This is my yearly note on why I love Halloween, and why you should, too!
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Fall
is my favorite time of year. As a redhead, I'm supposed to dress like
mulch, so the colors of Fall suit me well. I love the crisp air, the
smell of apples, football, and of course,
Halloween.
What, you ask?!?! Halloween? Its an evil demonic holiday, I'm told; its
celebrating things of Satan; its dangerous; its pagan; and on, and on,
and on...... Oh, but if we all dress as Bible Characters and throw a
party at church it makes it okay? PUH-LEASE! Quite frankly, I think
Christian's have really missed the boat when it comes to this holiday.
Huh? Before anyone gets overly insulted, let me explain.
The
origins of Halloween truly are pagan. The Celts believed at this time
of year the dead returned to visit their homes. They would light fires
and sometimes wear masks or disguises so as to not be recognized by the
travelling ghosts. The Roman invasion came and as a result added their
own twist, celebrating Feralia, the festival of the dead, and Pomona the
goddess of the harvest. As with every other pagan holiday, we
Christians supplanted them with a "Christian" event to offset the
temptation to succumb to the evil festivities. That is why Christmas is
in December (The Roman festival of Saturnalia), and Easter is in the
Spring (the fertility festival). These fall celebrations became All
Hallows Day, or All Saints Day. The evening before became holy, thus All
Hallows Eve. After the reformation, the holy day was not widely
celebrated, and even banned among colonists. But when the European
immigrants came, they brought their customs and traditions, and
Halloween became a favorite holiday, particularly among children. Why?
Because of the treats, of course (which, by the way, stems from the
British poor going door to door begging for food).
So,
why the history lesson? I think it is important to understand that
Halloween (and most other major holidays), though pagan in origin,
has morphed and changed as time has marched on. I believe that just as it has before, Halloween can be changed into a
powerful holiday
that Christian's can enjoy and celebrate for God's glory! I'm not
talking about holing up in our churches, going to shopping malls,
dressing up as Moses or Jonah, or turning up our noses and turning off
our lights. If there is one thing that is unique about Halloween, it is
the fact that it is the
only holiday that your neighbors expect you to knock on their door. To me, this is
HUGE!
We
are called to GO into the world, not to COME inside and ignore the
world. Jesus was always walking into the midst of the world, eating with
sinners and tax collectors, going where the "holy" people thought he
shouldn't. Why on earth wouldn't we take this opportunity to follow his
example? Get our of your house! Meet your neighbors! Form a community
and claim it in His Name!
But Chrissy, you say, the
commercial focus on Halloween is ghosts, goblins, and witches! So? That
doesn't mean I have to focus on that too--well, unless I'm casting them
out in the name of Jesus! I choose to focus on the Lord! I decorate my
home with the things God gave us--pumpkins, cats, colorful leaves, and
things of that nature. It looks festive, yet not icky. I encourage my
son to dress up--I love the fact that kids can use their imagination to
be whatever they want to be! I don't allow horror costumes because
aspiring or imagining you are a witch or zombie, I feel, is not pleasing
to God. But I'm certain He delights and smiles at little ones roaring
like dragons in awe of a creature God could have made; saving the world
as superheros by the power God gave them; pretending to be a doctor or
pilot with skills from the Lord; sashaying as the beautiful princesses
God made them to be; or being brave knights, showing the courage God
gave them in the face of danger.
Oh Brothers and Sisters, wouldn't it be just like God to use a holiday so focused on and abused by the enemy for
HIS ULTIMATE GLORY? I
LOVE when
God does that! Lets not miss the opportunity we have in this holiday!
Let's be a light to our neighborhoods! Form relationships so people will
get to know you and ask you what makes you so different! Take advantage
of the fact that your neighbors are waiting for that knock on the door!
Take back this holiday for the King of Kings!
If you are up to this challenge, I have a few ideas outlined below to help you in this quest!
*
Focus on the Lord--Pray
over this Halloween, your neighborhood, the children; relate your
decorating and costumes to the great things of God. Talk to your kids
about why you don't like the creepy things. Let them know that God gave
us this holiday to use our imaginations and to meet/say hello to our
neighbors.
*
Take advantage of the fact that your neighbors are expecting you--Take
your kids trick-or-treating yourself! Don't stand at the street and
watch your kids run to the door. Walk up there with them, greet your
neighbors and introduce yourself if you don't know them. Chat for a
minute before you leave, and always smile!
*
Give out good candy--As
a child, I always went to the houses I knew that had the best candy! I
wasn't interested in Bible tracts or Jesus pencils, and I'm sure most
kids today agree with me. Let your life and kindness send the
message...not a pamphlet.
*
Have a Halloween party--do
a festival of games on your front lawn, like a bean bag toss, or the
duck pond for little ones. Have prizes--and of course GOOD CANDY. We
have a Hallow-Weenie Roast each year and roast hot dogs, have some beer
(for adults), soda, and hot chocolate available. The neighborhood (and
not so neighborhood) kids are regulars and look forward to it every
year. The local teens come back over and over with different friends
each time...one group of kids even went and brought back their parents!
*
Don't snub--if
a parent allowed their little one to dress up as the devil, don't start
chastising them or the child. Instead tell them what a beautiful little
boy God gave them, and chat with them as you would with anyone else.
You can pray over them as you're talking and later on! Remember, YOU MAY
BE THE ONLY BIBLE SOME PEOPLE EVER READ! Let them see God's Love in
you!
*
Plan an event in your neighborhood--Talk
to your neighbors. Maybe you can work a block party. Send flyers out
encouraging people to trick-or-treat. Have a secret prize at one of the
houses. Whatever you do, do it in YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Hmmmm...moon
bounces aren't too expensive to rent......
*
Have Fun! Halloween
was always so much fun as kid. I have great memories of dressing up (I
STILL dress up as an adult!), surprising my neighbors with my costume,
and of course, the reward of treats at the end.
So,
won't you join me in this quest? Lets pass a tradition of joy and
community, praise and glory on this holiday. Let's claim Halloween for
God's Glory. He is able--we should be willing!
God bless you this day, and
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Please, God, bless!
"Therefore, as you GO,
disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey
everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and
every day until the end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20 ISV
