See, we were trying to figure out why we would disagree with others that "dressing up for halloween is harmless," and my husband asked this great question. "Why are we dressing up?" We dress up to worship God on Sundays to be respectful... we dress up to please our spouse or others to flatter them... we dress up to a graduation or party to congratulate and celebrate... we dress up to a conference or meeting to make an impression... we even dress ourselves in pyjamas for the occasion to sleep restfully. But what are we teaching our kids when we dress up on halloween? Just WHO are we honoring? Why are we dressing up?
When we dress up, decorate, do trick or treats, and go to "boo events", we are teaching our kids that SOMETHING important is going on or SOMEONE is special. Candies, decorations, and outfits, the facade of harmlessness, are just another MARKETING OF EVIL. Parenting is a spiritual battle.
Now WHY in my sane mind, would I ever open my kids and myself up to terror and fear at any "boo events"? I don't know. Growing up not being Christians, my parents let me see horror movies and I've been to the worst of all, halloween horror nights at Islands of Adventures. "Oh it's not real", "just pretend they're in underwear", "why are you such a wimp" ...... even since my childhood, I have known evil is real, and demonic forces are real. I screamed all the way through the Island of Adventures. I was 21 years old. I knew those ghosts and dead people were not real, but I felt demonic presences all around me. So, we would rather teach my kids and myself to stay away from and hate evil, than to teach them to harden their hearts to evil. We are taught by the word of God to guard our hearts and not associate with evil. And on top of it all, why would I go somewhere or do something on purpose to watch and hear my own children cry and scream in fear. That's just a bit sick to me.
PSALM37
PROVERBS 4
EPHESIANS 4
Again, parenting is a spiritual battle and with God's help, we will not falter.
As a mom, I have thought about how they'd miss the fun of dressing up. But how about dressing up on Christmas as someone on the nativity scene and serving at shelters or other places? We hate walking around seeing santas everywhere when we do not celebrate him either. Yet people complain about nativity scenes and menorahs. Why do non Christians always want Christians to be "tolerant" yet they have no tolerance for us and our beliefs?
God you are sovereign. Help us to actively engage ourselves in spiritual battle. Help us to know the schemes of our Enemy. Help our future generations to discern with God's wisdom and love with Christ's love. Help me to be sensitive and discerning. Help us spread Your love one person at a time. God help us all. AMEN.
Lifesong - Casting Crowns
Empty Hands held high
Such Small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight
May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you
Chorus:
Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You
LORD, I give my life
A Living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet
So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You
1 comment:
When we visited Z's grandma in Brooklyn during early 2007 (was it January? Can't quite remember), there were all these kids running around all dressed up in costumes. Guess what the occasion was? Purim! It was a VERY traditional Jewish neighborhood (I'm talking women in long skirts, men with beards). Apparently they celebrate Purim in much the same way as Halloween, except they're dressing up like Esther--instead of wearing sackcloth & fasting like the rest of the Jews, she got dressed in her best in order to dazzle the king. To me, the story shows that there are more ways than one to pray to God (instead of sackcloth & fasting she got fancied up) and that we need to use the intelligence God has given us to do His will. It would have been stupid for Esther to ask the king for something if she looked terrible (unfortunately he wouldn't have understood the sackcloth look)--that king was big on appearance. Just one of the many points I've gotten out of that book of the Bible. Ok, back on topic: I thought it was so cool that the kids could have the fun of dressing up and running around, ringing doorbells (except I am pretty sure they collected coins or canned goods for charity instead of candy), but not have any relation to Halloween. It's not even during the same season. If I remember my Sunday school lessons correctly, originally it began by kids putting on a little "play" and acting out the Esther story--hence the dressing up. Wouldn't it be great if Christians did this? You'd have to have a whole community doing it, though, to really work (which was why it worked with the traditional Jewish neighborhood). And that's my 2 cents for the day.
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