harvest
Every year, as October 31 approaches, sincere Christians ask whether a church should hold some form of an outreach or harvest festival on Halloween. I understand the concern, I’ve wrestled with it as well. We are called to be holy, to reject what is evil, and to refuse any compromise with darkness. Those are not small matters, and we should never dismiss someone who has a strong conviction about them. Also, I am not trying to open a can of worms, but this really came out of a conversation with a cherished member of our church with real concerns.
This is not a new issue, the church at Corinth and Ephesus had to learn to distinguish between what Scripture actually forbids and what it leaves to Christian wisdom and conscience. But I think it wise to address why we are hosting a harvest festival. Obviously it is not because we want to celebrate darkness. We are holding it because our neighbors are already outside, families are looking for safe places to gather, and we believe October 31 belongs to the Lord just as much as every other day.
The verse most often raised is Ephesians 5:11: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” That is a clear command, and we want to obey it. But notice what Paul forbids. He does not say, “Have no contact with people who live in darkness,” or, “Avoid every place and occasion that unbelievers use sinfully.” He says not to participate in the works of darkness.
As always, context is king: the surrounding passage identifies the issue. Paul warns against sexual immorality, impurity, greed, filthy speech, deception, and disobedience. In contrast, he says, “the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:9). The contrast is moral and spiritual. It is between doing what darkness produces and living in the goodness, righteousness, and truth of Christ.
Handing a child a piece of candy, providing games for families, welcoming neighbors, and showing the love of Christ are not works of darkness. They do not become works of darkness simply because they happen on a night when other people may be doing dark things.
In fact, one way darkness is exposed is through contrast. When Christians demonstrate genuine joy instead of fear, generosity instead of selfishness, safety instead of chaos, and hope instead of fascination with death, the light becomes visible.
Some point to the historical associations of Halloween and conclude that anything done on October 31 must participate in those associations. But the Bible gives us a more careful way to think. In 1 Corinthians 8–10, Paul addressed food that had been offered to idols. He made an important distinction. Christians could not knowingly join in an idolatrous feast because that would be participation in idol worship. Yet they could buy the same kind of meat in the marketplace and eat it with thanksgiving. The object itself was not spiritually contaminated. The meaning and nature of the participation mattered.
That distinction helps us here. Participating in an occult practice is wrong. Attempting to contact spirits, celebrating evil, glorifying what God condemns, or treating darkness as harmless entertainment would violate biblical boundaries. But gathering on the same date to serve our neighbors is not the same kind of participation. October 31 is a square on the calendar. The devil does not own it. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). We do not honor darkness by surrendering a day to it. We honor Christ by asking how that day can be used for what is good, right, and true. I get any concerns. It grieves me how so many celebrate by decorating their homes with frankly, evil. We saw a restaurant end of August and it already had Halloween decorations!!! Ugh!
But, faithfulness does not require isolation. Jesus prayed concerning His disciples, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). In the sermon on the mount, He calls us the light of the world, then tells us not to hide that light (Matthew 5:14–16). Light is most noticeable where it is dark. It seems preferable in many ways to be an opportunity to be light on the one evening when many of our neighbors are walking past our homes and looking for places to gather since we spend much of the year trying to create opportunities to meet people. On October 31, the neighborhood comes to us. We should at least ask whether that moment can be received as an opportunity rather than surrendered as enemy territory. This does not mean that every Christian must participate. It does mean that Christians may participate in a way that is intentionally different, clearly wholesome, and centered on loving their neighbors. Or, in a way that appeals to their conviction, like setting aside a time of spiritual warfare prayer…
Romans 14 is especially important when faithful Christians reach different conclusions about days and practices Scripture does not directly command or forbid. Paul writes, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). A Christian who cannot participate with a clear conscience should not violate that conscience nor treated as spiritually immature for abstaining.
