Over a hundred years ago, the great Dutch theologian Hermann Bavinck
predicted that the 20th century would “witness a gigantic conflict of
spirits.” His prediction turned out to be an understatement, and this
great conflict continues into the 21st century.
The issue of Halloween presses itself annually upon the Christian
conscience. Acutely aware of dangers new and old, many Christian parents
choose to withdraw their children from the holiday altogether. Others
choose to follow a strategic battle plan for engagement with the
holiday. Still others have gone further, seeking to convert Halloween
into an evangelistic opportunity. Is Halloween really that significant?
Well, Halloween is a big deal in the marketplace. Halloween is
surpassed only by Christmas in terms of economic activity. Reporting in
2007, David J. Skal esyimated: “Precise figures are difficult to
determine, but the annual economic impact of Halloween is now somewhere
between 4 billion and 6 billion dollars depending on the number and
kinds of industries one includes in the calculations.” As of 2012, that
total exceeded $8 billion.
Furthermore, historian Nicholas Rogers claims that “Halloween
is currently the second most important party night in North America. In
terms of its retail potential, it is second only to Christmas. This
commercialism fortifies its significance as a time of public license, a
custom-designed opportunity to have a blast. Regardless of its
spiritual complications, Halloween is big business.” Continue at Al Mohler
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