What do you do with Halloween?
Doug
It’s October and that means Halloween is on the horizon. This year it falls on a Friday night. So what are you going to do?
Some will see this as the Devil’s day and opt not to participate. Others will go to a Fall Festival. Others will celebrate Reformation Day. And still others will intentionally stay home to make a bridge into their neighbor’s lives. Because I’m a pastor to children and families, I know this can be a hot-button issue. But I think it’s a good one for us to wrestle with in a spirit of humility. So what are you going to do … as a family? as a church? I’m curious.
In case you’re wondering, last year our pastors and elders encouraged our people to stay at home and hand out candy along with a tract and magnet provided by our church. We will do the same this year to encourage our members to think missionally on the only night of the year when all of our neighbors come right to our front door.
(BTW … our kids already got their costumes ready. Emie – a Bunny Rabbit, Lily — Minnie Mouse, and Luke — Tigger!)
Written by Doug Wolter - Visit Website
October 7th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Doug,
You have to send me the pictures of the kids dressed up!
Mark
October 7th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Doug,
Out of curiosity, just because it wasn’t until I became a member of LaGrange that I even knew people didn’t celebrate Halloween (in my family it was just common practice to go trick-or-treating. I wasn’t raised in a “Christian” home but we were members of a Catholic church), what are some arguments people use not to participate in Halloween? What do people (who don’t celebrate Halloween) say that God’s word says on this issue.
This year me and Jeff are excited to stay home on Halloween, maybe watch a movie and hand out candy to kiddos in the neighborhood who come to our door. I think that when our kids are old enough to trick-or-treat, we’ll spend some time visiting neighbors on our street but then meet people that come to our house as well. I like the outreach opportunity of that holiday.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Brittney, let me direct you to something Al Mohler wrote last year:
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1036
Also, John MacArthur said this:
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/1126
Hope this helps!
October 8th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Doug,
I think the question we need to ask is…where are all the unbelieving kids going to be on Halloween night? They are going to be out trick-or-treating. Therefore, I think it is our responsibility to be out there as well in a way that does not compromise the Gospel. I think it is possible to participate in Halloween without celebrating evil. It is one thing to go door-to-door and bobbing for apples…it is another thing to go to a Halloween party and play with the Ouija board all night. I wonder for all the people who get upset about Halloween do they stop to think as they are watching their favorite game shows like “Deal or No Deal” about the demonic forces at work in celebrating worldly wisdom, earthly possessions, and the pride of life as the Apostles James and John teach us?
Chad
October 8th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I would agree with you, Chad. Instead of shutting off our lights and going somewhere else for Halloween, we have the opportunity to shine our lights in our neighborhoods by being there…keeping in mind like you said, to be in the world, but not of it. You also raise some good questions to consider when thinking about the subtle deception of the enemy in our everyday lives.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Thanks Doug
I’ll check those websites out!
October 9th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
well, i look at it this way if there is an opportunity for free candy then i say go for it!!!!!!!!
no really, i love halloween and so does my family. i grew up celebrating halloween and i grew up southern baptist. it is a fun time for kids and adults (if they wish) to get dressed up and get lots of candy and then for the kids to give the good stuff to their parents. lol
have fun trick or treating. missy smith
October 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
it’s me again, i thought luke would dress as luke “sky wolter”