This post originally appeared on Faith Filled Food for Moms as ‘Halloween – The Dreaded Christian Holiday…Food for Thought!‘
I love fall..don’t you? However, October brings about a very controversial topic for Christians. Halloween…the dreaded holiday! I have been a Christian for 27 years now and every year I am confronted with the same ol’ dilemma. Do I open my door to little trick or treaters or keep my lights off and block off my stairs? Or do I make other plans and just plain leave?
I have a confession to make. Up until about 4 years ago we would do the latter…turn the lights off or leave! We would take our kids and go to a Harvest Party or turn out the lights and just go into the back room and play games. Many of you will say “Hooray” and do the same thing. I have a secret to tell you.. the Lord has changed our hearts toward this dark holiday!
I’m not going to go into all of the details of how exactly our hearts changed as it was a process for sure, but I just want to share in what ways my heart has changed…so here goes:
It is the perfect opportunity to reach out in love to the kids in our neighborhoods. Just because kids come to our door with cute little costumes does not mean they come from cute little families. Families are a mess these days…we need to reach out. Matthew 10:42 “ And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
God has given us a glimpse of His heart for the lost and a glimpse into the BIGGER picture. 1 Cor. 9:22 “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”
God has called us to let our lights shine before man not hide it away. Luke 8:16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts in under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” God has called us NOT to FEAR the unlovely and lost..I could write a book about this one.
We are also not to fear the enemy of our souls! He should fear the ones that carry God’s resurrection POWER. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (sound thinking).”
You know, for years I lived being so afraid that I or my children would get a little “dirty” in this world. What a joke, right? Especially considering where I have come from. God peeled the scales off my eyes over some different circumstances and as I stood before Him my heart was laid bare and not hidden to Him, the One who sees everything. He showed me HIS heart for these people and I was crushed. I begged Him for His heart…and He gave it to me.
So I say…so what if kids go trick or treating. If they come to my door in icky costumes I just smile, give them candy and say “Jesus loves you!” Because just maybe they have never heard anyone tell them that before.
I thought you might like to know my kids have been trick or treating now for these 4 years and their hearts belong to and glorify God and they are happy because they have LOADS of candy.
Oh, and as for my older kids that never trick-or-treated, well, all that sheltering did nothing to deter them. They take our grandchildren trick or treating and love it…oh, and eat their candy too!
My encouragement to you is being more concerned with the hearts of our children rather than being afraid of how you will look or or what power the enemy might have over us if we participate in trick or treating.
I realize that many of you will disagree with me and that’s totally ok. It’s a decision we all need to bring toward God so he can lead us. Regardless of what you decide about Halloween, may you find ways during the season to reach out to your neighbors, shine a light and tell someone, “Jesus loves you!” It’s what everyone needs!
HALLOWEEN BLESSING PRINTABLE:
