6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6
In only a few short days families will be dressing their children to look like goblins, witches, ghosts, or their favorite character in a horror show they have watched. As a father I was torn by this so called holiday. At a time when public schools have taken out any resemblance of the celebration of the birth of Christ many schools continue the tradition of Halloween.
I know I will end up stepping on toes of people who see no harm being done in celebrating it. As a dad who experienced a loss of a child and who has sought God's own heart to help me recover from this grief I see this 'holiday' differently.
As a child I remember dressing up as a ghost and going door to door to collect candy. I remember playing with the Ouija board with friends and thinking it was just a harmful game. As I got older I would get together with friends to watch so called innocent movies of horror. At the Junior high dance they would show Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' in the gym for those who didn't want to dance.
Our culture is so occupied with death that we think it is Ok for people to choose to die when any amount of suffering comes into their lives. When we become incapacitated we see death as our escape from suffering rather than an opportunity to teach our younger generation what it means to live as we suffer.
I see Halloween not acceptable because in it we are celebrating death and allowing for the remote possibility of evil spirits to come into our lives.
The question becomes, 'is this really what we should be doing to our children?' Are we setting the very foundation where our kids will reject any possibility of declaring Jesus as Savior and Lord as they begin their own flight from our homes? Lastly, should we instead be celebrating life and freedom through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
My concern for this 'holiday' is it has become so ingrained in our lives. We take our kids trick and treating because it was something we experienced as kids. We have our kids bob for apples because it was something we did as kids. If we are not careful our lives become nothing more than celebrating 'rituals' instead of celebrating true freedom from those rituals that Jesus Christ gave to us.
We live in Anoka County near a city that is unfortunately known as the 'Halloween capital of the world'. Every Saturday before Halloween they would have a annual parade down main street Anoka with floats, marching bands and of course children dressed up in costumes. I am happy to say that our family has never gone to any of these parades simply because we wanted to avoid any introduction of evil spirits, but yet I know the turnout for these parades is huge with families coming from miles around the metro area just to be there.
At one point I thought the city of Anoka should eliminate Halloween as a theme and in place of it create the Lake Wobegon days in honor of our own Garrison Keillor.
Some say we should partake in this holiday to be 'salt and light' to a hurting community. I say there are other ways to be salt and light than giving honor where none is deserved for this holiday.
In the end each person needs to decide on their own how they want to celebrate this day with their kids. I am reminded by the verse from Joshua 24:15"but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Lastly, there is hope for anyone who is tormented by evil spirits. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants to free you of the powers of darkness. With the help of a freedom appointment and prayer restoration ministries you can gain true freedom from the powers of darkness. Our church as well as many others have such ministries to help you. Here is our churches link to freedom in Christ http://www.newhopechurchmn.org/prayer/freedomministry.php
The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you,And be gracious to you;
he Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’
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