Daily Devotionals
Monday, October 28, 2024 (Mary Ann)
Boo!
Every year, October 31 presents a great debate for me. Is Halloween an innocent, fun holiday for kids (and those of us who still love to play dress-up)? Or is it satan’s holiday that has grown darker year by year as a celebration of evil and an enticement for the vulnerable? I don’t know where you stand, but this is the current state of my quandary.
Doesn’t it seem like whenever we give satan an inch, he takes 666 miles?
On the one hand, Halloween falls on the eve of All Saints Day, a day associated with Martin Luther and the Reformation that for many is a celebration of the religious freedoms won at that time in history. On the other hand, Halloween originated in the occult, and today’s practitioners of witchcraft, debauchery, and the demonic in general celebrate the day as a tribute to satan.
So here at my front door will stand precious princesses all pink, frilly and cute, and macho power rangers coached to say “twick or tweat.” How can I deny them the candy (that I haven’t eaten yet)? I really don’t want to be the old curmudgeon on Elm Street. Or should I be?
It’s that line in the sand. As believers, don’t we have to draw many of those lines, discerning what our culture says is right vs. what the Holy Spirit within us says is wrong?
I don’t have to contend with kids or grandkids and their visions of fun parties, costumes and mountains of candy dancing in their heads. So I went on line to sites like Focus on the Family, which say my/our quandary boils down to 1) rejecting Halloween completely, 2) completely accepting Halloween or 3) a compromise — reforming the celebration to eliminate the darkness and concentrate on the innocent fun of the day.
Focus on the Family notes that Scripture carefully instructs Christians against participation in pagan practices directly involving witchcraft, the occult, and the worship of other deities. Instead, the authors call for prayer and discernment, saying, “On Halloween, just as the case with any other night of the year, the Lord values our behavior and interactions with others.” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31, So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
So with all that in mind, dear Sisters, what do you think? How do we glorify God at Halloween? How do you (and your family) navigate this holiday?
So how about pouring yourself a cup of pumpkin spice something or other and sharing your answers and insights? This old curmudgeon is eager to hear your point of view!
Mary Ann
Every year, October 31 presents a great debate for me. Is Halloween an innocent, fun holiday for kids (and those of us who still love to play dress-up)? Or is it satan’s holiday that has grown darker year by year as a celebration of evil and an enticement for the vulnerable? I don’t know where you stand, but this is the current state of my quandary.
Doesn’t it seem like whenever we give satan an inch, he takes 666 miles?
On the one hand, Halloween falls on the eve of All Saints Day, a day associated with Martin Luther and the Reformation that for many is a celebration of the religious freedoms won at that time in history. On the other hand, Halloween originated in the occult, and today’s practitioners of witchcraft, debauchery, and the demonic in general celebrate the day as a tribute to satan.
So here at my front door will stand precious princesses all pink, frilly and cute, and macho power rangers coached to say “twick or tweat.” How can I deny them the candy (that I haven’t eaten yet)? I really don’t want to be the old curmudgeon on Elm Street. Or should I be?
It’s that line in the sand. As believers, don’t we have to draw many of those lines, discerning what our culture says is right vs. what the Holy Spirit within us says is wrong?
I don’t have to contend with kids or grandkids and their visions of fun parties, costumes and mountains of candy dancing in their heads. So I went on line to sites like Focus on the Family, which say my/our quandary boils down to 1) rejecting Halloween completely, 2) completely accepting Halloween or 3) a compromise — reforming the celebration to eliminate the darkness and concentrate on the innocent fun of the day.
Focus on the Family notes that Scripture carefully instructs Christians against participation in pagan practices directly involving witchcraft, the occult, and the worship of other deities. Instead, the authors call for prayer and discernment, saying, “On Halloween, just as the case with any other night of the year, the Lord values our behavior and interactions with others.” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:31, So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
So with all that in mind, dear Sisters, what do you think? How do we glorify God at Halloween? How do you (and your family) navigate this holiday?
So how about pouring yourself a cup of pumpkin spice something or other and sharing your answers and insights? This old curmudgeon is eager to hear your point of view!
Mary Ann
