For years we have gone back and forth on what we should do. We hated Halloween and everything it stands for but in a childs eye its just a day to get candy.
I have heard the arguments before. Pagan this and Devil that. I have argued the points on the Christmas tree and where that originated. Some years I have let the kids dress up and some years I have not.
Once our church started to have a Halloween alternative, the pressure was off! No costumes, pure christian fun. It gave the kids something to do and parents a small reprieve from the sad eyes looking out the windows.
Once we moved and changed churches, they too had a Halloween alternative but with costumes. Oh what to do. There I was, going back and forth, having to change what we have grown used to for so many years.
After much thinking this year, ( and some solid words from Hubby) our decision was finalized. Having older children helped the process along.
I explained to our kids that we will go to church and enjoy all the fun and excitement they will have for us but we will not be dressing up.
"Why why why why why..." echoed in our home.
I explained to them that people who dress up as demons and ghosts and goblins, witches, devils and dead people don't realize the real evil that exists in todays world. I explained how I didn't think glorifying someone who will be spending eternity in hell is fun. They all stayed quiet. They know how important salvation is. We have talked about what happens to people who die and are not saved.
A few days later, Emma had a guest speaker in youth group. It was a fun night, another church came, pizza and soda was served after and Emma got to mingle with some kids from camp that she has not seen since the summer. On the way home , her little voice echoed from the back of the van...
"Mom, can I talk to you about something later? They talked about things in youth that scared me..."
"ok, no problem. Lets just get everyone in bed first..."
My curiosity was exploding! I could not throw those littles under their covers fast enough.
Once the house was settled, hubby and I gave her our full attention.
" The youth pastor was telling us about a girl who was demon possessed...."
She began to tell the story and ask how it happened. Can it happen? To anyone? How real is it? Is the devil around all the time? What are demons? How many are they? Can they ever repent and become christians? Do they realize what hell is??
The questions kept flowing and I tried to answer as best as I could. Her eyes were wide as I tried to be as honest as I could. She was old enough to know most things about the spiritual world.
As our conversation ended I re-iterated how she is protected because she is a child of God. She has His covering as promised in the bible but to keep it, she has to remain close to Him.
As I walked her toward the stairs and off to bed I asked her this simple question...
"Em, now do you kinda understand why Mommy and Daddy don't think Halloween is a great holiday to celebrate? Even though it appears to be fun and great?
"Yes, I get it now..."
We kissed and hugged and off to bed she went.
That was an amazing moment. A brief understanding into each others world. She got it! She understood.
I plan on researching more about Halloween and why its not comparable to the Christmas holiday. An argument thats brought up so many times. For me, even if the Christmas tree came from pagan origin, We still worship the KING OF KINGS ON HIS BIRTHDAY. Who are people glorifying on Halloween? Certainly not Christ.
For me that is the only reason I need.
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day! I appreciate your thoughts on Halloween. Our oldest is 3 and we have yet to celebrate Halloween--or to decide for sure whether or not we ever will. I need to do more research and praying, I guess....
ReplyDeleteIn Christ,
Angela
We don't celebrate this holiday either. But i kind of miss dressing our kids up in cute costumes.
ReplyDeleteWe don't do Halloween either. We do celebrate Christmas. For us, it is simply a matter of not being able to find ANY redeeming qualities in the "holiday" (not a good term to describe Oct 31). There is nothing Christian about it, so why "celebrate" it?
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Amy
That is the perfect answer and the most awesome post. Yes, we too have struggled with the same questions from our children. This year my seven year old asked "what if we were Christians and we did celebrate Halloween." It was, again, another tough one but he gets it. We still have fun at our Church Fall Festival and there is lots of candy. Its also a great opportunity to reach out to the community. But I agree with you that every year it is the dreaded day when I have to stick to my guns and hold the standard high. I know it will make more sense to them when they are older. Its just the age when peer pressure from their little friends is the most difficult challenge. We have to help them understand why we need to be different.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Well, the way we do it is that our kids can dress up but we generally don't like the trick or treating. This year we had fun at a farm that just had rides, games, and stuff like that. Our church usually lets the kids have a party at the church but the rules are that we don't wear bad costumes. No demons, witches, etc so we are not glorifying the devil. So my kids think of it as a church fun night for kids. Not so much all the other stuff. I think it's just one of those things you have to decide in each home with your personal convictions. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, I just blogged about how much I love Halloween at our house and then I click over and see this post!!! I do know a few people that don't celebrate Halloween, which was something I hadn't ever heard of until we moved to the South. We don't think it has anything to do with Satan, and we are Christians. I think some people can take it to that extreme but some of my fondest memories as a child surrounds Halloween so I try to pass that along to my kids. We just don't allow them to wear anything scary or gory. In our church you can dress up, but no masks are allowed. That has always kept it safe. I think Halloween can be or mean whatever you want it to, there is no requirement in being satanic about it. There are other things our family and church do/don't do that people always think are weird, so you can't go with the crowd and I completely understand where you are coming from. Good job setting the bar high and sticking to it! If only everyone did that... :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I feel the same way. This is our FIRST year not celebrating it. My daughter is 8 my son is 5. Hubby and I watched a secular documentary on online about it. Where it started and why. how it changed and why. What it is today and why. We sort of just looked at each other and said, "there is really no reason to build this as a tradition in our home. Nothing about it seems redeemable or Christ honoring." That was it. Easiest Christian decision we have made to date. And the funny thing was, the kids didn't even care! we told them we don't think its a great day to honor with our time and talents, and that it does not bring glory to God and they said "OK". Cool huh? thanks again for the post!
ReplyDelete