Christian Halloween
Matthew 5:13-16:
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Several years ago we moved from a church in Louisiana to our 1st Georgia church. Come Halloween I had been there almost a year. We decided to do a fall festival, a huge community event.. We did it right. Dunking booth, bobbing for apples, grab bags, candy, 3 legged races, BBQ for everyone. It was grand. I told the children of our congregation to dress up as always but try something different. An angel. a biblical character, animal, historic figure, just nothing to do with the typical Halloween, (witches, ghosts, monsters etc.). But whatever they did not to say anything to anyone in the community that came by to join us that was dressed like that. We wanted to set a silent example and let everyone have fun.Now the story.
I had a man in the church named Terry Adams. He was my most dedicated worker. If I needed something Terry was there. When I went visiting Terry was there. Not a Deacon but a man of service. He had been witnessing to a family for over three years. The week before the festival I went to their home with him. It was a good visit. The whole family came to church for the 1st time the following Sunday. It was a huge step. Terry then invited the family to join us the following Saturday for the Fall Festival. They did. When they arrived the three children were dressed as a witch, the devil and and a ghost. They were met soon after getting out of their car by one of our "Deacons". He proceeded to tell them that they could not be there dressed like that. The children started crying and needless to say the parents took there children and left. Terry was devastated, he cried all day. Three years of work destroyed in 30 seconds. We had dozens of kids dressed like that and worse that day and they were all welcomed. It was just a "Deacon" who was not in favor on the festival at "God's House" in the first place. Our goal with the festival was to give the community an opportunity to see us in a different light. As people just as they were with just a extra "something" in our life that made us want to share our joy. His name is Jesus. We never even got back in the house to visit that family. And who could blame them. You see folks we are to be "in the world not of the world". I have found if things like Halloween are handled correctly they can be a good tool to teach. My grandbabies are gonna dress up, my kids dressed up. Don't be ignorant. Look at the verses and remember.....LIGHT DESTROYS DARKNESS WITHOUT FAIL! Let Your Light So Shine..... AMEN
[/color]
Happy Halloween
Bro Mike
