollow’s Eve, for a different reason.  Over the centuries, during various times of year, the church has chosen to remember the Saints who have gone before us.  They called the day All Saints Day.  Currently the date for our celebration is November 1st – hence the name for October 31st is “All Hollow’s Eve” or Halloween.  Some suggest that the date for All Saints Day was chosen in conjunction with a Celtic fall celebration, from the 9th century, that may have included some cultural celebrations of the dead. However, there is evidence of the church celebrating All Saints Day as far back as the 4th century as a way of remembering the Martyrs, those killed for the faith.  Usually, these celebrations occurred the Sunday after Pentecost. 

On “All Hollow’s Eve” the church used to provide worship services.  Many other customs also developed, especially around the faulty doctrine of purgatory.  Some people used “All Hollow’s Eve” to pray for their loved ones in purgatory and do good works to assist them into heaven. 

Of course, these aberrations arise from false doctrine and the Bible contradicts them.  Saints are made by the Word of God who is Jesus. Jesus makes Saints by giving the forgiveness of sins. 

 In the Lutheran Church, our celebration of Halloween should be informed by our celebration of All Saints Day.  We know that the Lord brings His people through death into new life.  Those who have gone before us live for they “picked up their Cross” and followed Jesus by faith.  Just as Jesus died and rose from the dead, so those who die in the faith will also rise from the dead. 

We also know that the demonic has no hold on God’s children.  We know that the “powers and principalities of this dark age” have already been defeated by Jesus on the cross.  We wait for the full expression of that defeat at the end of the age when all the dead will be raised and God’s children, who are redeemed Saints, will live in the new, perfect creation forever. 

So how can we celebrate on Halloween.  Well, here’s a suggestion.  What ever you do, celebrate the life that the Lord has given to those who have gone before you.  Remember the Saints celebrated throughout Christendom, especially those who have been martyred.  Celebrate your church members who preceded you in the faith and passed the faith along to you.  Celebrate your family members who died in the faith believing in Jesus.  Celebrate your life as a child of God, a Saint in His Kingdom. In it all, remember, celebrate, and rejoice in the victory over sin, death, and the devil that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.     

                Let your costumes and customs point to the truth! 

From the questions and answers section of LCMS.org

QUESTION: Has The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod said anything officially on the celebration of Halloween? May we permit children to dress as goblins and ghosts, etc.? What should we teach our children concerning this celebration?

ANSWER: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has not officially spoken to the observance of Halloween in any of its resolutions or statements. Frankly, opinions differ in our church regarding the appropriateness of Christians observing Halloween customs.

Those who oppose the observance of Halloween by Christians argue that its origins are pagan and that emphasis on the Occult in our society finds expression in various kinds of Halloween symbols, parties and activities.

Others argue that, generally speaking, current Halloween customs have little to do with pagan roots in the minds of most, and that there is no harm done in permitting our children to enjoy such customs.

In general, this is a good example of an issue where "sanctified common sense" and a balanced approach are necessary — with sensitivity to the "witness value" of a given action or activity in a specific context.

On the one hand, we do not want to minimize the potential dangers of involvement with occultic symbols and practices.

At the same time, we do not want to lay a burden of conscience on others in matters that lie in the area of Christian freedom and sound Christian judgment.

              On September 29th, we celebrate “St. Michael and All Angels.”  The existence of Angels inspires the imagination.  Part of the reason for our imaginative consideration of Angels comes from the reality that we do not see or sense the Angels on our own.  We cannot. God made the nature of the Angels different than the nature of humans (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1).  The distinctions make our direct pursuit of understanding Angels impossible.  God must reveal the angels to us (Numbers 22:31).  Only when he does this can we see them or hear them.  Have you ever seen or heard an angel?  Many people have told me of their experiences with Angels. I do not doubt that Angels interact with human beings, in known and unknown ways.  Most of these experiences, though, all fall under the category of subjective or unverifiable.  We do, though, have record of the Angels in the Bible.  From Scriptures we do receive knowledge and an objective record of the Angels, and we observe their purpose.   

