The chill in the air, the kids joy of make believe, the neighbors outside, and the candy! Bring on all the sugary goodness sent from Heaven above!
My pap always made Halloween extra special growing up. He'd dress up as the silliest things and scare me, my brother, and our friends to the core. He found so much joy in the smallest things and this was an opportunity for him to love us in his one-of-a-kind playful way.
My brother and I 1997
There's a rhythm to the way God created. He formed somethings out of nothings and someones out of dust. He worked, He invented, He called it very good, and then, He rested. I notice my life craves this sort of rhythm too. I work, I strive, I feel accomplished, and then I rest. This happens weekly, even daily, and this happens throughout the year. Holidays and events create a sort of magical line in the sand. When we have something to look forward to, the sparks and joys of today seem more evident.
Halloween is really just a silly holiday. I'm not all about it. It isn't my favorite holiday by any means. But it is a spark of joy on the calendar. I remember it being there as a child, and it has been relit in mommyhood. I am so excited to watch Judah practice saying "thank you" for the candy that mommy and daddy will eat once he's in bed. I am pumped to dress him up as Tarzan because I am certain that is his alter ego. And, I am looking forward to the memories made and pictures captured for years to come.
Can you love Jesus, be a christian, and celebrate Halloween? Heck yes! Can you love Jesus, be a christian, and be convicted in your faith to not do Halloween? Of course. But, the key word there is conviction. A conviction occurs when God tells you that something, even though it may not be a sin, is not good for you. Someone may have a conviction not to drink alcohol for example. Now, drinking a glass of wine (or three) is not a sin. Jesus turned water into wine to liven up a wedding for goodness sakes! But, if God has laid it on your heart not to drink, then that is your personal conviction. If God has placed it on your heart that Halloween, Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, etc. are not for you and your family, then that is your conviction. I have convictions of my own that may seem silly or even ridiculous to some, but I don't care. And, I encourage you with my whole heart to heed God's voice to the fullest. When you are convicted to do or not to do anything, please know it is for your good and God's ultimate glory.
With that said, it is not my intention to argue about whether Halloween is for Christians or not. I simply want to share my perspective and hearts joy on the topic! I would also love to hear yours, even if, and especially if, you differ from me! I just love who you are and who God created you to be. From the top of your head, to your tiniest toe, to the deepest beauty within your heart, I just adore you, and so does God.
Back to trick-or-treats and yummy things to eat! If a conviction isn't present. Then Halloween is an optional GO! And let us look at why.
1. Satan does not get a holiday!
One popular belief is that Halloween is the Devil's holiday. To simplify this belief and redeem it, let me ask you one question. Does the Devil actually get a holiday? Is he worthy of this? I, for one, fight tooth and nail to not give the enemy even a moment of my minds wanderings let alone an entire day. No, I refuse to allow anything to "belong" to that snake except his little squirmy pit he crawled out of.
2. Satan's idea of fun looks a bit different than ours.
If Satan did have a holiday, it would not include joy for us humans. It would be torture. I think he came up with long lines at amusement parks in 90 degree heat and charging $5 for a water while you wait, but not Halloween. Not candy corn and pumpkins and cider and hayrides, no way. He's not that creative.
3. No darkness stands a chance.
There is no amount of darkness that can withstand the light of Christ. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe we should consistently find ourselves in darkness expectantly waiting for God to shine. We have to use wisdom and discernment in any and all decisions. However, the witches and ghouls of Halloween night won't stand a chance against the smile and welcoming spirit that your home can bring as you love your neighbor.
4. We are free!
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1
Can I get a "woohoo!!!!"??? For real though, think about that for a second. Christ has set us free. His blood shed on the cross was for our freedom. We do not have to be weighed down by our sin or by legalism. `We can strive to live a life that reflects Christ without having to worry about whether eating the wrong meat on the wrong day of the week will cause us death. We can get tattoos and make choices that look different from those made in the Old Testament without the concern of disqualification of Heaven. We can celebrate Halloween with our friends and neighbors, eat the candy, play tricks, give treats, and be a shining light in the neighborhood that God has placed us.
Reflect
Do you have any convictions? If not, I would consider praying and asking God to reveal the things that you may need to put down in order to see Him better.
Are you making any decisions based on legalism or concern of what others may think? Have you sifted these choices through the heart of Christ in prayer?
Pray
Jesus, You are so so good to us. Thank you for the areas of our lives that you have drawn clear lines in the sand telling us "no". We know that Your heart is for us and loves us to our core. We are also grateful for the way You have given us a life of freedom through Your death on the cross. Guide us in loving You and Your commandments. Remind us of our calling to reflect Your Light in this dark world. Show us how we can love Your people better this Holiday season. Lead us Jesus to the people that don't yet know You. Allow our light and freedom to be a magnet for them to want what we have in You. Give us opportunities to share Your beautiful truth with our neighbors. Amen.
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Until next week,
Jessica :)
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