What is this Christian going to do about Halloween?

Every year I struggle with it.  I loved Halloween as a kid!  I loved getting dressed up (preferably in a homemade costume), and going to houses where people would give me candy and comment on how cute I looked as a little pig, Christmas tree, a present, or whatever I was that year.  It was fun!  But, I never liked the "scary" houses, or the "haunted" things.  Why?  Well, I didn't like them.  That was enough for 8 year old me.   But, now that I am older and wrinkle my nose at Halloween, people ask me "why?! It's fun!", and I am left with needing something more to say than "Because I don't like it."  Usually I say that with enough apparent disgust that people drop the matter.  However, that isn't the best way to handle the situation.  Why don't I like Halloween?  Well, let me start by saying what I do like about Halloween.

Like:

1)  I think costumes are can be fun.

Having people come up with creative/funny/witty costumes is fun!   There was an image going around on Facebook recently of a man dressed up in a cow costume with pi (3.14...) as the spots.  Get it?  Cow pie?  That's funny.  The year I dressed up as a Christmas tree was a lot of fun.  I made a sandwich board style costume, cut out evergreen tree edges, colored and decorated my tree, strung battery operated lights on, and donned a warm winter hat we rigged a star upon.  It was fun!  Another year I was a present.  I had a kindergarten graduation cap we mounted the lid from a box on, and then we wrapped a box, put arm holes in it, cut out a hole in the bottom, and attached a gift tag to it that said "Gift from God" or something like that.  My mom was in charge of that.  Anyway, costumes can be a lot of fun, and I think we should have costume parties all year around.

A con is built into this point, though.  Well, several are, but I will address them later.

2) Community

Halloween tends to draw neighborhoods together.  Sometimes social or work groups put together a "trunk or treat" where they get to meet whole families.  Neighbors ask "what are you doing for Halloween" to see if they are handing out candy as well.

A con is here as well, though.  The reason Halloween originally would draw people together is avoiding the evil spirits (like the costumes, jack-o-lanterns, etc.).  Wait...con section is later...

3)  Candy

I was a sugar addict!  Having wheat and dairy allergies, people tended to give me my dessert treats as skittles, suckers, and smarties (to name a few).  I used to eat bowls of sprinkles, coconut, and peanuts from the dessert bar at buffets while my family ate ice cream.  I love(d) sugar!  Now, I tend to avoid it.  I still love it, but I feel a ton better when I don't eat it so much.

Other than obesity in children, I don't see a con here!

4)  I love pumpkins!

I don't like killing my pumpkin, though, by carving it.  So...maybe this isn't a pro for Halloween.

5)  People come straight to your house!  You don't have to go out to witness.  :)


Okay...time for the cons.  Why I do not like Halloween and find it offensive.

What is being glorified?

Yes, yes...I hear you.  "Stop over-thinking everything!"  But, really...I don't think we *can* over-think Halloween.  Did you know that Halloween has become more popular in most social circles than Christmas?  It definitely beats out Thanksgiving.  Why?  Well, because Halloween is just fun, right?  There is no big meal to make, no stressful or awkward situations with family members, no debt from buying presents...  Yes...that is part of it...  But...look at the history of it.  I won't get into it all here, but, Halloween--the costumes, the jack-o-lanterns, the cover of night--are all intended to disguise our souls/identity from evil spirits.  Where is a Christian's place in that?  I have Jesus for that.  Okay, okay, yes, I could claim back Halloween by bringing the name of Jesus into it.  However, there is nothing here to claim back.   This isn't taking back Christmas from Santa.  This isn't taking back Easter from a giant bunny.  This is a Satanic holiday.  If Jesus takes it back, it no longer exists.

So, here is the bottom line.  Halloween glorifies fear.  The intent of the holiday is to disguise, to scare, to mask, to be "creepy."  I am not sure where the candy comes into this, but think of the things associated with Halloween: haunted houses (the intent is to make you anxious and fearful), spiders and cobweb decorated homes (creepy...don't touch me), people in costumes of the dark world of spirituality (witches, zombies, serial killers, chainsaw massacres, comic book villains, red devils, etc), creepy music, etc.

As a Christian, how can I be a part of this?  Jesus has conquered the devil and his powers.  Why would I participate in glorifying the defeated world?

I will never forget the time I was handing out candy at the Christian nursing home my grandparents lived in.  They liked to see the kids, so I offered to pass out candy during the home's Halloween time.  I dressed up as a cat, with store-bought ears, a tail, and long gloves with long plastic nails on them.  I drew on a kitty face.   I was handing out candy, and surprised by the number of scary and disturbing costumes at the event.  Then, a little girl in a witch costume came up to get candy, and, as I handed it to her, started to cry.  She was afraid of my gloves.  "Jason" just walked by all "bloody-handed," and she, in her witch (satanic worship) costume, was afraid of my plastic nails.  She wasn't upset by the portrayals of evil, or feeling awkward because my grandma was a double amputee, but panicked because my hands looked funny...  I took of my gloves, and then she calmed down and received candy, walked past a snarling werewolf with his vampire friend, and went down the hall.  I didn't understand it.  I don't understand it.  I was not offended by her reaction.  Admittedly, 2 inch nails are a little creepy.  But, apparently, she was ignorant of what was going on around her.  People (including herself) were wearing costumes that glorified horrible evil.  She couldn't see that though, for whatever reason.  That was the last time I handed out candy because I could see that evil so many people were both blindly and willingly participating in.

