Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." -- 1Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. -- Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
There were literally dozens of more scripture choices I could have made. We are not supposed to take part in the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them! We are called to be holy as He is holy. We are supposed to focus on what is honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Halloween is none of those things and in fact is the polar opposite. So to say the bible does not address Halloween is to be disingenuous at best and willfully deceitful at worst. By claiming Halloween is not addressed in the bible, Erica now thinks she has free reign to misinterpret narrative tales found in scripture to support her pre-conceived position. Her assertion is that Paul strategically left the synagogues to take the Gospel into the heart of evil. Let's take Erica's advice and examine the scripture:
And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. -- Acts: 19: 8-10 (ESV)
So did Paul strategize to leave the synagogues to bring the Gospel to the center of evil? No. Not even close. He actually preached at the synagogues for three months as was his practice. It was only when the Jews remained stubborn and started maligning Christianity that he chose to leave and go to the Hall of Tyrannus, so that all might hear the Gospel. This is an important passage showing the primacy of the Gospel being preached over our delicate sensibilities. Unlike the Sons of Thunder who once wanted to call fire down from heaven on a Samaritan village for refusing Christ, Paul understood his affront meant nothing compared to the cause of Christ. Yes he planted churches and there was kingdom growth but the overarching point Erica is trying to make is that Paul somehow brought his message into the heart of evil. This is true everywhere because everywhere there was evil! This however smells like a rotten pretext"
"Make a Decision. Right then and there, I made a resolution: I'm taking back Halloween. No, I'm not boycotting it. I'm reframing it. I'm using it as an opportunity to teach my kids that evil is real and we're called to shine in the midst of it. How? We'll serve at our church's harvest festival. We don't live in a neighborhood that gets trick-or-treaters, but if we did, I'd set up tables right in my driveway and serve food. Maybe include a craft or games. Bring out my dogs. Anything to cause my neighbors to stop for a few moments so I could interact with them--or at least learn their names. But we'll also go out into the darkness. We'll see things that are scary. People who laugh at death and destruction. Children dressed as witches, devils and vampires. My children wear historical costumes that recount life rather than celebrate death. We'll introduce ourselves to others in our neighborhood and tell them where we live. We'll try and make connections and then pray for those whom we met." -- Erica Wiggenhorn
Yeah Erica, you are not "taking back" Halloween with this scheme -- you are participating in it! You do not get to reframe the high holy day of Satanism. If you want to teach your kids how to shine in the midst of an evil world why not start by refusing to be a part of their evil! Oh, because that's too hard. That would require sacrifice. No costumes for the kiddies, even if they are "historical." No candy. No crafts and games. Churches that have harvest festivals or trunk and treats are no better. They teach their congregations that even the greatest day of mayhem, mischief and evil is too much to give up. Too much to ask the church to behave like the church is supposed to behave. Let October 31 pass by like any other day. Pay it zero special attention whatsoever. Wiggenhorn acts like getting to know her neighbor is such an act of grace but she waits until she can satiate her children's desires for Halloween to accomplish it. Why not make food, have crafts and games, introduce yourself to others, make connections and pray for others in September? Or June? Why wait until the day everyone else is celebrating the greatest day of evil in this country and then pretend your joining in is somehow righteous? It is not Erica -- it is transparent and once again -- what are you teaching your kids? For that matter what are you teaching your neighbors? That it is ok to celebrate Halloween as long as you pretend you are not. When those middle schoolers get to high school and want to dress like their favorite walking dead character or some other demonic force remember that you taught it to them. This is the same tired "I am going to redeem Halloween" argument. Like the devil cares what you think you are doing.
"Create Conversation. After loading up with candy, our family will share this conversation: 1. God has given us a costume to wear every day. "So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it" (Col. 3:12-14, MSG)" -- Erica Wiggenhorn
