Based on what Paul says in Romans 14, here are a couple of considerations for you as you try and determine whether or not you’ll be involved with Halloween, and to what extent:
1. Halloween is not mentioned in the Bible and the scriptures give us no clear-cut way of deciding whether or not we should participate. It best fits into a theological grey area, leaving room for individual Christian people to decide for themselves whether or not it is okay for them to be involved in any of the festivities associated with Halloween and – if so – to what extent.
2. As such, whether or not we’re involved in Halloween (or to what extent we’re involved) is a matter of personal preference and conviction. Your church cannot tell you what you should do, though your church is likely to offer suggestions and insights that will help you make up your own mind.
3. It is possible for godly people to disagree on Halloween, but it should never be an issue that forces us to break fellowship with other believers (see 1 Corinthians 1.10: I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought).
4. Decisions regarding Halloween are primarily family decisions, not primarily ecclesial or institutional decisions, and the ultimate authority on these issues reside with the head of each home. If trick-or-treating violates a Christian’s conscience, alternative events (fall parties or celebrations of All Saints’ Day) allow children to view Christianity as a religion that permits them to have fun. Sinful activities should always be avoided, but be careful that children do not develop a “party-pooper” view of God (see Colossians 3.18-21).
5. Westwinds uses Halloween as a time for mission and cultural engagement, not as an occasion to celebrate darkness but as an occasion to shine light into dark places (see Matthew 5.14-16: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven).
My hope is that you and your family will decide to leave your lights on, metaphorically, and – rather than get angry about a bunch of stuff, or perceive the world en route to hell in a hand basket, or even simply distance yourselves from the rest of your neighborhood that night – engage the people around you with love and charity. That doesn’t mean you have to buy into all the Halloween stuff whole hog, just that you will choose to engage the world with the love of God rather than take the night off.