It’s that time of year again. Halloween decorations start appearing on people’s houses and lawns; some are bright and festive, but others range from unsettling to downright gruesome. Commercials for blockbuster horror movies begin popping up on TV, as do those for local haunted house attractions, each dripping with darkness and new ways to exploit humanity’s worst fears.
In short, families and children can be exposed to a lot of unsavory influences in October.
There’s no doubt that Halloween can be celebrated in innocent ways, like taking family trips to pumpkin farms, baking autumn desserts, and watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Yet for Christians, all of this doesn’t hide the fact that, although Halloween is only partly pagan in origin, it nonetheless tends to center on things society considers evil: murder, gore, unclean spirits, and unholy creatures.
This poses many a quandary for even non-Christian parents, who worry about what’s developmentally appropriate for their children to see and absorb. For Christians, Halloween themes and content can be even more problematic, because emulating or glorifying evil goes directly against God’s Word. For example, Deuteronomy 18:10-13 tells us:
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
All of this has left many churches and Christian communities in search of safe, family-friendly ways to shift the focus of All Hallows Eve back to more wholesome, positive, and godly purposes. The solution? A Halloween alternative called Hallelujah Night.
What Is Hallelujah Night?
Hallelujah Night will look different from church to church, in part because of its wonderful flexibility. In essence, the celebration offers a time and space for families, congregations, and entire communities to come together. (During the pandemic, many Christians enjoyed Trunk or Treat Hallelujah Night.) Programming can range from the deeply spiritual to the just plain fun. Some common Hallelujah Night features include:
Biblical costume contests
Carnival rides, games, and bounce houses
Enjoying candy and seasonal treats
Petting zoos
Special church services
The Benefits of Celebrating Hallelujah Night
Hallelujah Night is one of the best Halloween alternatives for churches and communities alike because it offers distinct advantages over both the darker aspects of traditional Halloween celebrations and the equally disturbing “Hell Houses” and “Scaremares” organized by some evangelical churches in efforts to frighten believers into renouncing sin. Instead, Hallelujah night is an easy choice for Christians because it centers on joy — which, after all, is the most commonly accepted meaning of the word “Hallelujah.”
This popular Hallowtide alternative offers the following benefits:
Alignment with Christian values. Hallelujah Night aligns with Christian values by avoiding any questionable or Satanic themes associated with Halloween. It emphasizes fun, fellowship, and God’s blessings rather than death, demons, or monsters.
Safety. With a church-organized event, you won’t have to worry about what may be hiding in your children’s candy (or the punch), what inappropriate costumes or decorations your child might see, or what might happen if they stray into a dangerous neighborhood during trick-or-treating. You’ll breathe easier knowing that everyone present cares about your family’s safety and well-being.
Community engagement. Rather than taking your child to knock on the doors of strangers’ houses, you’ll enjoy spending some quality time with the fellow church members you already know. You may even get the chance to mingle with those you don’t, or welcome newcomers into the fold.
Family-friendly fun. One of the best aspects of Hallelujah Night is that it offers something for everyone, all in one place, at the same time. Rather than worrying about conflicting event schedules or questionable parties, the whole family can relax, enjoy sweet treats and fun activities, and make new happy memories together.
Celebrate “Hallelujah Night” With Word of Life Church
Word of Life Church is dedicated to making the world a better place by spreading the Word and Love of God. Our mission is to create an authentic, welcoming worship community, and to empower people to live a life of faith and service in the name of Jesus. Join us for our Halloween alternative, Hallelujah Night, on October 28th, 2023 from 5-8pm.
Our offerings include a variety of worship experiences, LifeGroups, youth programs, and service initiatives for individuals of all ages, all of them designed to offer community and opportunities to engage with God. Attend a sermon or contact us today to learn more about how we can serve you, or consider donating to support our work.
