Had a conversation with some friends this week about Halloween. The discussion was about whether our families would/should participate. It was a short conversation, respectful of those Christian families (like mine) that do. The conversation led me to revisit the whole thought process of why Christians should or should not choose to take part in this holiday. How do we justify being excited about a holiday that is steeped in such darkness...so in opposition to the spirit within us?
Yes, Halloween is fun, especially for our children - and the candy - YUM! But there has to be more to this decision than fun & candy. Our belief system has to take us deeper than that.
I grew up with strong, very active, Chrisitian parents. We were highly involved in the church from as early as I can remember. As young children, we dressed up and went trick or treating every year. As we grew a little older and my parents grew in their faith and began to experience a more charismatic lifestyle, they chose for our family not to participate in the holiday. We were part of a church that led families in that direction and also took the stance that the church would not participate by having trunk or treats, fall festivals, etc. So, I've lived at both ends of the spectrum.
In reflecting on that perspective, one huge thought keeps coming to mind. What is our role as "the church"? We have been commanded to "Go & make disciples". Where are disciples made? We (believers in Jesus Christ) are "the church". We come together for Sunday celebrations and small groups to be a family (at it's deepest level) to one another and to be equipped to follow the command we were given to "Go and make disciples". Staying within the confines of our comfortable church environment does not disciples make. The word says, "GO"... Where? Into "ALL THE WORLD".
The bible also says we are to be a "light in the darkness". What is the purpose of light if there is no darkness to dispell? or better yet...If God desires us to be light, doesn't that somehow require us go into the darkness?
We "christians" spend great time and energy on producing the best Easter & Christmas services possible. Why? Because we are told these are the two times of the year that people who would not normally walk in the doors of a church will come. I do not disagree with this philosophy. These services are important and people certainly come to know Christ through these services and productions. My thoughts are simply this...If we are willing to pour so much into a "Christian" holiday in an effort to present hope to the few nonbelievers that might show up, what if we poured the same kind of effort into a holiday that we know great numbers of nonbelievers will definitely be participating in? Why is it that we leave this pagan holiday so wide open for the enemy? In the spiritual realm, don't we agree that the battle is great on this night? Is this not a night that hope and life need to be most greatly exemplified in opposition to death & despair? Is this not the darkness our light is designed to illuminate? Shouldn't "the church" individually & corporately embrace this opportunity? Why is it we sit back and expect nonbelievers to come to us for the light rather than taking our light to them? We desire so greatly to see people come to know Christ, yet we fear stepping outside our doors to facilitate this great change.
How does "the church" make the biggest difference on this night? Is it through corporate church events like trunk or treats, individually going out in our neighborhoods and building relationships with those around us, or praying as the Holy Spirit leads for the people we encounter? I don't know the answers, I simply believe this night is about more than a choice whether or not to participate. The question to ask ourselves is, Will I be a light? and How/where can our family be best used by God on this night?
I have not forgotten the responsibility we have to our own children in this. Children understand good & evil at a young age, an ability God has built into them. We expose them to it over and over again in so many ways, without much thought. Whether we choose to participate in Halloween or not, they are bombarded with the Holiday in every store we take them into, at school, etc. With Ella, I want her to love Jesus and desire to share him with others. I want her to have a heart for the lost. I want her to know that the enemy is real and does not want them to know Jesus. I want her to understand that the enemy has already lost the battle and she has absolutely nothing to fear. I want her to be so confident in her faith & knowledge of Jesus, that she can walk into the darkness in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit and command the enemy to leave. I want her to so desire... (Wow, I just got challenged by the Spirit on this one, so I'll hold that thought for another post : )
How will Keith & I use the Halloween experience to help facilitate this kind of heart in her? I'm not sure...that's a conversation we as parents need to sit down and have. What I do know is I want to grow her in the spirit and don't want it to simply be a holiday about playing dress up and getting candy. As her parents, everything we choose to celebrate as a family has to be centered around our lives in Christ, for without him there is no life!
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