Happy ????? Halloween???

It’s a weird one isn’t it? Should Christians celebrate Halloween?

It started as a very pagan holiday there is no doubt about it. Then Christianity tried to turn it into All Saints day, or All Hallows Day. Which led to Hallow Eve…. And on to Halloween. You can read a lot of ideas from a lot of different people online about how we should deal with it.

I’ll just tell you what came up in my quiet time this morning and you can do what you want.

Psalm 97:10-12

¹⁰ Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. ¹¹ Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. ¹² Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

I didn’t even remember that it was Halloween, honestly. That one just popped in there like it was God wanting to remind me (and you) of something.

Evil is why Jesus had to die.

My New Testament reading right now is one of the crucifixion accounts. You want a horror story? There you go. Watch the “Passion of the Christ” tonight if you want to be horrified. This scripture says that God guards the hearts of the faithful and delivers us. We get light and joy – “you who are righteous.”

I’ll admit to you that I’m just not a horror flick kind of guy. They always feel “dark.” I don’t like “dark” movies. I don’t like “dark.” I want a movie where the people fall in love and the good guys win (and the bad guys get blown up – I’m still a guy).

So here is my take on Halloween.

The dark stuff is bad. We are supposed to hate evil (which probably even means when the bad guys get blown up, but leave me alone). So the evil part of Halloween is something Christians should definitely “hate.” Those are God’s words.

BUT – I also don’t like it when Christians throw the baby out with the bathwater (and who made that expression up – did someone actually do that once?)

Halloween can be an opportunity for us to be “in the world and not of it.”

I can respect and honor those of you who’ve chosen not to participate in the holiday. But to me there are some very harmless aspects that may allow us to penetrate the darkness better, if we don’t alienate ourselves from those who don’t know the difference.

The Harlow’s dressed up their kids as Disney characters (a lot of princess themes…) and had fun with Halloween. They may have a few more filled cavities in their mouths but we chose to NOT make a stand on this one in our neighborhood. So we will pass out candy and participate.

You do what you want. All I’m asking is that you turn your light off and act like you’re not home. Or don’t be home. What you shouldn’t do is try to make Halloween a soapbox to talk about Jesus vs. the Devil. 99.99% of the people in the world are not worshiping satan today. They are enjoying a holiday. I know satan can use Halloween. But he does a much better job with the television and billboards and the internet. Unless you choose to become Amish, you are going to have to figure out how to dwell in the land that we temporarily inhabit.

Let’s see if we can continue to live in the tension that exists between “hating evil” and loving those who need Jesus. It’s always there, but it’s especially there on Halloween.

By the way, if this is All Hallows Eve, then tomorrow is All Saints Day.

And if you are in Christ, you’re a saint.

Celebrate that!

Tim

Comments

[Paula]

Happy All-Saints Day!
There was a great movie last night...
Shenandoah with Jimmy Stewart...he is bitter and running from GOD, and trying to hide from the world too...but GOD has a different plan for him and near the end, he looks up and says "YOU just don't give up, do YOU?"
(to GOD)
and what brings him Home at the very end is when after losing one son, the other who has been at war, returns while the family is at Church, and though Jimmy Stewart, the patriach always made sure the family was at church every week, he himself was there in body only and never sang, but when his wounded son walks through the church door alive, he sings a Hymn with him, his youngest boy. A Beautiful Movie that makes you just cry. Anyway...a better way to spend Halloween for sure! Thanks for this, a great example of just how you lead your flock with your words.

[Dana]

Had a chance to listen to your nov 4th sermon. May our good and gracious God continue to bless your growth, and stir the hearts of others to lift you up, and support you in this exciting time of bringing others to Him. When I saw you at the football game, I guessed you went to Parkview because you are right...the growth is amazing and it's becoming common place for me to ask and be told, "I go to Parkview" I am happy you could use our meeting in you sermon,:) I was sitting here just surfing the church sites and stumbled on your past weeks sermon. Wow that WAS weird. That was funny! I hope I see you at this friday's game! We're still alive!!! Go Blue!
Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do as though working for the Lord! And Be Blessed!!!!