Life, Light, and Love

In a world overshadowed by darkness, take heart in the Light who has overcome

By Ben Cross

I love Fall. I love it for a lot of reasons: cooler weather, college football, and chili—just to name a few. In the midst of all that, though, a few other things have found their way into our Fall routine that seem a little out of place.

The spiritual dimension of our lives is very real and very important. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul tells Christians that we need to put on “armor” because there is a spiritual battle going on around us all the time. Scripture also tells us that Satan is in the business of trying to “devour” Christians (1 Peter 5:8). In fact, while we sometimes think about the devil like a little red guy with funny-looking horns and a harmless-looking pitchfork, the Bible describes him as a snake (Genesis 3), a lion (1 Peter 5), and a dragon (Revelation 12). It’s serious business.

Having that in mind, let me say a little about Halloween. I don’t know if you know this, but Halloween can be a pretty contentious issue among Christians. Some Christians are adamantly opposed to joining in any kind of celebration because of the holiday's roots and because of some of the ways people celebrate. On the other hand, some Christians are just as adamant that we should stop being so worried about accidentally getting “infected” by the world around us, and that Halloween actually provides a fantastic opportunity to be friendly, hospitable, and loving.

It’s a complex issue, but an important one. As you read this article, I hope you feel the tension between both positions, and I hope you see that I’m not concerned with taking a side. I’m concerned with trying to live in the tension between two options, both of which have the potential to swing the pendulum a little too far. So grab a bowl of chili and a mug of apple cider, and let’s talk about a few areas where we can be especially vigilant this Fall.

A Quick History Lesson

Centuries ago, some cultures used to mark the beginning of their New Year on November 1. Since it coincided closely with the coming of Winter (which brought with it cold weather, the end of harvest, and increased sickness), the middle of Fall became a marker for a time when life and death came face to face. In between October 31 and November 1, the light, life, and love of Summer gave way to the darkness, death, and fear of Winter.

Soon, it became customary to believe that on that in-between day, dead things actually came back to interact with alive things. One thing led to another, and the beginnings of Halloween were established. 

Again, this is not an article in which I’m going to tell you that you should or shouldn’t celebrate Halloween. Halloween can be a good excuse to have fun with family and friends, and it can be a great way to engage your neighbors and get to know them. I mean, think about it: they’re literally ringing your doorbell to talk to you all night! In many ways, this is a cultural holiday we Christians can be excited about. 

Having neighbors coming out of their houses, being open to conversations, and being silly with one another is something we should not miss. Halloween really is a unique opportunity—whether you like the holiday or don’t, whether you personally do anything to celebrate or not. Even in light of everything I’m about to suggest in this article, I think we as Christians are missing out if we’re not using Halloween in some way as a time to build up the relational capital we have invested in our non-Christian neighbors. 

With that in mind, what the rest of this article is about is what it means to be God’s people in the face of Halloween's unique challenges and opportunities. 

Death

Silly decorations like skeletons and gravestones make death just a normal part of the month of October. While there may be nothing harmful about decorations like that in and of themselves, they normalize and commercialize something that the Bible calls our enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). Death was the consequence of sin and was the basis of Satan’s first lie (Genesis 3:1-5). Death is what Jesus overcame through His resurrection so that we don’t have to be afraid of it or focus on it (1 Corinthians 15:19). 

Does this mean that giving out (and eating) candy on October 31 is wrong? No! But Christians probably shouldn’t make light of something that Satan uses to deceive people and something that Jesus came to destroy. One of the most significant parts of our Christian testimony in this world is how we can face the reality of death without fear—because we trust in a God who gives new life. 

Darkness

In the Fall, it gets darker earlier and stays dark longer. Darkness is not inherently bad—it’s just part of this life. But the Bible frequently refers to “darkness” as a metaphor for evil (John 1:5; John 8:12; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:8, 11) and talks about “light” as the Christ-centered alternative. This time of year, I fear there’s a tendency to ignore or even embrace things that are “dark” rather than seeking out and embracing the light. 

I don’t know how exactly to tell you to live that out this Fall, but I do know that part of our role as the people of God in the world is to shine light and to live in the light—not to participate in darkness. Where is the line? I don’t know. But I think we should do everything we can to live in a way that points people to the God of light. 

Fear

Things like horror movies, ghosts, “haunted” houses (where the whole point is to go in and get scared), and scary costumes go hand- in-hand with the month of October. Now, let me be clear again: I’m not trying to tell you exactly what you should or shouldn’t do this October. I trust the Holy Spirit to direct each of us according to God’s will. All I’m trying to point out is that we tend to elevate the idea of fear during the month of October. 

Here’s my problem with that: the Bible tells us that God wants to get rid of fear (1 John 4:18). The command to “be not afraid” appears dozens of times in the Bible. Also, as a pastor, I know that fear is one of the most common things that keeps people from living in the freedom and joy of Christ. (Honestly, I don’t even need to be a pastor to tell you that—I know it because it’s true about me, too!) 

I know that our deepest fears are not the same thing as getting startled by someone around a corner in a “haunted house.” But I also know that playing with an emotion that the Bible commands against most frequently is probably not such a good idea. We follow a God of love, and “perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:18) 

Take Heart

I can imagine a few different responses to an article like this. You might be upset that I’m pointing out some negative aspects of a holiday you enjoy. You might be upset that I didn’t make my suggestions strict enough regarding a certain holiday that you don’t like. Or you might be confused or nervous about the whole thing and what we’re supposed to do about it. Whatever you’re thinking right now, let me try to sum up the whole thing this way: take heart. 

In John 16, Jesus is giving His last speech to His disciples before He gets arrested, tried, and crucified. He’s facing death, their hope seems to be going dark, and I’m sure the disciples were afraid of what was going to happen to Jesus (and them) that night. In the midst of that death, darkness, and fear, Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) 

I don’t know exactly how you should respond to this article or exactly how you should celebrate (or not) this October. Life as a Christian in this world is complex and requires wisdom and discernment. But I know this: Because of Jesus, we have nothing to fear. In Christ, we are people of life—not death. We are people of light—not darkness. And we are people of joy, peace, and love—not fear.