PASTOR DON UPDATED THIS BLOG IN OCTOBER 2022…
READ THAT HERE…https://recastchurch.com/recovering-halloweenies/
My title risks offense. Life is just full of risks . . .
I grew up in a culture that shunned Halloween like the plague. As a matter of fact, the church I attended through middle school prided themselves in never mentioning or acknowledging the event in the least. It was like a big game . . . Everyone knew it was coming, but nobody said anything about it. If Halloween fell on a Wednesday, that was awesome, because then you could see who was really committed to God because they brought their kids to church for the kids programs while all their friends were out plundering the neighborhood for sugary awesomeness.
I risk being redundant and repetitive and repeating myself (see what I did right there?), because I am pretty sure I posted a similar blog last year, but I have become more and more firm in my conviction that the number one place young Christian families NEED to be on Halloween is out in their neighborhood with their neighbors. I am not the head of your household and am not telling you what to do, but I have not seen a better day of the year for me to get to know the lay of the land in my neighborhood.
I live in a moderately large housing development in a rural town. People come in from the countryside to trick or treat in my neighborhood! It is a festive atmosphere. I get the chance to meet neighbors I have never met on the far side of the development. People come to my door and I give them stuff. The last couple years we have walked around the neighborhood with other neighbors and had good conversations. I have not yet seen the temptation to worship Satan, but I promise that the minute it happens I will pull the plug and go home.
Jesus declared that we are to be in the world, but not of the world, but while we are in the world, we are to be salt and light. Light only has any impact when it comes in contact with darkness. Salt only has its effect when it comes in contact with that which is bland or in risk of decay. Let’s get out there and party like we have real eternal life. Let’s have fun AND get to know those who live right around us. This Halloween could be the start of some new relationships in your neighborhood. But it will not be the start of anything new if you are hiding out in your house in the dark . . . Praying that no little kids stop by asking for candy.
I am a recovering Halloweenie, anybody else want to join me?
