by The fun, foliage and fragrances of fall are upon us, exciting the mind and emotions as our year-end holiday traditions are at hand. My favorite treat hits the shelves every fall, Brach’s candy corn.
For eleven months, we’ve preached the Light of Christ and taught how not to walk in darkness. Now comes the month where many believers let down their guard and encourage everything we condemned throughout the year. All in the name of “fun,” we teach our children and grandchildren it’s ok to flirt with darkness for just a season. This reminds me of what Paul said of Moses’ decision when he came to the realization that he was walking in the darkness of paganism, exactly what we should be doing also, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).
Halloween’s history is death, fear, darkness, wickedness, and the supernatural. Praise God, born-again believers no longer live in fear of eternal death and darkness. This bondage was broken by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:14-15). Now, however, we are to choose to walk as light in this dark world that we were saved out from (Ephesians 5:8).
Halloween, with its focus on death and darkness is an opportunity for the believer to shine in darkness — to proclaim the same gospel we preached all year long, that death has been defeated by Christ and eternal life awaits those who believe on Him. The great opportunity that is afforded us by Halloween, however, has been thwarted as many believers have become anemic and apathetic in their Christian walk. Too many put a bushel over their light for this one day of the year, teaching our children that it’s ok to do the same any other day of the year.
Halloween is a time for us to shine as Jesus expects, to stand tall in darkness (Matthew 5:14-16) and exemplify 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” As you decide how to participate in shining your light during Halloween, remember that God commands us to avoid the very practices that Halloween promotes (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
