Celebrating or not celebrating Halloween is an issues that sometimes divides Christians—particularly as our culture goes increasingly haywire thinking that somehow we can blend evil things (vampires and zombies) into the lives of the young with no ill effects. I have been an advocate on both sides of the issue (though not at the same time). I say now “let each be fully convinced in his own heart” of his own practice. I would, however, say that our cultural practice of Halloween celebrating is getting darkened and more vile. If you are going to celebrate Halloween, you should read this article by James Jordan (who has recently be called by some serious smart people “the most important Christian writer of the 20th century” besting C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien):
Concerning Halloween by James Jordan
Also, whether you celebrate Halloween or not, you should celebrate the Reformation today. This morning we sang Luther’s great hymn “A Mighty Fortress” in devotions and remembered that 494 years ago, on this very day, a brave monk nailed a list of debating points to the door of the church in Wittenberg. He was not trying to start a movement or split the church. He was aiming at starting a discussion about whether the church in his day had misread the Bible. The Reformation divided the church (and the reformation churches have divided again and again). We pray that God would end this division by drawing all His people closer to His truth. We should be thankful, Protestants of all stripes and even Catholics, that there are people like Martin Luther who challenge us with the Word of God and who will not back down without an answer. Today, as believers, we need to pour ourselves into the study of God’s Word. We need to be re-formed as people in Christ’s image by it. Open our eyes Father!
In classical Christian education, we, like Luther, go back to the sources (the cry of “Ad Fontes” which means “back to the source or the fountain”) is heard around school from time to time. We want to have truth. Without it all is window dressing without hope.
