Mocking the Devil

Recently a reader and listener sent me a letter requesting my opinion on the observance Halloween. He expressed concerns about the pagan origins of Halloween, and the new pastor at his congregation who would not give him a definitive answer on it. Although his pastor directed him to some helpful resources on it, including this careful and thoughtful piece written by Rev. William Cwirla in the Lutheran Witness, he still had concerns. It still didn’t “sit well” with him, he said, and what did I think? Here’s my reply:

The debate about whether observing Halloween is appropriate is not new. I am aware of the history and the Christian element in its origin, viz.,  the Eve of All Saints.

I am not, nor have I ever been among those who find the custom of trick-or-treating an idolatrous practice. Although there are excesses that some have entertained, I find that to be true in just about any tradition or practice. There’s an old saying: abusus non tollit usum, which means that the abuse of something ought not determine whether it is to be used or not. Just because something is misused doesn't mean it can't be used correctly.

Common sense dictates the following to me: little children dressed in silly costumes going door-to-door with their parents are not thereby sinning, nor are their parents. On the contrary, they are engaging with their neighborhoods in a harmless and maybe even helpful way. Sometimes events like this in themselves encourage neighbors to get to know one another. Trunk-or-treat is a new variant of this which is also harmless and fun, in my view.

But how then might we think of the pagan elements evident in Halloween customs?

What I propose to you, and what I’d recommend to your new pastor, is the following, something I have suggested to other Christian people with qualms about Halloween. Think of it this way: We Christians have been freed by Christ from demons and their wiles; and since this is so, we can think of Halloween as an opportunity to freely mock them and thumb our noses at them. Seen from this perspective, one could say that trick-or-treating is a form of mockery, not of pagan devotion.

As if  to say, ‘See, Satan, you fool, I have been freed from your clutches, and Christ has defeated you, and I stand as it were in the baptismal font laughing at you, knowing that, as the Psalmist declares, He that sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. So now, you wicked one, know this: my Halloween observance is intended to show contempt by sheer sarcasm. Will you seek to frighten me? Here’s how I will respond: I will dress up my little child in a silly costume, and let him say boo! while he giggles and plays. I will send him to my neighbor’s door, to mock you. He’ll menace my neighbor with a terrifying threat! Terrifying? Oh, how frightening! Oh, how scary! Trick or treat! See, Satan: that’s how frightened we are of you as we confidently boast in Christ and our Baptism into Him. As Elijah mocked the Baal prophets, so we mock your tricks. Go away, you old defeated Goliath: you’ve already been beheaded; you’ve lost to our Christ. And we will live our lives accordingly with this wonderful knowledge and faith. Trick or treat! Oh, how scary. Boo hoo. Get lost, you chained and defeated tyrant!’

And I would add this: pray for your pastor, speak well of him when you have opportunity, and when you go talk to your pastor, indicate your support for him, and seek to follow his leadership as your faithful shepherd.