Boo!

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:16-18 ESV).

Halloween is not a threat. It’s an opportunity. Because we are armed with the name of Jesus, and the power of his Spirit, there is no reason to be spooked by this night or any other. We can join our King as he haunts the devil and all his minions. We betray the fullness of Christ’s power when we cower before the demonic façade of Halloween. Instead, take Halloween captive. Here are five ways to prepare your heart and home for advancing the gospel. 1. First, remember to use the authority of Jesus. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to him (cf. Matthew 28:18). Not half. Not most. All. Not only is he worshiped and admired by the happy citizens of his kingdom, but he “commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him” (Mark 1:27). There is no give-and-take with Satan. One little word shall fell him. Not only does Jesus rule them as Creator, but also by conquest at his cross, where he “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them” (Colossians 2:15). 2. Second, remember His power at work in you. Not only is the sovereign Christ stationed invincibly on the throne of the universe, but he also dwells within you by his Spirit. We are no longer left unprotected under the tyrant of this world, but Jesus “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son”. And he will not suffer the loss of any of his own (John 6:39). “Halloween is not a threat for the Christian. It’s an opportunity.” 3. Third, recognize who the enemy is. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Your enemy is not the neighbors with the creepy skeletons in the yard. Or the silly teenage trick-or-treaters dressed up as zombies. The adversary is not fellow humans, gruesome or God-belittling as they can be, but the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 4. Fourth, reach out with kindness because of the authority of Jesus, and his power within us — and remembering that Satan is our enemy, not our neighbors; this allows us to lean into Halloween, not away. We turn the porch lights on to chase away the darkness. We have the best candy on the street and give with generosity, not the cheapest fair with a miser’s hand. We open the door wide and linger in conversation. We plan ahead about how to make the most of this unique opportunity, when a society of people who increasingly keep to themselves in the neighborhood turn on lights and knock on doors. 5. Fifth, we must recall the promises of Christ. “Jesus will build his church, and the ghosts of Halloween will not prevail against it.” And as we answer the doorbell, or walk the block with kids in tow, we feed our souls with the unbending promises of Christ. He will build his church, and the ghosts of Halloween will not prevail against it (cf. Matthew 16:18).