I just read an article by Jack Hayford called "Redeeming Hallowing." You can read the entire article here. Pastor Kevin sent me the article and I thought it was pretty interesting. Here are a couple of reasons why:
Hallowe'en actually means "hallowed evening" or "holy evening." It's also based off All Saints' Day which was celebrated on November 1st, thousands of years ago. Because it was a day celebrating heroes of the Kingdom and usually associated with fasting, the evening before became a tradition to "hallow." However, instead of a holy commemoration, it has become a time of indulgence and pranksterism and evil. As with just about anything, Satan has a way of turning something holy into something sinister.
I have really been thinking about Halloween quite a bit lately. Maybe I have a vested interest being that I'm a director of students at a Christian Church (and possibly that my wife is pregnant), so I'm trying to find the "balance" between celebrating the day and yet, not getting caught up in all the...well, for better lack of terms...weirdness of the day (have you ever been in a Halloween store? Yikes!).
Hayford makes some really awesome points concerning this. Basically, he writes, "There's obvious need for something redemptive to take place. The Church ought to take a role, not of protest, but of positive action." I agree.
He offers some practical suggestions for parents on how to spend October 31st and "redeem" Hallowe'en:
1. Let the spirit of gratitude begin to fill your heart in preparation for the season of Thanksgiving.
2. Share family stories about how you came to know Jesus. Look together at picture albums and videos. Begin to collect memorabilia of special breakthroughs or family testimony, and decorate with mementos that give honor and commemoration.
3. Make it a special day for the kids. We don't need to deny children fun to verify faith. None of us need to be boring to be godly or unhappy to be holy:
a. Hold a "Jesus Loves You" or "All Saints' Day" party with costumes based on Characters from the Bible or Church history
b. Show an adventure DVD featuring a hero of faith
c. Have the kids create skits of heroic Bible stories (video tape these)
d. Do pumpkin carving
e. Take them on a well-chaperoned trip through the neighborhood, allowing the kids to "trick or treat" as they parade their Bible outfits.
Students: As you go out to celebrate Hallowe'en, remember that you are light in a dark world. When you turn on a light in a dark room, the separation is because darkness flees. The light doesn't asks for permission to brighten the room - it does because that's what it is, light. You are called to be the light of the world (Matt 5:14). No matter what you decide to do this year for Hallowe'en, make sure you are uncompromising in your walk with Jesus and are light on a seemingly dark day.
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