Why I Don’t Celebrate Halloween, And Why I Celebrate the Reformation Instead

As a pastor, I have a responsibility to share with you truth based on God’s Word, not just my own personal convictions. What you will read is truth and it is up to you to receive it or reject it. Also, let’s be clear, not everyone holds the same level of convictions on these types of matters.

Every October, the world turns its attention to a day filled with darkness, costumes, and candy. Houses are decorated with skeletons and spider webs, children dress as ghosts or goblins, and neighborhoods echo with the words “Trick or Treat!” But, beneath the surface of what many see as harmless fun lies a deeper spiritual reality that Christians cannot ignore.

Halloween, derived from “All Hallows’ Eve,” was originally connected to ancient pagan festivals that honored the dead and invited spirits to roam freely for a night. Over time, this celebration became filled with images and practices that glorify fear, death, and darkness, the very things Scripture warns believers to avoid.
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11

What many view as innocent costumes or games often desensitize hearts to the reality of evil. Fear becomes entertainment, darkness becomes decor, and the demonic becomes disguised as “cute” or “fun.” But the Word of God teaches us that fear is not from God, it is a weapon of the enemy.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Listen closely,

“When we open the door to fear, we give access to the very things Christ died to set us free from.”

The Christian life is a call to walk in the light, not to flirt with the darkness.
“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5

We can be so quickly deceived. At first glance, “Trick or Treat” seems innocent. Many say, it is just a night of fun for children and families. But its origins trace back to ancient practices of offering food to wandering spirits or to those dressed as them to avoid curses or mischief. While today it may seem mostly playful to many, to me this concept still echoes a spiritual compromise: doing something to appease what we should instead resist.
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

As believers, our calling is not to appease darkness, but to advance light. When others open their doors to celebrate fear, we can open ours to declare faith, hope, and truth.

At first glance, carving pumpkins seems like a fun fall activity, family time, creative expression, and autumn décor. But like much of Halloween, its origins are rooted in pagan superstition, not biblical truth.

Where Did It Come From?

The tradition traces back to ancient Celtic folklore in Ireland. The Celts carved turnips and placed candles inside them to ward off wandering evil spirits during the pagan festival of Samhain, a night when they believed the veil between the living and the dead was thin.
According to legend, there was a man named “Stingy Jack” who tricked the devil but was condemned to wander the earth forever with only a carved turnip lit by an ember from hell to guide him. When Irish immigrants came to America, they discovered pumpkins worked better than turnips, and the modern jack-o-lantern was born.
So while many see pumpkin carving as harmless fun, its symbolism originated in fear and superstition, not faith and salvation.
“Do not learn the way of the nations... for the customs of the peoples are vanity.” Jeremiah 10:2–3

What Does It Represent Today?
Even in its modern form, the jack-o-lantern often symbolizes:
• Fear (faces meant to scare away evil)
• Death and darkness (a candle burning inside a hollowed body)
• Human effort to repel evil (instead of trusting God for protection)
But God’s Word teaches that no carved image or ritual can drive out darkness, only Christ, the Light of the World, can.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

The issue isn’t the pumpkin itself; God made pumpkins!
The issue is what they can represent and how we use them.
We should not imitate a world that glorifies fear, death, or superstition, but instead, we can use every opportunity, even autumn traditions, to point others to the victory of light over darkness.

Celebrate the Reformation Instead
On October 31, 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany which sparked what would become the Protestant Reformation. This was not a night of darkness, but of dawning light. It was the rediscovery of the truth that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for the glory of God alone.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

The Reformation restored the Gospel to its rightful place. It called the Church back to biblical authority and away from superstition and fear. Instead of celebrating ghosts and goblins, we celebrate grace and truth. Instead of focusing on the dead, we focus on the Risen Christ.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

When we honor the Reformation, we are reminding the world that God’s truth still sets men free. We are not celebrating a man, but a movement, one that brought light into spiritual darkness.

How We Can Redeem October 31st?
Rather than hiding from the world or participating in its darkness, we can redeem this day with purpose and power.
1. Host a “Light the Night” or “Reformation Celebration” – Focus on worship, the Word, and testimony of God’s saving grace.
2. Teach your children about Martin Luther and the Reformation – Help them understand the power of standing for truth.
3. Share the Gospel – Use this day to give out Scripture-based tracts, Bibles, or gifts that point to Jesus rather than fear.
4. Pray for your community – Cover your neighborhood in intercession, asking God to replace fear with faith and darkness with light.

Halloween may glorify fear and darkness, but Christians are called to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

We do not imitate the culture; we illuminate it. We do not conform; we transform. As Joshua once said, “Choose this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

This brief article was to expose you to truth. Let me be crystal clear, we don’t reject Halloween because we’re against fun, we reject it because we stand for truth.
We don’t avoid darkness out of fear, we shine light because of faith.
And we don’t just oppose something, we celebrate someone, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12

Let’s stay focused on faith not fear!

Pastor Paul