October 20, 2025
A few months ago, my son seemed disturbed one day. At bedtime, he opened up and told me he had seen a scary, demonic image flash up during a child-friendly video he’d watched. It had been playing on his mind.
I asked him, “What do you need to do when you’re scared?”
I expected him to say, “I should come and tell Mummy or Daddy.”
But instead, he said something far more profound:
“I should pray.”
I was so encouraged that his first instinct was to go to God. He asked God to take the image away and give him peace – and God did. But a couple of days later, the enemy brought the image back into his thoughts, and the fear returned.
That night, I had the opportunity to pray with him and share scriptures that would help him if the image returned again. I was so encouraged to see that he had already learned to respond in a godly way – one that will bear fruit in his spiritual life.
As parents, our job is to protect our children, while knowing we cannot prevent them from encountering darkness entirely. That’s why it’s just as important to teach them how to stand against evil when they face it – reminding them that God is more powerful than any fear or darkness they may encounter.
1 John 4:4
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
The rise in Halloween celebrations in the UK over the last few decades presents a new challenge for Christian families. I’ll be honest – I dread this time of year. It seems like every shop, event, and activity is taken over by Halloween. Even when we actively avoid it, it’s hard to protect our children from the ghosts, ghouls, and creepy dolls that fill supermarket aisles.
Thankfully, it’s never been a battle for us to explain to our kids why we don’t celebrate Halloween. They’ve naturally never wanted to go to Halloween parties or dress up in scary costumes. I believe that’s because we’ve always been open and honest with them about the reality of light and darkness.
While other forms of darkness in the world are often hidden, Halloween is very visible. To our children, the evil in it is clear.
But it’s important to teach our children that Halloween isn’t something we need to fear as Christians. We don’t celebrate it – not because we’re afraid – but because it applauds evil in the form of witches, wizards, and grotesque imagery meant to induce fear. And fear is not from God.
If your child is asking why you don’t celebrate Halloween – or if they’re asking to attend a party or go trick-or-treating – here are a few ways to have that conversation from a biblical perspective:
Explain that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).
As Christians, we follow the light. If we willingly celebrate darkness, we are not living as children of the light.
1 Thessalonians 5:5
“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
John 8:12
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Many churches now offer Light Parties at this time of year – joyful, God-honouring alternatives that point our kids to Jesus. Suggest attending one near you.
The goal of Halloween is often to embrace fear and darkness. That’s why pumpkins have menacing smiles and creepy imagery is everywhere. As parents, we usually work to protect our kids from fear – yet Halloween seems to promote it.
Make it clear that fear isn’t something God wants for us.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Anything that stirs up fear in us or opens the door to it is not from God – and we should reject it.
Despite what the world may say, evil is not fun or harmless. It is serious. Jesus laid down His life to defeat sin and darkness.
Help your children understand that there are spiritual forces at work behind Halloween that are not of God – and as His people, we should have nothing to do with them.
Ephesians 5:11
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them.”
As we walk through this dark season, let’s remind our children – and ourselves – that we are on the winning side. God is with us, and He will strengthen and protect us as we look to Him.
Let’s continue to equip our children to stand firm in truth, to be unafraid of darkness, and to shine God’s light in the world.
Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”
October 20, 2025
