Halloween – What’s the Big Deal

Rose and I don’t celebrate Halloween. We haven’t for years. We don’t do it very boldly. We just turn off our lights and leave the house during the hours of trick or treat. We usually have a small bag of candy just in case someone comes early or late. Our neighbors have learned how we are and just ignore our house. We don’t have any kids at home so it’s not that big a deal.  This year we will probably go to church to watch the Not a Fan movie. Maybe our “God Loves You. He Always Has and Always Will” sign will send a message.
It hasn’t always been this way. I don’t remember Halloween being a big deal when I was a kid. I had eight brothers and sisters and I guess we would dress up and walk the neighborhood doing trick-or-treat. When our kids were  young, we did Halloween. We even made a big deal out of it a couple of times. When our first grandchild was born, Halloween was becoming a big holiday and we became concerned about the origins of the holiday, the wisdom of scaring kids for fun, and the emphasis on the devil. We had huge “alternative” fall festivals at our home on October 31st. We would pass out tracts with the candy to kids who came to the house. This was the same period in which we warned about the danger of the Smurfs and a little later Harry Potter. I suppose in those years I felt that those Christians who celebrated Halloween were just less advanced or less spiritual.
I still have some of these concerns, but it just doesn’t seem to be as big a deal in the light of all the problems we have. I smile at my great grandchild adorned in a costume. Nicky and Sammie’s house is always the most and first decorated one in their neighborhood. It’s incredible how big a deal Halloween now is. It has become an adult holiday. Waitresses and sales persons dress up to serve your meals or sell you goods. Look at the movie listings for this week and try to see a movie that isn’t scary or Halloween oriented.  It still seems to me that all this is not a great thing, for all the reasons that originally led us to quit celebrating the day. 
There just seems to be so much else to be concerned about. If you get a kick out of dressing up and going to a party or putting your kids in costumes or decorating your yard, I won’t condemn you.  I do pray that you’ll remember that Jesus is Lord and don’t become so fascinated with the things of darkness that you forget the Lord of Light.
Boo. And be blessed.
Nick

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