Christians and Halloween
It is interesting to me that Halloween this year is on a Saturday night. The evening that most Christians are preparing their hearts for the worship of our living God the next morning. On Oct 31 this year, many believers and non-believers will unite together to walk their neighborhood streets with their children or grandchildren while gleefully teaching them to knock on suspecting doors shouting "trick or treat". I've been there - did that - and enjoyed every moment of it both as a kid and as a parent/grandparent. Peanut butter Reece's Cup were a very special treat to me. I have to admit, I wasn't up on much of the "tricking" though. I always knew there would be a great price to pay if I hurt someone or destroyed someone else's property. The cost of trickery in my home was not being able to sit down for awhile after my father was finished with me. Ouch!!
Scripture teaches clearly that the believer is "in the world" but not to be a part "of the world". The Apostle John wrote, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (I John 2:15). The question this time of year most always comes around to how should a genuine believer approach Halloween in their home? Can parents/grandparents enjoy the festivities of a worldly function and still stay true to the Word of God? MacArthur wrote a very enlightening article giving historical background information on the founding of Halloween, how it became secularized and how he believes Christians could participate and still honor God. For me, I have always been one to embrace the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) method to almost everything in my life. Not that I think I'm stupid (hope you agree with me :) but because I try to apply simple biblical logic to my understanding of how I should conduct my every day approach to life. Here it is....not very deep theologically but just good ole' common sense. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (I Corinthians 10:31)
Can I honor God by dressing my kids in devil costumes, gothic costumes or the like? I hope you know you can't. That's identifying with the world and it's evil and that truly does not glorify God. It only glorifies the god of this world. Can I instruct my kids to knock on my neighbors door and say "Happy Halloween" while dressed up as the Tin Man or the Cowardly Lion or Dorothy? Well, let's just say I think we are a lot closer to pleasing God and enjoying the evening of Halloween with our children/grandchildren when we practice good ole" common sense to the "whatever you do" that Paul was referring in his letter to the Corinthians. Have a Happy and Safe Halloween...and, oh yea, take time that night to prepare your hearts and the hearts of your children for worshipping the God of Creation the next morning.
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Kimberly Kartesz on Oct 30, 2009 10:12am
Yes, BUT sometimes when something is sooo entrenched into our culture the obvious is overlooked. A demonstration of this is the fact I have been to many CHURCHES where Halloween decorations deck the halls of the Sunday school room classes and just yesterday bumped into a very Godly family whose child was dressed up as a devil.
Thank you for keeping it simple and simply just talking about an issue many Pastors and people think is too silly or insignificant to even address. I come from a new age background so God needed to convict me on this after I became a Christian. Every year it gives me an opportunity to discuss some awesome things with my kids. If you make some distinctions on your convictions God will richly bless your kid's understanding of being in the world but not OF the world!