Growing up in Cambodia was a fun childhood, but while “fun,” Cambodia was an extremely dark place too. The Buddhist temples constantly interrupted the horizon with their massive, golden spires and gaudy, ghastly naga’s (serpent-dragons) marking every entrance to such places of worship. Spirit houses were common to each family home, where Khmer men and woman would offer foodstuffs to spirits and deceased relatives. Music was a big part of the culture and most of it was just run-of-the-mill boy-meets girl karaoke material, but the eerie, warbly, vibrato which accompanied the gatherings to remember the dead echoed the songs of ghosts.
I bring up those particular memories because I want to ponder the validity to my claim. I said that, “Cambodia was an extremely dark place” and I know that because I believe my eyes. One need only look around to see that Cambodia is indeed dark: a country of spirits, ghosts and serpent-dragons. The question I want to ask you is if you believe what you see about Halloween?
What is Halloween Anyways?
I would like to begin by quoting the words of Anton LaVey, the founder of the [anti-]church of Satan who said in an interview in 1997, “I am glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year…” Call me simple, but if a Satanist compliments the way we raise our children, I’m guessing we’re doing something terribly wrong.
So what is Halloween as a thing? Is it a day? An event? A holiday?
In the Scriptures, there are many days that the Jews were commanded to set aside (basically treat as “holy-days”) for the purpose of commemorating certain events that God had done for them. Think of the Passover, the Feast of Booths, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost, to name a few. Christians have continued in this pattern and regularly take time out of the calendar-year to remember the resurrection of Christ from the dead and His incarnation to earth. We observe these days because there is something worth observing, celebrating, recognizing, practicing and remembering. At this point, I think it is worth noting that there is no such thing as merely “doing” a day—you do something with it. The obvious questions, then, are what do you “do” with Halloween and is there a worthy purpose for why you do it? Are you celebrating Halloween? Why? Do you recognize it? What for? Do you practice it? What’s the purpose?
Some Facts
Here are a few, short facts about Halloween which hopefully help you to see that there is nothing worth doing with Halloween except ignore it, pray against it and certainly not celebrate it.
1) Halloween is a very old religious day observed by the pagan Celts, established about 2,000 years ago, then called Samhain (pronounced SOW-an).
2) Satanists and occultists still observe this day as unique in the calendar year.
3) Ex-Satanists hate and warn against celebrating Halloween (a simple youtube search will show this).
4) Halloween is the Catholic holiday which was meant to be celebrated at the same time as (some think it was likely in place of) Samhain, called All Hallow’s Eve and the day after as All Hallow’s Day to remember dead saints and martyrs.
5) Costumes are not a cute, modern add-on to the festivities, they are ancient aspects of Samhain, meant to protect those who wore them from the spiritual realm.
6) While there is disagreement as to where exactly “trick or treat” comes from, none of the options are good. Either a person received luck or at least were left alone by the Druids and/or the spirits, or else “tricks”/punishments were administered on those who refused to give them what they wanted.
7) October 31st is thought to be the day of the year when the worlds of the dead and the living are most narrowly divided.
8) While there seems to be some disagreement as to what exactly the Jack o’ Lantern is, Mr. Jim Schneider says that it is an ancient symbol of a damned soul and was apparently one of the marks to distinguish which homes were sympathetic toward Satanists or not (see resource below).
9) According to one ex-Satanst, Halloween is a day on which the most human sacrifice is offered in the year (see resource below entitled, “Ex-Satanist Exposes Halloween’s Demonic Secrets”).
Consider the above facts in this light: the devil often presents himself as an angel of light, making himself nearly indistinguishable from that which is good, righteous and beautiful (2 Corinthians 11:12–15). But on Halloween he doesn’t even have to hide his horns (so to speak). Think about it. On Halloween, the horns are the perk. Just today in a classic, American box-store I saw an advertisement for Halloween which pictured a cartoon drawing of three children, one of whom was dressed as a ghost and another of whom literally had horns and a forked tail. Please, open your eyes! What is this “holiday” about? Look at the decor with which we garnish our lawns and trees and roofs — witches, skeletons, daggers, eerie lights, ghosts, wounds, tombstones, etc. Friends, if it walks, talks, laughs and looks like the devil’s holiday, I’m banking on the fact that it is. The only question is: “Do you believe your eyes?”
Some Common Retorts
“I’m a Christian, and I’m stronger than that…” says one, as if strength has anything to do with whether you can “observe” what is actually a satanitc day according to even the Satanists.
