Thanks to all the good comments on the recent trick or treating post, I’ve been lingering a little longer, thinking about the process of thinking. Here is one passage I’ve been pondering.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. I John 2:15-16
- How does this verse apply to a Christian child approaching Halloween?
- If I apply this verse to this specific situation, will I be obviously different than the world?
- Will the difference itself be offensive to unsaved people? (how can I adorn the gospel with my choices?)
- Will the difference itself be offensive to saved people? (will my actions be labeled legalistic?)
Here is another passage:
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:21-24
- What specifically am I “putting off” as I approach Halloween?
- What specifically am I “putting on”?
This last passage helps me conclude that Trick or Treating isn’t a hill I would die on. For example, if I had a ten year old who has gone trick or treating every year with his grandparents and cousins, I’d probably not force the issue. I still think not trick or treating is the best option, but it’s not the only way to approach the holiday. Challenging greed, replacing it with thankfulness and a giving attitude: that’s not optional. It’s biblical, and we should be teaching our children what God’s Word says about those things, regardless of whether we take them trick or treating.
This passage also reminds me of why I don’t mind the “replacement” of an objectionable holiday with a better one. What we object to sometimes is that the replacement is a poor quality. But the idea that sometimes (and I don’t know exactly when) it is good to show our children, “God’s Ways are better” by providing an alternative I think is a good one. At some ages, making a distinction between our fun and the world’s fun ON THAT DAY can be helpful. It gives children something to say when their friends ask them why they don’t go trick or treating.Compare the following:
How come you don’t go trick or treating?
Um, well, my parents don’t like Halloween. Halloween is evil and bad. Devil worship and all that.
How come you don’t go trick or treating?
Um, well, my parents don’t like Halloween. But we still get plenty of candy. And we can have friends over at our house and have fun. We even have a bigger party at our church sometimes, with a bunch of kids all together.
At an age when the interest in trick or treating is at its highest, having a replacement activity can be a good thing if it clearly makes a distinction between the world’s ways and God’s ways. I’m wondering whether the bad experiences people have had are a result of poor thinking about what we’re avoiding, and poor teaching about what we’re replacing. Perhaps later we’ll think about replacements in our Christian culture in general.
How come you don’t go trick or treating?
Um, well, my parents don’t like Halloween. Halloween is evil and bad. Devil worship and all that.
How come you don’t go trick or treating?
Um, well, my parents don’t like Halloween. But we still get plenty of candy. And we can have friends over at our house and have fun. We even have a bigger party at our church sometimes, with a bunch of kids all together.
This is why we haven’t totally ditched trick-or-treating yet. I’m not saying it won’t happen, as we have been praying and discussing every year so far, but it hasn’t happened yet. While we as adults understand the evil behind it, we aren’t sure our children can or should yet, and then they have those questions to answer. . . My husband is always saying “What’s good about it though?” and we have no answer to that.
I have thoroughly enjoyed these thoughts, thanks for sharing! THe whole greed aspect of it has changed my thoughts yet again. It’s not something I had considered.
This can be such a touchy subject and yes, you’re right, I’m not sure this is a hill to die on. I have many of the same thoughts. I don’t wish to acknowledge Halloween because of the pagan connections nor do I believe that we should celebrate death and darkness (Day of the Dead is huge in this area…altars are set up at schools complete w/ skulls and candles!). I was encouraged to see that I wasn’t the only one that thinks is strange that people are fine with encouraging greed and selfishness when we normally want to teach our children to be giving and kind. I do struggle with having “safe” alternatives like harvest fests on that day with costumes and treat bags. Just moving the event to a church or park doesn’t take away the other issues. I mean it might in the mind of a grown up, but a child sees no difference. For example, a preschooler I know has told me (and my little girl) every time I’ve seen him this past month what he’s going to be for Halloween. His mom said they don’t “do Halloween”, but I think their hosting a costume party. There’s no difference in his mind. BTW I’m not anti costumes or dressing up, we just don’t do it on this day. Thankfully, my oldest is only 3 and we haven’t really had to get into it to much but for now I know I can tell her “Halloween doesn’t help us love Jesus more and it doesn’t honor Him.” Still needing to think through what to do about loving my neighbors though…should I pass out candy, just keep my light off?
Stephanie- I agree that the little ones don’t understand the difference. In my Laurel’s mind, she went trick or treating. 🙂 I think as they get older, they do see the differences. Is that a problem? I don’t think so, since I’m looking at a long-term attitude about Halloween that I want to cultivate.