But the instruction works in both directions. A personal conviction is precious, but it is not automatically a command for every believer. We must be careful not to call something sinful when Scripture has not called it sinful. Romans 14 warns both against despising those who abstain and judging those who participate.
Zeal for holiness is a gift. Zeal without humility, however, can turn personal boundaries into universal laws. Biblical maturity holds conviction and charity together. We can say, “I do not believe I should participate,” without saying, “Anyone who participates is compromising with darkness.”
Where would we draw the line?
Calling something an outreach does not automatically make every activity wise. Our methods must agree with our message. We should not imitate occult practices, glorify evil, make light of what Scripture condemns, or use the occasion as an excuse for worldliness. I’ve seen churches in our county and frankly, I’ve thought, I can’t tell that this is a Christian event except that it is at a church. I think that crosses the line. I think wearing costumes that celebrate darkness at our events would be crossing the line. I think simply providing an alternate opportunity for families may not cross the line but what’s the point if we aren’t light?
Our purpose is much simpler. We want to provide a safe and joyful place for families, serve our community generously, build relationships with neighbors, and let people experience the warmth of a church family that loves Jesus. We are not trying to make darkness look Christian. We are trying to bring Christian light into a moment when people are unusually open to gathering.
Why we are choosing to be present
We are not celebrating Halloween. We are holding a harvest festival on October 31. The date gives us a natural opportunity to welcome people who might not yet walk through our doors on a Sunday morning. Some may come only for candy. That is all right. Relationships often begin with small acts of kindness. A child receives a treat, a parent has a conversation, a family discovers that the church is not a fortress hiding from the community, and a door opens for future ministry. We can trust God with what grows from the seeds we plant. We refuse to participate in darkness. We also refuse to give darkness uncontested possession of a day the Lord has made. Our calling is not merely to avoid evil, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
So we will honor those whose conscience leads them to abstain. We will ask those who participate to do so thoughtfully and joyfully. And together, we will remember that our neighbors are not the enemy. They are people Jesus loves, people He has placed near us, and people He has called us to love. October 31 does not need less Christian presence. It needs more Christian light.
A helpful test is to ask:
This is not a new issue, the church at Corinth and Ephesus had to learn to distinguish between what Scripture actually forbids and what it leaves to Christian wisdom and conscience. But I think it wise to address why we are hosting a harvest festival. Obviously it is not because we want to celebrate darkness. We are holding it because our neighbors are already outside, families are looking for safe places to gather, and we believe October 31 belongs to the Lord just as much as every other day.
The verse most often raised is Ephesians 5:11: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” That is a clear command, and we want to obey it. But notice what Paul forbids. He does not say, “Have no contact with people who live in darkness,” or, “Avoid every place and occasion that unbelievers use sinfully.” He says not to participate in the works of darkness.
As always, context is king: the surrounding passage identifies the issue. Paul warns against sexual immorality, impurity, greed, filthy speech, deception, and disobedience. In contrast, he says, “the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:9). The contrast is moral and spiritual. It is between doing what darkness produces and living in the goodness, righteousness, and truth of Christ.
Handing a child a piece of candy, providing games for families, welcoming neighbors, and showing the love of Christ are not works of darkness. They do not become works of darkness simply because they happen on a night when other people may be doing dark things.
In fact, one way darkness is exposed is through contrast. When Christians demonstrate genuine joy instead of fear, generosity instead of selfishness, safety instead of chaos, and hope instead of fascination with death, the light becomes visible.
Some point to the historical associations of Halloween and conclude that anything done on October 31 must participate in those associations. But the Bible gives us a more careful way to think. In 1 Corinthians 8–10, Paul addressed food that had been offered to idols. He made an important distinction. Christians could not knowingly join in an idolatrous feast because that would be participation in idol worship. Yet they could buy the same kind of meat in the marketplace and eat it with thanksgiving. The object itself was not spiritually contaminated. The meaning and nature of the participation mattered.
