Halloween?
As a kid I went trick or treating like most other kids in America. I didn’t really like candy, but halloween was a time when I could dress up like my favorite superhero. I didn’t wear make-up, that was too hard to put on and it took too long. However, I loved to wear a cool mask or cape. When my cape was securely fastened, I would run around the room with my arms out like I was flying so my cape could flap in the wind.
When I was in middle school, my family decided that Halloween was of the devil and so we wouldn’t participate anymore. We didn’t pass out candy to all the local kids, we ate spaghetti and watched a movie (it was a tradition). I didn’t mind our not participating in any of the festivities, and I’m not that big on Halloween now.
But, what I was wondering is, how does everybody else feel about Halloween? Do you participate? Do you allow your kids to participate? I guess the reason I ask, is that I’m still trying to figure out what I believe about Halloween – the day of harvesting candy!
I would love to do a survey to see how many families that protest Halloween for its demonic/evil influence whisper into their child’s ear on Dec. 24th, “Now go to sleep, because Santa is watching, and he won’t come if you are awake.” I know the impact of the Santa Christmas is much different than watching some kid dressed like Freddie approach your home in search for a Twix bar. It’s not apples to apples, but I think that if Luke 11:23 says that “He who is not with Me is against me…” then its fair to say that the grey lines that our culture has drawn, should really be examined again.
Please know that I am not some huge fan of Halloween, and I love the tale of Santa Claus. I just believe that if we are going to have a radical approach to Halloween the way we do, then its fair to examine our involvement in all of our holidays.
Like anything, its what you make of it. We took our daughter and her friends Trick or Treating. Most of their ages ranged from 2 to 4. There were princesses, a lion, a lamb, Superman, a fairy, a cheetah, a High School Musical chick, and my daughter dressed as Hannah Montana. No acts of devil worship took place, no blood was shed, and none of the kids brought their Ouija board! We had a great time of fellowship with them, and they all had a blast getting pounds of candy that will be with us until next Halloween. Likewise, the story of Santa is easy to approach as we share with our daughter that, Santa is just a man. He can’t possibly watch all the children in the world. God watches us all and is fully capable to know how all of his creation are doing. Its important for Santa to lean on God for all of his updates on the kids.
I know that the world is watching believers like a hawk. I want the church to be aware of how we share Jesus, mostly when we are not speaking. Its easy to keep our lights out and not put a carved pumpkin on the step in protest of the evilest day of the year. It is a lot harder to be out there being a positive influence on the kids and praying for them. Praying for safety, praying that they would understand, that the 31st of October doesn’t have to be a day about the Devil if we don’t allow it. Despite what age you are, and what costume you end up sporting, the commonality for all ages, for ghosts and goblins, Hannah Montana and High School Musical, is that its mostly about THE CANDY! If that is the case, I think we should get Valentines day on the chopping block!
Next stop….Thanksgiving!
We started ignoring halloween when our kids were young and houses we walked them up to took it too seriously. No reason our kids need nightmares thrust upon them.
I think it’s great for children of the Redeemer to redeem all things in His name. Any suggestions how to do it with halloween would be interesting to discuss.