It’s Halloween!
Ok, Last week I wrote that I would be talking about three big words “sanctification,” “positive” and “encouraging.” Call me a tease, but I am going to put it off for one more week. I think it can wait, and another week will give me more time to mull that one over.
I thought this week it might be worthwhile to interact with Halloween and all that it means. There are a variety of perspectives on this day in our culture, and probably a greater variety within the church. I know there are probably some readers who think it is wicked and evil. That we ought to stick with reformation day celebrations, centering on the anniversary of Luther’s culture changing nailing up of his 95 Theses.
There are other Christians reading this who think there is nothing whatsoever wrong with halloween and that it is good fun for the whole family.
And there are Wiccans (I hope maybe even reading this) who are gearing up to celebrate Samhein by remembering the loved ones you may have lost this year.
In all likelihood not many people are planning on casting spells or sacrificing goats.
It is worth noting that the holiday originated in Northern European Celtic religions. This day is supposed to be the day of the year when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest and spirits can cross back and forth. Now I know very few people actually believe that, or celebrate it that way. I am just a history geek, so there you have it.
I believe that Christians are called to be salt and light in the culture they live in. I think if we lived in an era where the broader culture was truly sacrificing goats or having seances on halloween, then to be light we might want to hold services worshipping Jesus and praying that the Holy Spirit would restrain evil.
Evil is real. Death is real. Both are our enemies and both have been summarily defeated by our King Jesus when he walked out of a grave after being dead for three days.
But they do still have influence on our lives, because we live between what we call the already (death has been defeated) and the not yet (death will end one day).
So how should we interact with this holiday?
As Christians we need to recognize that we have liberty. Our hope is ultimately in the one who is returning to fully silence all evil. Our hope is not in getting our brothers and sisters to agree with us about contemporary holidays. It’s ok if we disagree.
We also need to recognize that at no other time in the year will we have this great an opportunity to interact with our neighbors. We spend 364 days a year barricaded in our homes. When the doorbell rings we kinda freak out a little bit. We need to recognize that this is not good. And then we need to accept that we have been given an opportunity to get to know people. Don’t just hand out candy. Say “where do you live?” How long have you been in the neighborhood?” “We should try getting together sometime.” Maybe even get a phone number and invite someone to dinner next week.
Don’t try to share the four spiritual laws with children who just want candy. And if you must drop a gospel track in a bag, please for the love of all that is holy tape a full size candy bar to the thing. Christians who give out tracts that condemn trick or treaters are absolutely sending the wrong message. Do us all a favor and turn your lights off and hide in the dark.
One final thing that we need to recognize is that evil is real. Satan truly does exist and he truly does want to harm your faith. I recommend a reading of The Screwtape Letters if you would like some great insight into just how he goes about that.
As we enter into this day in our different ways, remember that evil is real and that we are called to love our neighbors well.
Some of you might dress up as evil clowns, zombies, reformation heroes, or avengers. Others may have convictions that require you to not participate. We have liberty in those things. But above all remember that on this day, like every other day on the calendar, Jesus is king. Jesus died to ransom us from evil and death. And they will both be fully conquered.