That distinction helps us here. Participating in an occult practice is wrong. Attempting to contact spirits, celebrating evil, glorifying what God condemns, or treating darkness as harmless entertainment would violate biblical boundaries. But gathering on the same date to serve our neighbors is not the same kind of participation. October 31 is a square on the calendar. The devil does not own it. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). We do not honor darkness by surrendering a day to it. We honor Christ by asking how that day can be used for what is good, right, and true. I get any concerns. It grieves me how so many celebrate by decorating their homes with frankly, evil. We saw a restaurant end of August and it already had Halloween decorations!!! Ugh!
But, faithfulness does not require isolation. Jesus prayed concerning His disciples, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). In the sermon on the mount, He calls us the light of the world, then tells us not to hide that light (Matthew 5:14–16). Light is most noticeable where it is dark. It seems preferable in many ways to be an opportunity to be light on the one evening when many of our neighbors are walking past our homes and looking for places to gather since we spend much of the year trying to create opportunities to meet people. On October 31, the neighborhood comes to us. We should at least ask whether that moment can be received as an opportunity rather than surrendered as enemy territory. This does not mean that every Christian must participate. It does mean that Christians may participate in a way that is intentionally different, clearly wholesome, and centered on loving their neighbors. Or, in a way that appeals to their conviction, like setting aside a time of spiritual warfare prayer…
Romans 14 is especially important when faithful Christians reach different conclusions about days and practices Scripture does not directly command or forbid. Paul writes, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). A Christian who cannot participate with a clear conscience should not violate that conscience nor treated as spiritually immature for abstaining.
But the instruction works in both directions. A personal conviction is precious, but it is not automatically a command for every believer. We must be careful not to call something sinful when Scripture has not called it sinful. Romans 14 warns both against despising those who abstain and judging those who participate.
Zeal for holiness is a gift. Zeal without humility, however, can turn personal boundaries into universal laws. Biblical maturity holds conviction and charity together. We can say, “I do not believe I should participate,” without saying, “Anyone who participates is compromising with darkness.”
Where would we draw the line?
Calling something an outreach does not automatically make every activity wise. Our methods must agree with our message. We should not imitate occult practices, glorify evil, make light of what Scripture condemns, or use the occasion as an excuse for worldliness. I’ve seen churches in our county and frankly, I’ve thought, I can’t tell that this is a Christian event except that it is at a church. I think that crosses the line. I think wearing costumes that celebrate darkness at our events would be crossing the line. I think simply providing an alternate opportunity for families may not cross the line but what’s the point if we aren’t light?
Our purpose is much simpler. We want to provide a safe and joyful place for families, serve our community generously, build relationships with neighbors, and let people experience the warmth of a church family that loves Jesus. We are not trying to make darkness look Christian. We are trying to bring Christian light into a moment when people are unusually open to gathering.
Why we are choosing to be present
We are not celebrating Halloween. We are holding a harvest festival on October 31. The date gives us a natural opportunity to welcome people who might not yet walk through our doors on a Sunday morning. Some may come only for candy. That is all right. Relationships often begin with small acts of kindness. A child receives a treat, a parent has a conversation, a family discovers that the church is not a fortress hiding from the community, and a door opens for future ministry. We can trust God with what grows from the seeds we plant. We refuse to participate in darkness. We also refuse to give darkness uncontested possession of a day the Lord has made. Our calling is not merely to avoid evil, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
So we will honor those whose conscience leads them to abstain. We will ask those who participate to do so thoughtfully and joyfully. And together, we will remember that our neighbors are not the enemy. They are people Jesus loves, people He has placed near us, and people He has called us to love. October 31 does not need less Christian presence. It needs more Christian light.
A helpful test is to ask:
- Can we sincerely thank God for what we are doing?
- Are we imitating darkness or providing an alternative to it?
- Does this help us love our neighbors without sharing in their sin?
- Does this event reveal Jesus or point people to Jesus?
- Will people leave with a clearer or more confused impression of who we are?
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