There is an email making its way through my group at work that give many interesting facts about Halloween but the conclusion is a very harsh condemnation to Christians that participate in Halloween. While the email is very interesting and while I understand the writers points he is making, I disagree with his implied conclusion. That it is a sin to participate in the festivities. I believe it is in many ways an issue of conscience. I do not believe there is absolute right and wrong. Similar to the way alcohol is made into an issue of absolutism (is that a word). Paul speaks of something being wrong for one and not for another and I recognize the stumbling block passage as well. There are parts of this issue I won’t waiver on, like, evil costumes and the like. But I also see this as a good opportunity to interact with neighbors, to enjoy their children and to prove that Christians are part of the community and not merely people who want only to interact with Christian friends. I am convicted that it is a poor witness to have a dark house, especially in a neighborhood like ours which is small and where every person and every home is highly-visible. We know that, if we choose not to participate, the neighbors will notice. So my children will dress up as a ballerina and a princess or something like that and we will visit each of our neighbors, knocking on their doors and accepting their fistfuls of candy. Stacey will remain at home, greeting people at our door with candy. Our door will be open and the light will be on. Halloween is the one night of the year where the good neighborliness (word???) that flows from being in Christ is communicated and reinforced. We are citizens of His Kingdom where “The Light” is always on.
This year we’re doing something else. We have invited all of the neighbors over for dinner, Stacey’s Mexican Chili. We’re doing this simply because we want to spend time with them and let them see Christ in us.
Leave a Reply