Halloween is the worst.

I am the Ebenezer Scrooge of Halloween. Seriously, my least favorite time of year, just the thought gets me in a mood. Here are the top 3 reasons:

1. Candy– Bleh, good enough for me, but I want better for my kids. Like, apples with sugar free caramel… or how about just apples.
2. Costumes– I have to admit I am almost won over by the costumes. That is until some idiot shows up at the church carnival dressed as a scary clown; and I have to spend the rest of the night reassuring my 3 year old it was not real. Not cool.
3. Christians– But honestly the real reason Halloween makes me moody is the great debate: “should Christians participate in Halloween?” Dun dun dun. This debate seems to get noisier every year. And the guilt from Christians who just want to let their kids be super hero’s and not shepherds can be heard around the country.

STOP IT

If you hate Halloween, if you feel a strong conviction that you should not participate in it, fine. Don’t participate. Round up your kids, make popcorn, turn off your porch light, and start your own tradition of watching family movies or whatever. Do nothing, fine. But trying to convince the world of wiles of candy and costumes is getting tired.

Please stop.

I know the back-story. Halloween get’s it’s roots from pagan traditions. So does the Christmas tree, btw. Today, Halloween is about costumes and candy. Neither of which, are inherently evil. Attempts to make it seem any more ghastly than any other secular holiday are misguided.

Christians who let their kids dress up and eat candy ARE NOT CELEBRATING DARKNESS. That idea is ridiculous and rooted in superstition.

Pagans are superstitious. Christians have the truth of God’s word. And the truth is, evil spirits are no more active on Halloween than they are on any other day of the year. In fact, any day is a good day for Satan to prowl like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), but we know “greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

As long as there is light in this world, darkness does not get a day of celebration. You don’t fight darkness by turning off your light but by shining brightly like a city on a hill.

Not sure how to do that on such a SPOOKY day? Here are a couple things I’ve seen done that are pretty stinkin’ awesome:

• Hand out tracks with your candy. (Pray for the people who will come to your door, and give them Jesus when they do)
• Carve pumpkins that tell the world Jesus lives. (I’ve seen crosses, Ichthus, hearts, and awesome phrases like “Grace is in this place” & “Jesus is alive”
• Opt for a Halloween alternative at a local church. Invite friends to a safe and fun environment. These are seriously the best & most churches have some gospel sharing activity planned at these amazing community outreaches. If you don’t have one at your church and live in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area, you are welcome to join me ;0).

Whatever you decide to do, or not do, remember that God made us all different. The Christian who responds to Halloween with a gospel-centered heart is no less spiritual that the one who takes this day as an opportunity to pray for the safety and spiritual well being of others. One body, many parts.

Now to finish “testing” the candy to make sure it is “safe” for the children… ;0)

Xoxo,

S

What do you do on Halloween? I’d love to hear your thoughts, reactions, and creative ideas here! Leave a comment!