Well, we've come to that time of year when Christians do battle with themselves over the issue of Halloween, for there is a great deal of opinion about it ranging from those for whom it is entirely evil to those who see it as a harmless bit of fun and over-commercialised Americanism.
My own view is that it's not going to bring the Kingdom of God to its knees for God is far bigger than any of the nonsense peddled in the name of fun, but I do worry about the innocent souls for whom this gets in the road of their walk with God; and I do believe that the concentration on glorifying all things evil builds a blockage between us and God. However, as in many things, we are often seen as a Church of negativity because we usually say “No” without offering better alternatives and without full explanation
CS Lewis said “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight”
I'm with him; I believe we currently pay too much attention to them in an unhealthy way, whilst downgrading the nature of spiritual evil that they represent. However, to constantly say “no” without alternative will simply allow or even encourage further interest in evil, devils, Halloween and so on. Like a naughty child we often find ourselves fascinated by that which we can't have, rather than being attracted by what we can have. In the garden of Eden God only prohibited one thing but allowed everything else for enjoyment. Consequently it was the forbidden fruit which attracted attention and that's what the devil is good at; persuading us to have an unhealthy interest in the forbidden.
So, rather than 'bang on' about the evils of Halloween I feel we should promote far more actively, as Christians, the festival of light, All Saints day, and engage ourselves in light parties (not just children, but adults as well). Several years ago the neighbourhood children advertised they would be knocking as part of Halloween. We asked them not to and then on the following day we visited them with a smile, a card and a bag of sweets explaining that All Saints day was a Christian day of celebration when we gave thanks for those whose lives had been a good influence on us. In our light parties we can still play the traditional games of “dooky apple” and the like but shift the emphasis to a more positive feel.
Let's stop being a Church which is seen to prohibit everything, for that's how the world sees us, but let's start being a Church which promotes far more actively the God given gifts of fun, laughter and joy; let's allow people to celebrate thankfulness and enjoy doing so.
Like the man from Del Monte…………… “He say YESSSSSSSS“
to that which is good, healthy, wholesome and God-given.