Post Halloween Thoughts

I've had some thoughts going through my mind as Halloween approached and was over with.  I have to admit that I'm happy that it's over for another year.  While I love autumn, I hate the doom and gloom and death stuff that comes with Halloween. 

I also hate the back and forth bickering between people about whether or not we should celebrate this holiday. 

First, my history.  I participated in Halloween as a child.  For my family, it was about dressing up (in a homemade costume) and about FREE candy.  This was at a time when we, as kids, hardly ever had candy.  Candy was truly a treat - like as in a couple of times a year.  That's it.  It was very seldom (not dutch, didn't grow up with peppermints!). We had no idea what the history of Halloween was, and I'm not sure we cared either.  I don't recall anyone ever suggesting it was bad.  It was dressing up and candy.  That's it. 

Halloween, for our family, was also not linked at all to anything non-Christian.  Whether we were naïve or what, I don't know.  As I entered my teenage years, we even had "Halloween Parties" from CHURCH.  Yes, church.  And they weren't called anything but "Halloween" (I do remember one particular elder who poo-pood this, but I had no idea why he would and I just thought he was a fuddy-duddy).  (I admire him now and wish I'd asked him for more information back then, instead of scoffing his concerns.)

Fast-forward to becoming parents.  Halloween was approaching and our (different) church elders were giving us information about Halloween's origins and about what modern-day Satanists do on this day.  We started to question whether we should participate, but we were still going to, mainly because we knew we'd have a lot of kids at our door and we didn't want to be "fuddy duddys".  (do people still use that word?)

We gave out candy that year.

The next year - we had a 1yo+ that year - and he was TERRIFIED of costumed people.  And we still had conflicting thoughts, so we decided that we wouldn't make him go out for Halloween. We went out to the mall instead - and were met by everyone dressed in costumes.  That plan didn't work out so well for our little one.

As the years continued to go by, we began to seriously wonder if Halloween was something we could participate in with a good conscience.  And after reading up on it, and being convicted by the Holy Spirit, we concluded that we could not participate.  We had read more and more about the day, and how it is a big day in modern-day Occultism and we felt convicted that we couldn't be a part. We decided to opt out of Halloween. 

Fast-forward to now - the internet age - and so much information.  This year was no different.

But what struck me this year is the scoffing tone of some of the Christian pro-Halloween blog posts.  The tone that I got was "what - do you hate cute little kids with cute costumes?" or "what's wrong with dressing up and getting candy - such innocent fun?" 

Then "why don't you want to shine on this night- the Lord wouldn't want you to hide your light under a candle!"

I LOVE little kids.  Anyone who knows me knows this. 
I LOVE little kids in cute costumes. (I loved seeing your kiddos photos on Facebook.)
I'd LOVE to give little kids candy (although I really don't care for all the candy and sweets that they get nowadays, but that's another blog post...)

Yes I want to shine on Halloween night.  You're right - the Lord doesn't want me to hide my light under a bushel. 

But that's the point.  I DO shine on Halloween night.  By taking a stand.  By not being a part of pagan festivities.

I shine on Halloween night - and hopefully every night (and day) by getting to know my neighbours daily, helping my neighbours, reaching out to those in need, by letting the LORD shine through my life.  Every day. 

I'm not saying that YOU shouldn't participate in Halloween.  I am saying that I CHOOSE not to.  I feel CONVICTED not to.  I also feel that my convictions should be respected. 

And I can't help but think that those Christians who disagree with me should have a different attitude (as we all should when we don't agree with someone else) - that of a humble prayer to the Lord saying:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

(Psalm 139: 23, 24)

 

I found myself singing this song during "Halloween season" this year. It is where my heart is. I am committed first to my Lord - and I cannot be part of breaking HIS heart" - through my participation in pagan festivities ...

