It starts in the locker room about a week before. Someone has a group costume idea for the whole team. Someone else is hosting a party Friday night. The freshmen want to know if the coach will let them wear costumes to practice.
And if you follow Jesus, a few questions might be running in the back of your mind. Is it okay for me to take part? Should I sit this one out? What will my teammates think either way?
Christians have wrestled with Halloween for a long time, and they don’t all land in the same place. This article won’t hand you a rule. But it will give you a way to think about it, rooted in Scripture, that helps you play for an Audience of One on October 31 and every other day.
Where the Name Comes From
The word “Halloween” is short for All Hallows’ Eve. “Hallow” is an old word for holy, or a saint. October 31 is the night before All Saints’ Day on November 1, a day the church set aside to remember believers who have gone before us.
Church records point to the 700s and 800s, when church leaders in Rome began marking November 1 to honor all the saints. Over time, many customs from different cultures got mixed into the night before. Some of those customs had nothing to do with Christ. Historians still debate how much the old harvest festivals shaped the holiday we have now.
There is one more piece of church history on that date. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses, which helped spark the Protestant Reformation. That is why many churches call it Reformation Day.
So the night has a mixed story. Its name points to God’s people. Many of its modern traditions do not. That is part of why Christians see it in different ways.
Same Team, Different Calls
Walk into any church on October 31 and you will find a few different approaches.
- Some skip it. They don’t want to be part of anything that makes light of evil, death, or the occult. They point to verses like Ephesians 5:11, where Paul tells believers to have nothing to do with the works of darkness.
- Some redeem it. They host a trunk-or-treat, give out the best candy on the block, and use the night to meet neighbors.
- Some just enjoy it. For them, a costume and a bag of candy are simply fun, the same as a fall festival.
- Some point to Reformation Day. They use the date to celebrate the gospel of grace.
The Bible never mentions Halloween. So how do you decide? Paul wrote to a church that was split over which days were special and which foods were okay to eat:
“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, ESV)
Paul was not talking about Halloween. He was talking about issues that sincere believers disagreed on. But the principle fits. On questions like this, God cares about your heart and your conscience. He also cares how you treat the believer who makes a different call.
Think of it like a team with different positions. A point guard and a center play the game very differently. Both can be right for their role. What matters is that they play for the same coach and don’t tear each other down. So if you take part, don’t look down on the teammate who sits out. And if you sit out, don’t judge the teammate who dresses up.
No Need to Fear the Dark
Halloween puts death, darkness, and evil on display. Skeletons in yards. Horror movies on every screen. For some people it is all a game. For others it stirs up real fear.
The Bible takes evil seriously. It is not a joke, and Christians should be careful not to treat it like one. But the Bible also tells us who won. Writing about what Jesus did on the cross, Paul says:
“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15, ESV)
In sports terms, the game is already decided. The enemy may still be on the field making noise, but the final score is settled. Jesus died for our sin and rose from the grave. Death does not get the last word.
That changes how a Christian athlete can face October 31. You don’t have to be scared of the night, and you don’t have to make light of evil either. You can stand somewhere better: calm, clear, and confident in Christ. Whatever you choose to do that night, do it from that place of trust, not fear.
The Crowd in the Stands
Here is something most people miss about this time of year. The “hallows” in Halloween are the saints. And the Bible has one of the best sports pictures ever written about them.
Hebrews 11 lists men and women who trusted God through hard, uncertain lives. Then chapter 12 opens like this:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV)
Picture a packed stadium. The people in the stands have already run their race. They are proof that a life of faith can be finished well. Now it is your turn on the track.
Notice what the writer tells you to do:
- Drop the extra weight. No runner races in a heavy hoodie. What habits, fears, or distractions are slowing you down?
- Deal with sin. It “clings so closely,” like a soaked jersey. Confess it and let it go.
- Run with endurance. Faith is not a sprint. It is a long race with hard miles.
- Look to Jesus. He is not just your example. He started your faith, and he will finish it.
That is a far bigger story than costumes and candy. Whatever you do on October 31, it is a good night to remember the crowd in the stands, and the One you are running toward.
Game Plan for October 31
Paul tells us that whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). That includes a Saturday night in late October. Here are some ways to put that into play.
If you take part:
- Pick your costume like you pick your words. Ask, “Would I be proud to have Jesus standing next to me in this?” Skip anything that mocks people, glorifies evil, or is meant to be sexual.
- Know your party before you go. If the night is built around drinking or things you know will pull you down, it’s okay to leave early or not go. Your teammates need you sharp, and so does your walk with God.
- Be the best neighbor on the block. Hand out good candy. Learn names. Be the person who is kind to every kid who knocks.
If you sit it out:
- Say no without a lecture. “I’m going to pass this year” is enough. You don’t have to explain your conscience to win an argument.
- Do something instead. Host a movie night, go to a church event, or spend time remembering believers who shaped your faith.
- Stay close to the team. Sitting out one party is not a reason to pull away from your teammates the rest of the week.
If you lead a team:
- Make room for both. Plan a team event that everyone can join, whatever their convictions.
- Watch the pressure. Make sure no one feels pushed to wear something or go somewhere that bothers their conscience.
- Use the moment. A short team devotional on Hebrews 12 can turn a costume week into a real conversation about faith.
Before the Weekend
Halloween is one night. Your race is a lifetime. The goal is not to win an argument about a holiday. It is to run in a way that points people to Jesus, the One who has already beaten death.
Questions to think about or talk through with a teammate:
- What is your honest conviction about Halloween right now? Where did it come from?
- How can you treat a teammate who sees it differently with respect and love?
- Who in your own “cloud of witnesses” helped you follow Jesus? How could you thank them this week?
