Happy Halloween! (or not)

[My apologies for not haven't blogged recently. I've been buried under writing deadlines; so my desire to write "recreationally" has been thin]

Since it's October 31, I'd like to wish each of you a happy evening of festivity (and ministry)!

— whether you celebrate it as Halloween (a cultural holiday event manufactured from pagan origins)

— or you celebrate it at your local church's Harvest Fair (a Christian holiday event manufactured from pagan origins).

Years ago when I was on pastoral staff, I had to put together the Harvest Fairs. That was in the early days of "Halloween alternative" events, before churches began counting a "trunk or treat" in their parking lot as evangelism (sigh).

Anyway, back then the Harvest Fair was a way to "protect kids" (a.k.a. "avoid the world") from trick or treating. Lots of time and effort were put into these, and the kids enjoyed them. Once someone not from the church saw our event and brought her child over to join in the Christian fun. I can still see the look on the little girl's face as she was turned away at the door by the "Sheriff." She was refused entry for wearing a "worldly" costume (she was a cute, silver Hershey's kiss). The senior pastor, you see, had mandated that only Western outfits were allowed. All else was, aparently, "of the debil!" (a phrase my friend Shayn mockingly quotes from his own church upbringing). That memory (appropriately) haunts me. May God forgive damage done by such fundamentalistic activity (and my past sin as a part of that Pharisaic crowd).

You don't have to lecture me about Halloween's cultic side; I've taught on it's ancient druidic origins and done more reseach in Wiccan and satanic practice than most. Witchcraft is demonic and evil. No argument there. Then again, a great deal of wickedness mires TV and the Internet. Perhaps Christians should manufacture alternatives for those (they might already be in the works).

For the vast majority of Americans (and all the children), Halloween is what missionaries call a cultural form (like a necktie or Christmas tree). Christians debate Halloween's meaning, but kids interpret it easily—it's the one night of the year they get to dress up as super heroes, Harry Potter, a mutant ninja turtle, etc., so they can (and this is the important part) get free candy.

Like any kind of celebration, lost people will find a sinful way to enjoy it. As soon as they do, insecure Christians will piously denounce and avoid it.

My guess is that Jesus and Paul would have used Halloween to "love on" people. They'd probably pat kids on their heads, smile, compliment their costumes, then give them the biggest candy bars on the block. Praise be to God, that's what we try do at our house now (though it's more like the biggest candy we can afford).

Door duty is fun, but the best part about Halloween as a grace-loving evangelical is going trick or treating. What other night of the year can you visit every home in your neighborhood and be welcomed? (Try doing that wearing your Sunday duds and holding a Bible). Molls and I try to chat at each house. Last year we were even invited inside by the cop in our neighborhood, who showed us his new deck—simply because we complimented him on it.

Fundamentalists will always equate being holy with avoiding the world. But let us live as Paul encouraged the Philippians, "Be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15). Paul wants us to shine in the world, no matter how wicked it gets. You gotta be in it, to shine in it, however. Seems there's a lot of "lamp-under-bushel" events going on instead.

Of course, these are just my thoughts. Such things are a matter of your conviction, calling, and faith/liberty in Christ (Rom. 14). Whether you spend Oct. 31 at home or in church, may we all take tonight's opportunity to minister to neighbors and bless their children with undeserved favor (that's code for "GRACE," my friends).

Or, we can hide in our houses with the lights off.