5 ideas to turn the conversation to Jesus on Halloween

Halloween comes round every year, and, to be honest, Christians in the West don’t know what to do with it. Is it a piece of harmless fun that we should just join in with to be good neighbours and part of the culture—or is it something dark and dangerous that needs to be resisted. Whichever way you swing on that question, it represents an opportunity to share Jesus with others. If you hate it, don’t hide. If you love it, make sure you are using it as a Gospel witness.

Here are some ideas to get you going.

1. Shine a light.

Many Christians turn off the lights and refuse to have anything to do with Trick or Treaters. I’ve found it much better to shine a light in the darkness, welcome the children and parents who show up at the door, celebrate their costumes with them and ask a leading question — such as, “Who do you think the most powerful person in the universe is?” And then give clues to who it is... a. Scary monsters ran away from him.  b. He took on the biggest and scariest enemy of all and defeated it. c. He said he was the Light of the World.

The ghost that wasn't a ghost

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Children's story leaflet retelling Jesus walking on the water. Particularly suitable at Halloween.

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2. Talk about fear.

Why do people love to be frightened, watch scary movies etc.? It’s an interesting phenomenon, and may provide a jumping off point for a conversation about the things we are really fearful of. Here are some questions to begin with:

• What are the real things we fear in life? 
• Did you know that the most repeated commandment in the Bible is “Do not fear?—apparently it is repeated 366 times—one for each day of the year, and an extra one in case you have a very scary day.
• Surprisingly, the things people are most fearful of do not seem to be the things we assume they are. Speaking in public before an audience is one of the most common fears people have—bigger than spiders, heights and the dentist. In other words, feeling exposed before other people. Why do we fear being under scrutiny by others? This experience is at the heart of sin: Adam and Eve were naked and ashamed…

3. Talk about “the dark side”.

There is a lot of interest in the spirit world among adults. If you know or work with anyone from Africa or Asia, their cultures are often more open to the realities of the the spirit world in a way Western culture is not. Although, even in the UK, surveys suggest that more people believe in the Devil, than claim they believe in God. Here are some opening lines to use after asking “what are you doing for Halloween?” 

• Do you think that evil has a persona?
• Have you ever experienced anything spooky yourself (many people have)? What did you think it was?
• Is there a struggle between good and evil going on in the world?

4. Dress up.

Join in the fun—not as something ghoulish, but as something or someone from the Bible that will spark a conversation, and allow you to tell the story to someone else.

• Sisera (with a tent-peg through your head). God judges those who oppose him.
• Alternatively, Eglon (with a sword going through a fat belly and protruding out of your back)
• An angel. We know that angels are incredibly scary, as the first thing they say when they appear to people is “Fear Not”.

5. Have some further reading to give them

If you don't get a chance to dialogue with the children or parents, why not pop a small gospel tract in a goody bag. The Ghost That Wasn't a Ghost is a children's story leaflet retelling Jesus walking on the water, particularly suitable for handing out at Halloween.