 

I COMMIT MY LOVE TO YOU - by Twila Paris (1982)

If, by love, we show the world
That we are His disciples
I can’t take it lightly
I commit my love to you
I will tear down all the walls
I built with my selfish pride
And I will crucify it
I commit my love to you

‘Cause when we are divided
I can hear Him crying
And I can’t be a part of breaking His heart anymore
I can’t do it anymore
So brother, I commit my love to you

And if you have offended me
You know you are forgiven
And I will not remember
I commit my love to you
I will see the best in all you do
And I will defend you
When they come against you
I commit my love to you

‘Cause when we are divided
I can hear Him crying
And I can’t be a part of breaking His heart anymore
I can’t do it anymore
When we are divided
I can hear Him crying
And I won’t be a part of breaking His heart anymore
I just can’t do it anymore
So brother I commit my love to you
I commit my love to you

 

If you participate, do it, but at least take the information about it with a humble heart and with prayer.  Maybe the Holy Spirit is trying to convict you too.

Evil not Tragedy

definitions from
dictionary.com

I, like many others, have been deeply saddened about the recent events in Newtown, Connecticut.  Twenty young children shot dead.  Six staff members shot dead.  Parent(s) shot dead.  Suicide. And as bad as this event was/is, it annoys me to hear it being referred to as a "tragedy". 

Tragedy implies an accidental event.  Something mournful, a calamity, something unplanned.  Yes this was/is a somber event.  This event came to a tragic conclusion.  But make no mistake:  this event (and others like it) was and is EVIL.

 

2 Timothy 3 (NIV)

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

 

Evil, not because it was the killing of children (although that in itself is a horrible kind of evil).  Evil because it is wicked - and wickedness that caused it. 

There have been assertions that this mass killing in Newtown could have been avoided by having stricter gun controls.  Or better safety in schools.  Or many other ideas.  However, until humans have respect for other human beings and respect for life, nothing will prevent such evil. 

We live in an increasingly selfish world.  "What I think and I want is what I will get.  If I don't like something, I can do whatever I want in order to let my thoughts be made known."  Yes there might be implications for my choice of rage (legal or judicial implications), however "I have rights".  (Lots of talk about rights but not much talk about responsibility.)

On the one hand we hear all about peace and goodwill to one another.  Especially at this time of year.  And then in the next aisle from us in the store we hear someone going over the top because a certain toy that was advertised in the store flyer is no longer available.  People honk their horns because someone isn't going as fast as they'd like them to.  People make rude gestures to others who are in their way.  They huff and puff because they don't get their own way.  Adults act like unruly children.   Young people are rude to the elderly.  Middle-age people look down on the elderly.  Bullying in schools.  Bullying on the internet.  Bullying in the workplace.  Meanness in magazines.  Meanness in comedy. The sentiment "If I don't like you, I will show you, I can do whatever I want" is everywhere, if not in direct words, in attitude. 

We can blame these things on mental health issues, and there is sometimes an element of truth to that also, however in past history, people had mental issues, poverty, and difficult family situations etc. yet these rampages were not the norm -- in fact, they were unheard of.  In other areas of the world, even now, these rampages are not the norm.  Even though mental issues are and were part of life, and guns were a part of life, people respected others, and lived more respectful lives.  They recognized other people's property and respected that it didn't belong to them, to do with it what they felt like.  Yes there were the rebels.  Those who didn't care.  But there was a standard of expection in society, based on the God's Word.

 

People respected other peoples' children and even looked out for them.  Some still do (think the teachers at the Newtown school), but there is this mentality all around that "I will get what I need for me and mine and who cares about others anymore."  How sad.

We live in a society that glorifies violence and then works to protect those affected by violence.  Movies, television, and video games often depict the fight between evil and good - and often senseless killings are shown, over and over.  We are desensitized to the killings.  Our society even "decorates" homes with human hangings, tombstones and whatever else on Halloween each year.  (Halloween revenue is second only to Christmas in our society! $6 BILLION US in 2009.)

We cannot change people.  We can wish and wish for peace and happiness, but until hearts are changed, hearts become loving towards others, truly changed - and only changed by God - there will never be true love in this world.  Oh some will be loving.  Some will be caring.  But evil will reign. 

Sadly nothing will bring back these children (or the many others who have been senselessly killed in similar evil).  Nothing will bring back the child-like innocence in those who survived the killings but will live with the implications of living through such a nightmare.

 2 Chronicles 7:14

¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
 

Lord, turn our hearts to you.
Heal our land.  

Christmas Wish for My Children

My Christmas wish for MY children! A favourite!

Hallelujah!

Here's something special for you! Enjoy -- and MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christ is born!