Halloween is a spiritual holiday.  To not admit so is to ignore the obvious.  But, as I said before, it is somewhat of a catch-22.  There are enjoyable and benign parts of this "holiday," when taken out of the darkness context.  It is fun to gather together, drink hot cider, do an unsanitary bobbing for apples, eat a chocolate bar, and admire the art of costume.  But is it possible to celebrate the holiday without actually celebrating the holiday and bringing honor to evil?  I don't know.  I don't think so?  Maybe creating an alternate celebration?  We've tried that, and still the witches and goblins attend.  Do we just shut our blinds, lock the doors, dim the lights, and hope no one knocks on our door?  I kind of like that option (it is what I do every night, after all), but is it at all effective?  Isn't that the equivalent of my disgusted "I don't like it" response?  Does it have any effect at all?  How do I engage the culture while keeping my conscience clean?  I don't know.  I really don't.  This year, the hubs wants to hand out candy.  I do not, but since it is supposed to be 40* and raining/snowing tomorrow, I figure anyone brave enough to come to our door deserves a treat with a Bible verse attached and a "God bless."  Am I happy with this solution, no.  But, it is what I can do for now.  

Have a thought life!

"Uh-oh...she has a Bible...what did Black Jack do now!?"

"Be still and know that I am God..."

Isaiah 46:10

I am rediscovering the importance of having a prayer life an a thought life.  I encourage you to do th same.  Go outside, find a spot alone, leave only the "incoming call" volume up on your phone and toss it out of arm's reach, and talk to God and yourself about what is going on in your life.  Figure out what is good, what is bad, what needs forgiveness, and act on those things.  Determine some goals and actually figure out what needs to occur to make them happen.  If we don't connect with God and ourselves, we become shells mindlessly existing rather than thriving.  It is a beautiful day!  Go find a shade tree, feel the breeze on your face, enjoy the hot and cool air blown over you, and think.

Can I Protect God?

I am currently reading Robby Dawkins's book Do What Jesus Did. I am just getting into chapter 3 when I realized a bad attitude within me.

This book is primarily about outreach so far (as I assume will be the rest of it).  Robby cites examples of God using him to witness to the seemingly untouchable people in society.  He tells stories of witnessing to people in ways that they "feel" God and have radical conversions.

I had often wondered about this practice of witnessing about Jesus in a way that would encourage God to produce a tangible presence to an unbeliever.  I have had many doubting questions about this practice.  How can God touch an unbeliever when their unrepentant sinfulness is keeping her from having a relationship with Him?  Why would an unbeliever even care if a God in whom he didn't believe made him feel warm and fuzzy?  Don't I need to protect God from sinful grossness?  Now I realize these were largely unbiblical objections and are easily refuted.

How can God touch someone who is unrepentant? Doesn't sin separate us from God?

I'm not exactly sure how holiness can touch unholiness.  However, the Bible is full of examples of this happening.  A standout one in Acts when Saul is traveling to Damascus and Jesus appears to him, the glory of God literally blinds him, and he remains that way until he spiritually sees.  God touched Paul in his unbelief. In fact, God touches all of us in our non-belief!  The thought of needing forgiveness and saving is not a human idea.  Sinful humans are selfish.  We have no reason to believe we are not always right.  God is the one who has planted the longing in our soul to be close to Him.  He is the one who meets us.  And, He is the one who saves us.  Our conscious readiness isn't much of a factor here.


Why would an unbeliever care if the true God touches them?

Thinking they wouldn't care limits God and actually denies His power and reign.  How can someone encounter the living God and not be affected?

Do I need to protect God from grossness and sinfulness?

No.  I cannot do that even though I want to because I am gross and sinful without even having a good reason of not knowing better!  We cannot protect God from others.  And I don't think He wants to be protected even if we could.

I am still uncomfortable with this practice.  In some ways, I feel like it sets people up to be disappointed.  God is great even when one doesn't feel Him miraculously healing her, or speaking audibly while she is in the shower, or moving her to tears with His awesomeness.  Does this encourage people to come to God just because of the sign and wonder?  Can one truly come to God without a basis of the theology or knowing what they are confessing by coming to Him?  I don't know yet.  I do know, though, that I was wrong with the above objections and wanted to share my growth in that regard and issue a challenge to myself and my readers.  Challenge your objections and thoughts against Scripture.  Ask God to reveal the truth.  Do not hold onto something just because you have it.