Watching a movie and eating pizza, my brother—who was in charge of being the lookout—made the signal that someone was walking up our driveway and was headed toward the door. I quickly clicked off the television, turned off the porch light, and we both hid behind the couch. Our noses poked out over the edge of the back of the couch as we strained to see through the dark widow without being noticed. We could hear the giggling kids as they shuffled about at our doorstep. Their plastic candy-filled bags were ready to be filled to the brim with our generous portions of snickers, gummy worms, and nerds.

Ding-dong.

….

Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

….

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK

We stood stooped still as statues, daring not to breathe a word or move lest our cover be blown. We were supposed to pretend that we weren’t home. We could hear the sighs and grumblings of the small troop of kids as they walked away from our door empty-handed. But there was no time to be disappointed. There were thousands of houses out there ready to hand-out candy by the fist-full.

And while we breathed a sigh of relief, part of my heart wished to burst out the door and chase after the kids yelling “take me with you!”

My younger brother and I could not have been older than eight.

We were not allowed to celebrate the evil, devil-worshiping holiday known as Halloween.

My parents had only the best intentions. We were allowed to trick-or-treat a few years before. The candy flowed like wine! Our bags spilled over in abundance. But our parents shut-off the candy flow one fateful year when a man dressed as the devil told my little brother than he would take his soul to hell. My parents were less than ecstatic, as one would guess.

Their response was to ban Halloween.

We participated in the local church’s “Fall Festival,” but it was a lousy substitute. There was not much candy to speak of except the ghetto grabs that were purchased in bulk from Wal-Mart or some other such place.

Eventually we just started staying home.

And over the years, I forgot my distaste with my parents’ decision and began to embrace it—and look down on any other Christian who would not do the same.

This was an evil, pagan holiday rooted in witchcraft and sorcery. How could I participate in such a clearly evil night? From the images on the jack-o-lantern’s face to the cheesy pumpkin and black cat posters what are hung in home, all were evil images inspired by the devil.

I was “educated” by watching quasi-Christian documentaries like “The Pagan Invasion”—detailed videos on the pagan roots and takeover of our culture through holidays like Halloween.

It was not until much later in my life that I embraced Halloween as an innocent and fun night for kids to dress up, get candy, and have fun.

There is no denying that Halloween has its roots in pagan practices—but so does every holiday—Christmas and Easter being the most prominent of these. Regardless, a fundamental shift in thinking and approach to culture needs to be taken—one which I had realized only a few short years ago.

Should the follower of Christ only celebrate Christian holidays and embrace only Christian images and Christian culture? If so, they might have a hard time working and living in a world that truly has nothing to do with Christ.

The lack of Christ directly and publicly involved in activities does not make it worthless. One can go to the movies and enjoy. One can listen to music. One can skate, work, sleep, exercise, or eat and enjoy the life and creation that God has made. This is worship. This is God honoring. So too is it honoring to God to trick-or-treat, dress-up, carve pumpkins, and eat lots of candy.

It is his creation. And it is good.

But beyond this, the question is—would Christ hit the lights, hiding behind the back of a couch waiting for the evil trick-or-treaters to move on to the next house? Or would he open the door joyfully and give out the best candy possible?

What do you think?

THEOLOGY21 is a co-op of authors dedicated to renovating theology for a new generation, taking the ancient truths of scripture and theology and speaking to the post-Christian culture of the 21st century. To keep up-to-date on all things THEOLOGY21, Give our Facebook page a “like”, follow our twitter page, add yourself to our email list, or subscribe to our feed!
 
__________________________________________________