I must admit, I loved Halloween growing up. Not so much the candy and going house to house, but when I got older enjoyed hanging out with friends at Halloween parties and going to haunted houses (not real ones, just the fun kind) and all that. But as I got older and began to look into the history of Halloween and all that jazz, I started to wonder if I should celebrating/involved with all of it.
It was fairly easy to stand a distance away and not really make a big deal of it all. I did have to voice my opinion a time or two. But now, with a child, and everyone asking her and us, “What is she going to be for Halloween?” we’ve had to be a little more upfront. I guess some of the hesitation is that I don’t want to come across as judging someone else if they choose to (or let their kids) participate in the holiday.
But I saw this post (you may have to scroll down just a bit if his archives are not working properly) on John’s blog. He’s quoting someone else, but it makes pretty good sense.
And my wife and I are still searching for exactly what we believe/think about Halloween as well.
Trick or treat!
Blake,
Glad you liked the article. My wife and I have experienced the same thing, having a 4 year old daughter in preschool, you are faced with the decision of whether or not to address the "halloween" issue. We have some Christian friends who were gossiped about at the daycare that they were "strange" on this issue. Now I believe we must be different than the world, but I don't want to be so strange that I miss the opportunity to minister to someone. So, we took the offensive and jumped in, becoming a part of the issue and not just a combatant. Sarah dressed up and had a great time, but we explained to her and the teacher, that we didn't want to celebrate the darkness that halloween promoted. I think it got through. We found we have a new respect given to us, even to the point of being permitted to share the short Jack-o-Lantern object lesson to 30-40 kids! I think that's ministry. Thanks again!
When you say the "darkness that Halloween promoted" I assume you mean dressing up like witches or devils and the such. I think that's where we are. But I'm still going to try to avoid jumping in full swing with Halloween. I don't want to do something "just to fit in", but I see your point clearly.
I talked to a 16 year old guy last night. Asked him if he ever went trick-or-treating growing up. Knowing his family, I didn't think he had. He said, "Nope. Never been. And I don't feel like I missed out on anything either." I think it's all the midset.
Yeah, I think it is the mindset and the fact that we can be a light by not being raving maniacs but yet sharing the truth we believe at the same time. I don't think my daughter has even cared about missing things because we've filled her life up so much, of course she's only 4, that helps. But I believe that Jesus being a bigger part of her life will help balance all that stuff out.
it is a weird issue as a parent, again because of the issues you brought up. I agreed with the article, in spirit at least, about not condemning those non-Christians who do participate. We have some friends right now that we are just trying to build a relationship with so that we can show them Christ. It would be just as stupid / harmful to tell them of the evils of halloween as it would be to condemn them for having a party and getting drunk every weekend. Right now, "sin" means very little to them, so "correcting" them would only seem like judging and condeming them, and turn them off to Christianity. I also found so far that it's easiest just to be vague when people ask. Again, i dont want to condemn others for taking their kids… sometimes it's not easy to be vague though.