When Meghan was four, she was a witch for Halloween.
And, what an adorable little witch she was.
I’ve never been a big fan of scary movies or haunted houses. Unlike almost everyone I know, I haven’t seen The Excorcist and don’t plan to.
I don’t like being afraid–which means I don’t want to pay for the experience, either.
I’ll save you my thoughts about scary movies for another time.
When I became a Christian, all of a sudden I was around a lot of Christian parents who parented a lot differently than me. These parents actually paid close attention to what their kids were watching on TV, and who they were hanging out with after school.
These moms and dads taught me how to parent so much better. I discovered discipline wasn’t something to be feared – it was an incredible teacher and then there was grace. Oh, for grace! It could change little hearts in big ways.
These things changed my mothering completely.
It’s not that I didn’t pay attention before, it’s just that I didn’t think of the “end game” of whatever my kids were doing or not doing.
So, when Halloween came around, I was hearing about this holiday from some Christian parents for the first time:
“I don’t’ let my kids trick or treat.”
“We don’t believe in celebrating a pagan holiday.”
“Halloween is Satan’s holiday. No thanks. We go to the movies, instead.”
“Our kids have never been a part of Halloween. We go to fall festivals only.”
While I understand that we want to protect our kids—and we should, I guess I struggle with Halloween as the quintessential evil.
Don’t send your kids mixed messages. If you make a stand against evil on October 31st – make that same stand on the other 364 days of the year when your kids are on their smartphones interacting with things much scarier than Halloween night.
I wouldn’t take my little Cinderella out trick or treating for more than a few minutes when she was little. Why? Because she wouldn’t have slept again after watching zombies walk around her neighborhood. I get not doing the holiday for those reasons.
But, as a woman who loves Jesus, I don’t fear Halloween and I don’t ban Halloween and I don’t think I’m turning my back on Jesus when I grab the hands of my kids and knock on doors for Milky Way bars.
The Bible says we’re to live in the world but not of the world. Now, I’m no theologian, but I believe God wants us to be a BIG part of things in this world but do them a little differently.
{Jesus’ prayer for us.} I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. John 17:14-16
When Jesus prays for us… Yes, that’s what I said. He prayed for Y-O-U and me way back when He walked this earth. If you’ve never read John 17, you might want to know what Jesus prayed to God about for YOU. The “evil one” he talks about is the “prince of the air”, yes you guessed it, Satan. What does this have to do with Halloween? I just want you to remember that our world is just as polluted with evil whether it’s on January 12th, August 4th or October 31st.
Redeeming Halloween
When my kids were all young, our family was one of the first at our church to gather for Halloween. I invited friends over for pizza and we took photos of the kids in their costumes, then we talked and walked around the neighborhood together.
It was like a stroller-parade with youngins running in and out between us. Those were some great memories for us.
Do I believe Halloween is Satan’s holiday? I think if we were to dig deep to find the beginnings of all of our holidays we will find pagan roots—including Christmas. For us, it was a fun time to hang out and be together. My mother in law made some of the cutest costumes. Goodness sakes!
Here’s how we redeem Halloween.
- Our family doesn’t dress up in demon-possessed-looking-costumes. I don’t condemn anyone who does, but for us, that’s how we set ourselves apart. Some families refuse to let their kids eat the candy, but instead donate it. I love that!
- I remind myself that yes, evil exists, but our family is to be that light on a hill. (Our back to school Bible verse this year.) We are not to conform, but to redeem everything in this world for the glory of Jesus.
- We don’t make evil the shining star of Halloween. I don’t decorate with ghouls and goblins. Do I think it’s wrong if YOU do? Nope. I even have one ceramic ghost from those days I did decorate that way. It was in the trash years ago, when one of my children rescued it. Baby Boo is now in my family room. A reminder to me that God’s grace has redeemed me. Halloween is nothing to fear. It’s a day where we have another chance to bring light into a dark world.
- Be wise. God says He will give us wisdom if we just ask about what you should do on October 31st. If your son enjoys juggling knives or has killed a few neighborhood cats then you’d probably be wise to bypass this holiday–and get him some counseling.
- Peace. My husband and I have peace about how we navigate the holiday. If you don’t have peace then your choice about maneuvering Halloween may have to be a different one. That’s the second part of that wisdom God gives. It always comes with peace.
- Community matters. I’m reminded that this day is one of the few during the year that I get to see all my neighbors. Have apple cider on hand. Invite the parents to bring their kids in for a bathroom break. You want people to know Jesus? No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.
Whether you enjoy this holiday or not, your attitude is what matters most. Don’t bypass Halloween because you think as a Christian you’re “better”. The truth is, us Christians are no better—we’re just better off.
My four are too old to trick or treat anymore, which makes me sad. All those crazy days of finding outfits for them to wear has me sad it’s over.
This year, I’ll be the mom answering the door and making a HUGE deal out of every Disney princess, Thomas the Train, and Count Dracula… and I can’t wait.
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