We don't do Halloween
As you can see by the title of this particular blog, we don't do Halloween. Why? Because we're conservative (super conservative) Christians and we don't think it's appropriate to celebrate Halloween as Christians. We don't think that observing the day as a holiday (which started out as "holy day": and this one isn't), is appropriate.
We think that, considering the background of Halloween, the evil things that happen on Halloween, the fact that people celebrate it as "satan's day" (and, no, I will not capitalize his name) makes it inappropriate for Christians to celebrate the day.
When I say that, I get some strange reactions. Christians react one way and non-Christians react another. Usually the non-Christians react with a more relaxed attitude about it. They say something like, "That's cool. Whatever." Whereas the Christians say, "What do you mean?" with a suspicious look on their faces.
I explain to the Christians that I do not think it appropriate for Christians to celebrate the day in any way, shape, or form. I do not think it appropriate for Christians or Christian churches to hold "Harvest Day Festivals" or "Fall Festivals" or any other festivals to "give kids an alternative". That's hogwash. It's still celebrating satan's day; changing the name and the costume rules does not change the celebration aspect. That's like a Christian celebrating Ramadan or Rosh Hashanah even though they're neither Muslim nor Jewish. Changing the name and celebrating anyways is no excuse.
"Oh, but we give them a good alternative. It's not satan's day celebrating when we present the gospel message instead of something satan would like." I hear over and over and over again.
Okay, consider: You bring the kids in. They are dressed up. They get candy and a party. They get rowdy with their friends but settled down long enough to listen to the gospel message. The only part of that that should be happening is the gospel message. If you're going to present an "alternative" to them, make it a true alternative. Make it without costumes. Make it without candy. Make it without party. Make it with prayer, reverence and the gospel message while really making them listen, not making the gospel message the price of admission!
If all a church does is change the admission price to the price of listening to the gospel (and, truthfully, how many of the kids actually LISTEN?), what is the real difference between that and a regular no-alcohol party? If the kids are so enthralled with their friends being there, with the candy and goodies they received, with the fact that there is still popcorn fights to have or they can go back outside and go in the Space Walk thing, then what is the difference? Where is the impact? What good does it do for God?
The gospel as admission is a slap in the face of the whole idea of presenting the gospel. It should not be used as a "punishment" (isn't that what it is seen as during these things?) or as admission price. It is the best part of the evening, why not use that as the draw? Why make that the most boring part? Why make that the part that the kids dread and try to leave prior to?
The gospel is a wonderful thing. It saves souls and changes lives, if accepted by an individual and truly put into their heart. It is not something to be manipulated into a secondary thought, a "have to" portion of an evening; the price of admission. When treated as such it turns into something not worth having and not worth listening to and not worth cherishing. The gospel is the thing they should want to listen to; considered a good thing; for it is. When treating the gospel as anything other than that, we diminish the gospel to the same level as a sales pitch for a time share condo; we get the prize (candy, fun, games) if we just listen to the sales pitch (the gospel).
When we, as Christians, take the gospel to the level of a sales pitch, instead of presenting it as a something wrapped in fine linen, laid on a silver platter and handled with white gloves because it is precious to us — those who know it and love it and (supposedly) live by it — the gospel becomes as cheap and undesirable as an old cell phone. It may still work, but if it's not special to the people trying to sell it to me, why should I even consider it? After all, they know it best, do they not? If they don't think of it as special, why should I even listen to the sales pitch?
The gospel is special. It is precious. It is important. It is the ONE thing in life that can really make a difference. And yet, some Christians have turned it into nothing more than a ticket to free candy and a chance to play on the toys.
Is it any wonder people don't flock to the gospel any more? Isn't that a sad statement to think that we, as Christians, can no longer think of a better way to present the gospel than to wrap it in bubble gum and cotton candy when it is worth so much more?
We think that, considering the background of Halloween, the evil things that happen on Halloween, the fact that people celebrate it as "satan's day" (and, no, I will not capitalize his name) makes it inappropriate for Christians to celebrate the day.
When I say that, I get some strange reactions. Christians react one way and non-Christians react another. Usually the non-Christians react with a more relaxed attitude about it. They say something like, "That's cool. Whatever." Whereas the Christians say, "What do you mean?" with a suspicious look on their faces.
I explain to the Christians that I do not think it appropriate for Christians to celebrate the day in any way, shape, or form. I do not think it appropriate for Christians or Christian churches to hold "Harvest Day Festivals" or "Fall Festivals" or any other festivals to "give kids an alternative". That's hogwash. It's still celebrating satan's day; changing the name and the costume rules does not change the celebration aspect. That's like a Christian celebrating Ramadan or Rosh Hashanah even though they're neither Muslim nor Jewish. Changing the name and celebrating anyways is no excuse.
"Oh, but we give them a good alternative. It's not satan's day celebrating when we present the gospel message instead of something satan would like." I hear over and over and over again.
Okay, consider: You bring the kids in. They are dressed up. They get candy and a party. They get rowdy with their friends but settled down long enough to listen to the gospel message. The only part of that that should be happening is the gospel message. If you're going to present an "alternative" to them, make it a true alternative. Make it without costumes. Make it without candy. Make it without party. Make it with prayer, reverence and the gospel message while really making them listen, not making the gospel message the price of admission!
If all a church does is change the admission price to the price of listening to the gospel (and, truthfully, how many of the kids actually LISTEN?), what is the real difference between that and a regular no-alcohol party? If the kids are so enthralled with their friends being there, with the candy and goodies they received, with the fact that there is still popcorn fights to have or they can go back outside and go in the Space Walk thing, then what is the difference? Where is the impact? What good does it do for God?
The gospel as admission is a slap in the face of the whole idea of presenting the gospel. It should not be used as a "punishment" (isn't that what it is seen as during these things?) or as admission price. It is the best part of the evening, why not use that as the draw? Why make that the most boring part? Why make that the part that the kids dread and try to leave prior to?
The gospel is a wonderful thing. It saves souls and changes lives, if accepted by an individual and truly put into their heart. It is not something to be manipulated into a secondary thought, a "have to" portion of an evening; the price of admission. When treated as such it turns into something not worth having and not worth listening to and not worth cherishing. The gospel is the thing they should want to listen to; considered a good thing; for it is. When treating the gospel as anything other than that, we diminish the gospel to the same level as a sales pitch for a time share condo; we get the prize (candy, fun, games) if we just listen to the sales pitch (the gospel).
When we, as Christians, take the gospel to the level of a sales pitch, instead of presenting it as a something wrapped in fine linen, laid on a silver platter and handled with white gloves because it is precious to us — those who know it and love it and (supposedly) live by it — the gospel becomes as cheap and undesirable as an old cell phone. It may still work, but if it's not special to the people trying to sell it to me, why should I even consider it? After all, they know it best, do they not? If they don't think of it as special, why should I even listen to the sales pitch?
The gospel is special. It is precious. It is important. It is the ONE thing in life that can really make a difference. And yet, some Christians have turned it into nothing more than a ticket to free candy and a chance to play on the toys.
Is it any wonder people don't flock to the gospel any more? Isn't that a sad statement to think that we, as Christians, can no longer think of a better way to present the gospel than to wrap it in bubble gum and cotton candy when it is worth so much more?
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