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Oct
27
Written by:
tim
10/27/2009 1:20 PM
It's that most wonderful time of the year... almost... okay well not really. I'll be honest; almost every year our family has a discussion about what we're going to do come Halloween. Every good Christian knows that we actually have "Harvest Parties" on October 31st as a healthy alternative to the spooky, liver-quivering, death-fascinated holiday.
This year our son will be sporting his best Iron Man costume accompanied by his sister, Ariel, the Disney mermaid princess. It is quite possible that she'll swim door to door singing to the rhythm of Iron Man blowing up everything in sight. That's what we'll end up doing but we'll also have a few more good conversations about the other characters they'll see. For us this is an opportunity to speak truth into our young children's minds about spiritual things, the God of the universe, Satan and who exactly is winning in the battle of Good vs. Evil. (That would be Jesus!)
I'm sure that our family is not alone in trying to figure out what our response should be to this event. We want to enjoy the innocence of children having fun and enjoying candy but we want to protect them from the influence and worship of things that clearly do not please God. Our society is fascinated with ghosts, spirits and anything "paranormal". This idea that unseen forces are present and affect our world arouses our curiosity. The belief that we can command these forces or "play" with them is a nicely laid trap. Our attention is directed towards the sensational and anything that raises the hair on our arms or sends shivers down our spines. Are we really so naive as to believe that a psychic, medium, sorcerer or anyone who practices witchcraft comes remotely close to the power of God? I would hope that we would all answer "no" to that question and yet sometimes we give these things far more credit than they deserve. We give credit by the time we spend watching the stuff on TV. We give credit to it by being fearful. We give credit when we fail to see just how magnificent and powerful God is.
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" 1John 4:1-4 (NIV)
My encouragement is NOT to just blow off Halloween or the spiritual activity associated with it, this would be a mistake. I do encourage each of you, however, to not be mesmerized or overly consumed with the day. Sometimes we Bible-types tend to just try and find the nearest hole in the ground and hibernate until it's all over. I understand this response and I've felt like that many times and yet something tells me that I'm supposed to be salt and light on October 31st too. First and foremost I need to minister to my own children that day but there are other opportunities as well. I expect that I'll meet with more of my neighbors that night than pretty much any other night.
I wonder what I'll tell them?...
5 comment(s) so far...
Re: The "H" Word
I am one who would like to hide in a hole until it's over, but I don't. I cringe at the goulish commercials, let alone the movie options on the television and big screen. I think my biggest concern is the influence this "time of year" (I don't like to consider it to be a holiday, or celebration) seems to have on not only the young, but adults as well, and especially those who are clueless to the ramifications of "toying with darkness" whether they are saved by grace, or not. Of course there is opportunity daily to "play" in that arena, and I appreciate that you, Tim, addressed that truth in accordance to "watching the stuff on TV", and giving attention to the "sensationalism" that is attractive to our dark side (the flesh).
I also remember the challenge that this "time of year" was while raising our sons, and basically handled it the same way as you do.
Once again, thank you for being willing to address the difficulties in this world that we must face "in The Light".
By Charleen Day on
10/27/2009 5:29 PM
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Re: The "H" Word
Tim, I always appreciate your good words! Since my birthday falls on halloween I always have an excuse not to celebrate it, but it can always be tricky. You provided good insight in how to face the day, because it comes every year and it only gets worse!
Leslie
By Leslie Dalton on
10/27/2009 5:25 PM
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Re: The "H" Word
AMEN! Perhaps. . .that Jesus loves them?
By Donna on
10/27/2009 5:25 PM
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Re: The "H" Word
It seems that as Christian we are frequently driven by fear - I love 1 John 4:4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." I think that verse could be the crutch we all need! It's easy to fear for our children's safety, to fear the evil that lurks around every corner, or to fear the future; but he who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. And all we need to know is that He is the same one who is looking out for us and our children.
Halloween was a great opportunity for us every year. We often hosted parties with great games and stories. Sometimes we went to community events. One year, we listened to Frank Peretti's "This Present Darkness" as a family for Halloween - there is shivery, delicious fear! Do you like a little more fear? Read "The Oath" in the woods in the dark while you are camping - I did and read non-stop until I finished it.
Fear is not a bad thing, it is what keeps us safe in certain circumstances. It is what builds caution in our actions. But fear allowed to blossom is what hinders the gospel, it hinders our peace, and it makes us hide from life.
By Donna on
10/28/2009 8:26 AM
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office2010
Sometimes Office 2010, in Windows Vista using Office2007/2003 to Microsoft Office open the Microsoft Office 2010 original article written by a lot of fonts Office 2007 can not display properly: the italics and somehow Microsoft Office 2010 Professional change the text in italics, the article spacing increases, and the layout is also an error Acrobat 9, originally shown on this page change to the next page Microsoft Office 2007 of text for no reason, how Microsoft Project Professional 2010 is this going on. Tips 1: Use a good Document Map If the long title of the document built, the Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Student directory structure of the Adobe reader style, you can in the use of "Document Map" feature for fast browsing and jump, but the default settings of the feature has not Office 2007 Professional been enabled Microsoft Project 2010, you can "View → Document Microsoft Visio Professional 2010 Structure map "sub-menu, select" Left "or" keep right "display the document structure diagram. This Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Business is to select "Left" in effect Office 2007 Ultimate, need to see a long document, the contents of a chapter, directly select the chart in the document Microsoft Visio 2010, and then the right side of the window will automatically display Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student relevant content, the default will show all levels, if you are feel that this is Adobe Acrobat too messy, you can click the Project 2010 "Show Level" button from the drop-down menu, select the need to show the level, and then immediately enter into force, can Visio 2010 be said to be very convenient Adobe Acrobat 9 Professional.
By office2010 on
4/27/2011 5:36 PM
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