With Halloween a few days away, navigating the topic can be difficult. There are two sides of Halloween; one filled with candy, homemade costumes, and fun games, and another side filled with darkness. In this sermon, “How to Scare the Devil” by Roger Thomas, he writes about the dis-service we do to the youth when we pretend the other side of the holiday doesn't exist.
“You may not take all the talk of witchcraft and satanic worship seriously. But there are many who do. We dare not nonchalantly play pretend games about such things with our young anymore.”
In Matthew 15, Jesus emphasized that it's not what we consume that separates us from Him, but rather what we produce that can lead us into sinful behavior. Each church (or family) might have different beliefs on this holiday, but it's important for us to be mindful and deliberate in our choices. Instead of passively following cultural practices that may not be inherently sinful, but could potentially distance us from the Lord, we should make intentional decisions aligned with our personal convictions.
The Bible is clear, and few believers would question, the downfalls of stepping into witchcraft, but what does it look like for us to celebrate this fun, candy-filled season while still honoring our faith?
