Halloween is almost here again

Yea...We tell 'em we have to "check the candy".

 

Sure.

 

I don't.

 

I did that with the grand kids. Unfortunately the dog was watching and learning.



Except her own food, of course.

 

I needed a change. For three years in a row you and I went as an Arminian Rush duo holding the sign "IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DECIDE YOU STILL HAVE MADE A CHOICE" and all we got was tootsie-rolls and chick tracts.

 

To answer your question seriously:

I don't think that all engagement with culture is sinful. When my son was young we would allow him to dress up, but not as a zombie or anything like that. Most often he dressed as a pirate. We went to a few church festivals or "trunk or treat". The reason was not as a substitute for trick or treat but because it was a safe environment, centrally located, and constituted Christian fellowship.

This is why I am cautious when it comes to dictating appropriate behavior for others in this type of issue:

One church (my previous church) insisted that all candy be void of any Halloween reference (no peanut butter cup with a bat on the front). I remember one Easter (Resurrection Sunday) a pre-school teacher spent the night making baskets for the parents with colored eggs (very detailed, beautiful colored eggs). The pre-school pastor scolded this woman to the point she was in tears and had her throw out the baskets because they were pagan. Another pastor demanded at an open house - in front of the parents - a teacher remove the Easter egg pictures the children had pained....turns out they were dinosaurs because it was dinosaur week. I know all of the pastors and they are not like this with their own house hold. They try to make the church less offensive to the easily offended believer, but in so doing they are legalistic and ungodly. They hurt people trying to uphold a principle they themselves do not believe.

Sometimes we have to decide what we will do, what our family will do, and what we as a local church will do and allow others the same liberty. If not, the church gets bogged down in legitimizing worldly things to the point they are distracted from Kingdom work. To paraphrase (with great liberty) Paul's observation concerning food offered to pagan gods - they aren't real so don't sweat it dude, don't get distracted but keep your eye on the prize.

 

It's okay with me. I generally don't stick my nose in other people's business.

 

I just don't like gory. And he dressed as a fictional pirate.

 

Yes. She is well trained. We call her "Diet" because, with her around, everybody seems to lose weight.

(Okay, okay, her name is really "Sadie.")