Quote from Forum Archives on October 23, 2003, 4:55 pm

Posted by: H70K580 <H70K580@...>

> Just out of curiosity, and not meaning harm (really, I mean it) how do
your
> churches and/or families, treat Halloween?

Some years we have celebrated it, some years we have hid. This will be our
first year with children, so I am not sure how that affects things. My wife
wants to go to the church party, so as I have not yet resolved my opinion,
that is what we will do.

One nice thing about our town, is we celebrate Beggars Night on the night
before Halloween. Also, instead of saying trick or treat, each child is
supposed to tell a joke. It was great fun the first year! The second year
the jokes were pretty much all repeats. 🙁

I was sent the following, which has a very different spin then I am used to.
I will include it for your consideration.

This a column from CBN.com.

(The rest is direct quote.)
The biggest trick played on Halloween is Christians bottled up inside
churches.

I realize this column is going to bring down the wrath of Preacher, teacher,
and parent alike. But someone has to break the illusion. Here goes.
The biggest trick played on Halloween is Christian kids and adults being
bottled up inside churches or homes all night. That's right! Hiding from the
devil in the family life center and surrendering the neighborhood to little
Ghouls, goblins, and witches is a victory for old Beelzebub. He's got the
church right where he wants it: inside the four walls, hunkered down behind
the stained glass.

Think about it. How many chances do you get to mix with our neighbors during
the year? At my house we are blessed with a 4th of July block party.
Otherwise, Halloween may be it for many of you. And what is your
relationship evangelism strategy? Either hustle the kids over to church
before nightfall or worse, you turn out the lights, don't answer the
children at the door, thereby demonstrating your Christian love and
hospitality. But if you do encounter a child in a pink bunny costume it goes
something like this:

"We don't celebrate Halloween! There's no candy here for you, kid! Now get
out of here".

And the parents of the pink bunny waiting at the foot of your sidewalk say:

"Boy, honey. There's something really different about that mean family that
sits in the dark every Halloween. I really want what they have in their
life."

Isn't it time to turn loose a few of those little Moses and Davids into your
community?

Imagine the shock when an Angel instead of a devil greets the nice lady down
the block. A child who says "please", "thank you" and yes, even "Jesus loves
you" and "God bless you" as they receive their mini-Snickers or Candy corn.
And please, please, please you well-meaning brethren: give the kids that
come to your door the best candy treat on the entire block along with that
tract. Some of you give six years olds a little "be warm and filled"
treatment every Halloween. Give them something sweet for the palate as well
as the soul.

Never forget: Jesus came to serve the sick and broken. He loved being at the
well, by the sea, and in the marketplace. He would never have said "run and
hide, its Halloween!"

Don't teach children to fear Satan. Help them understand Christ has overcome
the world. He has made us victors in Him. He loves all of His creation.

Remember what He said:

" You are the light of the world - like a city on a mountain, glowing in the
night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket (or in a dark
house, or at a harvest party with church kids)! Instead, put it on a stand
and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for
all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father". Matthew
5:14-16

Jesus wants us to engage our neighbors and culture not hide from them this
October 31st.

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Andy Freeman is a professor in the College of Communication at Regent
University.