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Reclaiming Halloween

Posted by Chris Case | October 26, 2007 .

We’ve got Easter. Its the biggie every year. Sure there are colored eggs and some sort of bunny, but the holiday still has its focus on Christ. Then there’s Christmas, which has been hijacked by commercialism in the most fantastic sense. Sure, Christians still know what the holiday is about, but for the most part, a lot of the meaning has been lost. What about the possibility of owning Halloween? Or at least using it? Everyone else is using OUR holidays for their gain… let’s start using their holidays for our gain.

Halloween and Christmas were the hallmark holidays growing up. In my non-Christian household, Halloween was never once looked at as ‘evil’ or related to ‘Satan.’ It was a chance to dress up as your favorite superhero, ghost, or whoever and go door to door and get free candy. Its every child’s dream! You get to play make-believe and you get candy! That’s a double whammy.

What’s interesting was it never once crossed my mind that which craft or anything evil could be related to the holiday. I don’t know anyone who really thought that way. But once you’re a Christian, suddenly there’s Satan worshipping wizards out to get you at every door you knock on for that one day of the year.

Well, taken up from D Train’s blog, I think there’s a huge opportunity we’re losing. What is our greatest commandment? Jesus broke it into two…”Love the Lord your God … and … you shall love your neighbor” (Matthew 32.37-39, ESV).

The culture we have now is so closed off. We see our neighbors pull into their driveways, watering their yards (well, maybe not here in GA right now), walking their dogs, but it requires little to no interaction. On Halloween, we actually knock on our neighbors doors. We are on their doorsteps, and they are on ours. And because the holiday is so focused on kids, parents have the opportunity to connect with other parents. Its a huge open door for community!

So, here’s 5 steps from D-train’s plan:

  1. Know that almost everyone doesn’t think about the occult on Halloween. Yes, the holiday itself has cultish roots, but everyone is interested in having fun and getting candy. Even if there is evil associated with holiday, overcome it, by transforming the holiday for the good.
  2. Don’t be the isolated counter culture. I’d like to meet the individuals who have been won to Christ because someone made some kind of Halloween ‘alternative’ Christian event. Be all things to all people. This is who your neighbors are, individuals who celebrate the fun this holiday. We shouldn’t be afraid to participate, since we know that “an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one” (1 Cor 8.4, ESV).
  3. Be proactive and thoughtful. Action truly does speak louder than words. Be the thoughtful individuals on your street. Give kids glowsticks if you are in a darker neighborhood. Tell the old folks down the street that you’ll keep an eye on their house in case any egg-toting teens show up. Oh… and don’t give pennies. Speaking from experience… I’d rather you just keep those.
  4. Make the evening a starting point. If you end up making some sort of connection, make sure its established. Invite the folks you meet to something in the future… dinner, community event, etc. Have a play date with their children. Evangelism with relationship is way more effective, so do it. Often I meet folks who just don’t know how to meet non-Christians or new people. Well, here you go!
  5. Lastly, and most importantly, do it for God’s glory. You are simply obeying the greatest commandment. You want to do it because you have a heart for those around you to know God and witness the love of God in you. Don’t be fake… be authentic.

As Christians, we should certainly combat sorcery, the occult, which craft, satanic practices, etc. But the ultimate way to combat those things, and combat any sort of sinful practice, is through the transformation of people. How are they transformed? By the Spirit of God, that comes through the life changing salvation of faith in Christ. Do that, and you transform your culture. Enjoy your Halloween, and let’s claim it for Christ!

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2 Comments so far
  1. Rest Stop « Merging Lanes October 27, 2007 1:02 pm

    [...] - Reclaiming Halloween (Reformergent) [...]

  2. Jeremy October 29, 2007 9:50 am

    sounds like the kind of thing someone who reads harry potter books would advocate…sinner