Trick or Treating

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » October 27th, 2005, 11:22 am

My son's public school rehearsed some - unknown to me "Halloween songs" and a few days ago my son came home very upset. After an hour he finally told us... that the music teacher requested for him to wear a witches hat and zoom out on queue from the end of a song. He objected when she also cut the lights out.. and the other kids called him a "scaredy cat" etc. This really upset a 5 year old.

I've expressed to my son in the past that we don't celebrate things of the dark.... that we are children of the light. Some things we don't have to celebrate along with others etc. Back on the point.. we wrote a letter to his teacher expressing our Christian values and she gave it to the music teacher and she immediately called us that day and apologized and said that they would stop those songs today and move onto Thanksgiving etc.

Although I do.. allow my son and daughter to enjoy the harvest festivities, candies and costumes etc... but the characters are Mr. Incredible and Cinderella. I don't want to go to the extreme... but show him we can have fun also without indulging in the darkness.

Postby **Pastor Gary** » October 27th, 2005, 11:25 am

dolfan wrote:Now, hours later, you've decided to pile on...

In regards to "hours later" -- I am in Hawaii, Tim. When you are going to lunch, I am hitting my snooze alarm. I responded as soon as I was awake and aware. (I am not too coherent in my sleep.

)

Check your email, and we'll take this outside. :wink:

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » October 27th, 2005, 11:28 am

And, that's really all there is to it, MacUser. Hey, let's change the name, even. Call it "Dress and Mess" or something silly, if you feel the need. But, there's simply nothing unbiblical about candy-grubbing little crumbcrunchers going door-to-door or trunk-to-trunk in whiteface, blackface, blueface or whatever on October 31.

I can see the teacher now ... "It seemed like a good idea at the time..."

Paully_44 · Postby **Paully_44** » October 27th, 2005, 11:38 am

dolfan wrote:candy-grubbing little crumbcrunchers going door-to-door on October 31.

Hey, I resemble that remark.. :wink:

except for the little part.

I cant wait for Halloween night.

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » October 28th, 2005, 8:47 am

What I did for my kids to show them how to shine the true light.

Pastor Bill · Postby **Pastor Bill** » November 1st, 2005, 11:00 am

Well we went, had a good time, and I doubt my kids are spiritually scarred.

I agree on the dark stuff, and we didn't do that (although Daniel did go as Darth Vader) we didn't focus on the scary stuff, and just focused on fun.

As I stated before, up until this time we always had something at church, and we avoided the holiday because there were alternatives available and the kids feel left out of anything. This year, at our current church we don't have the young kids to really have something like that, so it wasn't an option, it was either ignore the holiday, hide out in the house hoping the doorbell didn't ring full of trick-or-treaters, which for the kids would have been miserable, or to find a way to let them have the fun with as little darkness as possible, I feel that went successfully.

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » November 1st, 2005, 11:09 am

Glad to hear that. We visited several in our area also and the kids really enjoyed it. My son is still hugging his overfilled bucket today as a matter of fact.

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » November 1st, 2005, 11:47 am

Paully_44 · Postby **Paully_44** » November 1st, 2005, 11:58 am

Below is an article written by John Fischer, Sr Writer for the Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals.

Turn On the Light Tonight
by John Fischer

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…
1 John 4:18

Today is a day that comes with a good deal of confusion and too much fear in some Christian circles. It has not always been the case. When I was a child in the 1950s as part of a very fundamental church, Halloween came and went with ne'er a thought of concern. We couldn't play cards, dance, go to movies or listen to rock and roll, but we could trick-or-treat our little candy bags full every October 31.

All that changed about fifteen years ago when the word spread rapidly in Christian circles that Halloween was actually not dress-up day after all, it had been Satan's holiday all along since its origins as All Hallows' Eve, and something that Christians should have nothing to do with. (Studies actually show major discrepancies on the origins of Halloween, making a truly definitive conclusion dubious at best.)

Something about these inconsistent Halloween experiences indicates that the issue here may be more one of perception than actual truth. Granted satanic activity may be an issue on this day, but I wonder if we actually give Satan more regard today than we should, while ignoring his reality the other 364 days of the year.

This much I know: Regardless of where you land on the trick-or-treating thing, if there is anything believers should not participate in today, it's not trick-or-treating: It's fear. Christians have no business being afraid today or any day. We worship the God of the universe who is over all powers and authorities and rulers on earth, above it or “below” it. If we as Christians show fear to the world, it comes as a disgrace to God. What does it say about the reality of God in our lives when we allow fear to motivate us?

We currently live on a street that has a reputation of being the best trick-or-treating street in town. Our house is right smack dab in the middle of a two block area that is so crowded with kids each year, the police put up barriers to keep vehicles out. We bought 6,000 pieces of candy last year and still ran out. As I see it we have three choices. Darken our door and hunker down inside. Plan to be gone for the evening. Or stock up on candy, put our chairs out in the front yard and enjoy the parade while we mingle with our neighbors.

Given our mission to love the world as Christ loved it, I'd say it was time to turn on the light. There is nothing that will stifle hope more than fear, and nothing that will overcome fear more than love.

pitts47150 · Postby **pitts47150** » October 18th, 2006, 5:30 am

I thought I would bump this old discussion up since Halloween is just around the corner. There are some good points in there to read.

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » October 18th, 2006, 5:43 am

We're having a church party. My wife and I are torn between going as Ketchup and Mustard or a pair of Bingo cards. :lol:

soulsearcher · Postby **soulsearcher** » October 18th, 2006, 5:49 am

Turn On the Light Tonight
by John Fischer

That is one EXCELLENT article. I just copied and pasted into an email to several of my friends.

teach · Postby **teach** » October 18th, 2006, 8:36 am

I don't have a problem with trick or treating

wendy k

Penny · Postby **Penny** » October 18th, 2006, 10:42 am

dolfan wrote:We're having a church party. My wife and I are torn between going as Ketchup and Mustard or a pair of Bingo cards.

I want to come to your party...

You must take a photo and share when it over...

I wish my kids did not want to do it, but they do so i will suffer and let them. I need to start working on what they are going to be.... \

But they got to tell me what they want to be first..

Paully_44 · Postby **Paully_44** » October 18th, 2006, 11:04 am

dolfan wrote:We're having a church party. My wife and I are torn between going as Ketchup and Mustard or a pair of Bingo cards.

we are having a church party also. Thankfully, this year the party is on Saturday before Halloween. That means, I am out with the kids trick or treating this year. I can't wait. My oldest will be dressing as a cyclops, my youngest as The Flash. I'll be dressed up as a robber.

Jude 2