“I’m a Christian, Halloween doesn’t scare me…” as if being unafraid of death, darkness, spirits and demons is a sign of health and not of callousness.
“I’m a Christian, I don’t observe Halloween. I just have fun with my kids, give them some candy and let them dress up in costumes.” I sense that this where most American Christians stand, and I say with sadness that I think this is most mistaken. Friends! Oh dear friends please stop and consider. You say you aren’t observing Halloween, but if you’re not observing Halloween, why are you observing it in October, and often, literally the same day that Satanists and actual witches do? Why are your children in costumes and carving pumpkins, knocking on doors and calling out, “trick or treat”? Are you telling me you can do literally all the same stuff of ancient paganism and it be Christian?
“We should give the church an alternative like ‘trunk or treat’ and fall festivals.” This is an interesting idea, and probably pretty common, but my thought is that Halloween already seems to be the alternative. Samhain did not start off as Halloween, but from what I understand, it is commonly believed to be the substitute for Samhain. Further, if the desire for an alternative is founded on a desire tobe truly separate from the world’s Halloween, why blur the lines with many of the same trappings in “trunk or treat”?
Be Ye Separate (i.e. Holy)
Friends, this is what it ultimately boils down to. If we believe our eyes, ears, Satanists and history, it is evident that the day Halloween is a “holy-day” just to one segment of humanity and spirits. Halloween is centered on terror and demons, witchcraft and darkness, but God is a God in whom is no darkness at all, and that is the message the apostles heard from Him (1 John 1:5). And it is the duty of Christians to emulate God in His light, now, as the children of light. We are to be holy. We are to be separate. Separation—that is a bitter word today, but there is not an honest Christian in the world who can read the Bible and fail to see that Christians must be separate.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:8, 11, 15–16, emphasis added). Have you ever thought what the value of light is if it merely blends with the darkness? Or the value of salt if it has lost its savor (Matthew 5:13)?
“…Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). Friends, there is not just one command here. We do not merely to cling to what is good without hating what is evil any more than we can love God without hating the devil.
“And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place. You shall not worship the LORD your God with such things” (Deuteronomy 12:4–5). I’d argue that we can no more redeem Halloween to the glory of God than we can redeem Baal-worship. We cannot not gut Samhain and use his skeleton for our enjoyment. We need to break, shatter and scatter the pieces because Christ’s light and beauty demand it.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Paul is speaking objectively here. He is not speaking merely of the things that make one feel good, pure and noble, but those things that are so. Is that Halloween?
Conclusion
Men and women, how have we become so blind to the darkness of Halloween? How have we become so hard that such obvious evil surrounds us and we don’t even feel it? Have we become inoculated to the holiness of God?
If you can’t see it, please, seek the God of light Him to illumine you. Our churches must repent or pay the price of lampstands are taken away (Revelation 2:5), distance from God (Isaiah 59:2) and happiness to Anton LaVey and to his master. With an American, Christian holiday like Halloween around, I’m afraid we’re not so unlike Cambodia after all.
Resources:
Berkowitz, Adam Eliyahu. “Church of Satan founder ‘glad’ Christian parents let kids celebrate Halloween, ‘worship devil.’ October 11, 2021, accessed from https://israel365news.com/348948/church-of-satan-founder-glad-christian-parents-let-kids-celebrate-halloween-worship-devil/ 10/24/25.
Schneider, Jim. “Halloween/Witchcraft: What’s Behind the Mask?” October 12, 2020 accessed from https://sermonaudio.com/sermons/1012202114411448 10/24/24.
“Take it from Someone who Used to Talk to Satan: Halloween is a Bad Idea” accessed from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q369iQJ49cY&pp=ygUWRm9ybWVyIHdpdGNoIGhhbGxvd2Vlbg%3D%3D 10/24/25 — seems I wouldn’t agree with him on his charismaticism, but the info on Halloween is good.
“Ex-Satanist Exposes Halloween’s Demonic Secrets” accessed from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EcWB-sq_1do 10/24/25.
N.A. “What’s the History of Witchcraft and Halloween?” October 31, 2024 accessed from https://www.pomona.edu/news/2024/10/31-whats-history-witchcraft-and-halloween 10/24/25.
Moody, Michael “The Devils’ Holiday” October 26, 2025 accessed from https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermons/102725033115131 10/27/25.
