Halloween - Pt 5

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV). It’s Halloween. I really don’t have a lot planned for tonight. I’ll probably end up at our grandchildren’s helping them pass out candy and go trick or treating in the neighborhood. Usually our church does something near Halloween for the children. That will actually take place this Sunday. I know that’s after Halloween, but the date works best for us. We’ll have activities, hot dogs, and copious amounts of candy to distribute! However, now is the time to conclude our little series. I hope you have come to see that the overarching message of Scripture is the great gift of grace we have received that eliminates fear from our lives. While I have not really tried to answer the question of whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween, let me deal briefly with that question. John Piper said, “It's kind of one of those questions of, ‘Do you see Christ against culture, Christ in culture, or Christ over culture?’" There are many people from one end of that perspective to the other. Piper goes on to say further: That is, some would say, "We don't want anything to do with that demonic holiday! Why would you even be involved with that at all?" And others who would have their children dress up as a butterfly and go knocking on doors and say, "Trick or treat!" And then in the middle would be people who do counter events, like a thing at the church where you dress up like biblical characters and have a great time. I'm totally OK with the middle one and the first one. And sort of OK with the second one. I grew up trick-or-treating. We were pretty serious trick-or-treaters, right into teenage years. There isn't much in my neighborhood. We're kind of an inner-city neighborhood, and it's not the most lucrative place to go knocking on doors. You're not going to fill your bag up with the best. You better go to the suburbs if you want to get a good pile. So I would hope that all Christians would think biblically and carefully about any holiday, any event, and how they might be salt and light in it. And if they feel like this can be of value to the kids in some way, to teach them—if it can be an innocent way of enjoying God's grace and teaching lessons—so be it. I'm willing to run the risk of attachment to worldliness in order to be biblically faithful in witness. The same thing with Christmas and birthdays and Easter and worshipping on Sunday. All of these things have pagan connections. I want to be loose and broad and give freedom to believers to find their way to be most effective. So I respect those who are renouncing it as too connected with evil, and I respect those who say, "No, let's redeem it and penetrate it and use it." The key in all of our lives is to make the best use of our time. The Holy Spirit is powerful enough to lead you in that way. My only encouragement is to remember that we have been redeemed to lives of freedom from fear and death. Do not let anyone rob you of that joy!