There has been much discussion the past few decades about what a Christian is to do with Halloween. My family has gone a variety of routes throughout the years. From traditional ‘trick-or-treating’ to worship gatherings to neighborhood cookouts to church parties to handing out candy and Good News to all who came to our door. We know we are called ‘Light’ and Jesus calls us to shine in this world.
Eight-year-old John couldn’t wait to go door to door in our neighborhood. But before we left the house (we were the first ones on our street), I wanted to remind him of who he was. This week he had a school project in which he had to answer a question: ‘Why are you special?’ Without prompting from any other person, John immediately wrote: ‘Because I am a child of God.’ “John,” I said, “Remember, you are a child of God.” “I know Dana. Can we go get some candy?”
Whether or not we dress up like Jesus on Halloween, we are all to remember we are sons and daughters of God. We are to wear Christ. We are to be clothed in his goodness and love. God calls us a ‘new creation’ and the ‘light of the world’ and the ‘salt of the earth.’ His plan is for his children to be Jesus on the earth.
And this strategy is not just for one day of the year or even one day of each week… we are to depend on the Holy Spirit to help us be like Jesus every day. May God smile as He looks upon his children.
“Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:14
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14