               The word “Angel” means messenger.  The most basic role of Michael and all the angels lies in speaking messages from the God.  One of the most famous messages recorded in scriptures comes when Gabriel announces the birth of the Lord Jesus to Mary, his mother (Luke 1).  Gabriel proclaims the fulfillment of all the prophecies of a Messiah who would come to set God’s people free from sin.  Also, recorded in Luke 24, Angels announced the resurrection of the Lord.  An angel was the first to announce the imminent birth of the Lord Jesus, and Angels were the first to announce the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 

                The Lord also gives the Angels the job of protecting and ministering to the needs of people.  Christians often think of guardian angels.  We cannot prove from scripture that God gives a particular angel for the guardianship of a particular person, but we do know that Angels do guard God’s chosen people. 

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.  (Matthew 18:10)

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)

                Finally, we must understand that the Angels fight evil. When Lucifer, who God created as an Angel, rebelled against the Lord, it was the Archangel Michael and the other loyal angels who fought against Satan and all the former angels or demons.  When Michael defeated Satan and the demons, they are thrown to the earth, and it is on the earth where Jesus exercises his authority as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World.  Jesus defeats the accuser, on the cross, and he makes Lucifer’s accusations against you null and void by the forgiveness of your sins (Revelation 12).  God uses the Angels to setup victory over sin, death, and the devil. 

Remember:  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2

On Sunday August 29th, we remember the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.  The circumstance of his martyrdom looks like a great soap opera. 

Herod had taken his brother’s wife, Herodias, as his own.   Herodias was also Herod’s niece.  John the Baptist spoke the truth by pointing out that this was unlawful.  Herod had John arrested, but for fear of the people he could not execute him. However, Herod came to respect John and protected him while keeping him in custody.    It is recorded in scripture, “When he (Herod) heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.” 

Here we see a kind of duality that comes with the Word of God.  John the Baptist spoke God’s Word to Herod and the Word of God struck home.  Herod felt perplexed since his desire and John the Baptist’s word contradicted one another.  He felt perplexed because Herod trusted John the Baptist, but John’s words created dissonance in his life. 

In the end, Herod had a bit of a problem.  Herodias wanted the status quo.  She wanted to continue as Herod’s wife, and John the Baptist was threatening what she had.  One day, Herod threw a birthday party for himself, (kind of narcissistic, don’t you think) and he invited all the nobles and high up military commanders that he could -- enter Herodias’ daughter, Herod’s great niece.  She danced for the birthday party, and it was pleasing for all present.  Herod offered his great niece anything up to half of his Kingdom.  Herodias’ daughter asked her mother for advice, and Herodias told her to ask for John the Baptist’s head on a platter.  Herod, begrudgingly and out of obligation to the public commitment he made, obliged.  Imagine Herodias’ sheer delight.

Here we observe that John the Baptist remained faithful to his call and duty. He did not back down in the face of danger.  He continued to proclaim the truth even when it made powerful people uncomfortable or even angry.  The fact of the matter is that John spoke this truth in a manner that Herod could hear. Herod came to respect John and even protected him.  Herod only beheaded John the Baptist because of the entanglement and lure of sin and power. John spoke the truth in Love (Ephesians 4:15-16).  Today, John the Baptist’s actions still reverberate as the church continues to extend God’s Word to the nations.

This is such an important building block in the Christian life.  We know the truth and the truth is Jesus.  We want people whom we love to know and love the truth also.  We want people we love to honor and respect the will of the Lord and to believe in Jesus for the salvation of their souls.   You connect with your friends and family like no one else.  You know how to speak the truth in love to them.  It may take some thought and creativity, but you can tell the truth!  People may still reject what you have to say, but it is still important to speak.  It is still important to share Jesus. Circumstances may not always go your way.  Some people get martyred for doing just this, but in eternity, what will be more important -- your life here on earth or eternal life for someone who hears God’s Word?  God’s Word will not return empty.