Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Ok, so if we are not going to take our kids trick or treating or celebrate in the way the rest of the world is what are some things that we as Christians can do instead?
- Participate in Church sponsored activities. This was always a favorite for my boys when they were younger. Fall Festivals, Trunk or Treats, etc.. are all fabulous alternatives and you can use it as a witnessing tool by inviting school friends or family that do not know Jesus as their personal Savior.
- Find a friend or family member that also uses alternative ways to celebrate this time of year and plan something with them and their kids. God is so good. For over 2 years I felt pretty much alone in my conviction about this until one day at my boys public school I was introduced to an awesome woman that loves the Lord like I do and we have since became great friends. Upon getting to know her I found out that she also believes the way I do and in her home they do not celebrate Halloween either. So I encourage you to pray and ask God to send you someone to be a support to you. God had mercy on me and gave me someone because I wasn't smart enough to pray and ask him for help in this area. :(
- Decorate for "Fall" and not Halloween. We decorate with scarecrows, pumpkins, gourds, sunflowers, etc... but not with jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, witches, and black cats (unless you count my real black cat). This also makes it easier on me because I can decorate from mid September all the way through Thanksgiving with basically the same decorations. All I have to add is a few Turkeys and Pilgrims at Thanksgiving and we are good to go.
- Allow your children to carve a pumpkin using the pumpkin prayer and lesson for Christians by Liz Curtis Higgs. I will post this next week.
- Find something in your area like a pumpkin festival, apple festival or corn maze to participate in.
- Hand out Candy on Trick or Treat night. We live out in the country and do not get any "trick or treaters" but if you live in an area with lots of children going from door to do use this as a witness for Jesus. Along with your candy, hand out tracks or an invitation to visit your church. A friend of mine wraps her candy with new labels and the label is the track that invites them to church and to know Jesus.
Remember we are supposed to be lights shining in the darkness.
Matthew 5:14-16
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Instead of letting this day or month get you down or make you want to hide, use it as an opportunity to tell your friends, neighbors and family about Jesus. We ALWAYS have a reason to celebrate Him.
I finish my post Here Tomorrow, I hope you'll join me again...
Click Here for Part 4
These are fun ideas--and I love fall. Our church has a trunk or treat, and one other night in October we have a hayride and outdoor chili supper. It's so fun to sit around a big blazing fire sipping cocoa with people we love from church and watching all the kids play football until the last bit of light is gone. The great thing is that these folks intentionally put Jesus at the center of all our celebrating with devotionals, worship, and singing.
ReplyDeleteGin, that is exactly it. Letting Jesus be the center of our celebrations!
DeleteI've heard the tract idea before, but in my experience it's either: ignored and just tossed, found annoying and tossed OR found offensive and tossed . . . In any case it's usually ending up in a landfill and possibly turning neighbors off. I find the better way is simply to be kind, loving, welcoming and generous to one's neighbors during the holidays (including Halloween) - and for that matter, throughout the year - this speaks much more highly of Jesus than a tract, and is more likely to open doors to share the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that alot of tracks that get handed out with candy at trick or treat or any other time for that matter end up getting thrown out but if only one is read and causes someone to think a little more about Jesus or give their life to HIM it would be well worth it.
DeleteWe most definatley should be loving and kind to our neighbors whether or not we celebrate Halloween or agree with what they are doing. We are not supposed to hide away even if we don't agree like I talk about in Post #4 - We should let our neighbors see Jesus in our lives everyday not just on Halloween.
Thanks for your great comments!