Behind the Mask: What Halloween Reveals About Our Hearts
Walking through a store recently, I stumbled upon a row of gruesome masks. Hanging on the wall by themselves, the vacant eye sockets made me feel uneasy; I turned around.
Halloween brings apprehension for many people — including Christians.
Haunted houses and horror movies are big business, but they aren't for everyone. Some lawn displays evoke a sense of menace and danger. I understand why some Christians consider these frightening rituals as trivializing or even celebrating the demonic. Our experiences vary, influenced by personal preferences and cultural differences.
What are you wearing for Halloween?
We often say things like, "Clothes make the man," "Dress for the job you want," and "You are what you wear."
If we adopt this approach, connecting a witch outfit to witchcraft makes sense.
But let's consider how this same approach works in churches.
For instance, if a preacher holds an open Bible, does that mean they speak for God?
If a 'prayer warrior' loudly shouts "In the name of Jesus," can we assume they are a person of great faith?
To avoid naivete, we need discernment. Romans 12:2 instructs us: "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."
Spiritual Discernment
We need to be cautious about evaluating a person's character based on their dress or speech. That principle holds true whether they look pagan or Christian.
As we read in 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the LORD sees, for humans see what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart."
Our default approach is to evaluate people based on their appearance.
But God sees what is in our hearts and evaluates our motives.
If we want to become spiritually mature, we need to look behind the mask.
So what's happening inside our hearts?
The Spiritual Pitfalls of Halloween
Let's confront a difficult question: Have you ever wanted to feel like you had power over God?
If we search our hearts, I suspect your answer might echo mine. Yes, I want to find a way to do something or say something that gets God on my side!
But Isaiah 29:13 admonishes us, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
It's easy to see this when we consider a wizard casting a spell or a witch using healing crystals. There's hubris and selfishness when we invoke esoteric knowledge or hidden powers to bend the world to our liking.
But we should be just as concerned about pastors wielding religious language to command God or promising that they can guarantee a 100x return on our investment of 'seed offerings' to their ministry.
In truth, using "holy objects" or "power prayers" to compel God to do our bidding is a hidden kind of magic—and it's all the worst for being veiled in Biblical language.
These spiritual masks hide contradictory motives in the name of God. This misrepresentation affects our relationship with God and distorts our witness to the world.
And God offers us something far more valuable: His loving presence.
A Better Treat
The Bible teaches that we don't need special objects or sophisticated prayers to be with God. Actually, God came to be with us. He already loves us!
In his letter to the church in Galatia, the Apostle Paul agonized that members of this church were turning back to "weak and worthless elements."
By contrast, he encourages them that God has called them to freedom because their relationship with God is based on faith, not religious performance. Instead of trying to control God, they are to be filled with God's Spirit. Rather than mastering God, they are offered the better gift of self-control.
Paul says that knowing God is not about becoming a spiritual superhero but about faith working itself out in love for others.
Our relationship with God isn't about harnassing objects or words to get something from him. It's the opposite: God comes to us, speaks life into our hearts, renews us with his love, and empowers us to love others.
Behind the Mask
We all have skeletons in our closets. Some of us also have them in our yards.
But the critical questions for Halloween are simple:
What's going on in our hearts?
Are we experiencing God's love?
How can we wholeheartedly express God's love to those around us?
For this season, everyone's conscience and circumstance will lead them to a different answer. I love the diversity and creativity of God's people! For me, it's simple: sit by the door, smile warmly, and give out awesome candy.
So, do you want to turn the tables and scare the devil this October?
The secret is to look behind the masks and consider the heart of Halloween.
Let’s not be tricked — instead of fear or judgment, God is inviting us to love our neighbors.
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