When I was a little girl, around three or four years old, my mother occasionally needed to drop me off at a daycare center so she could run errands or attend to other things you can’t take care of with a pre-schooler in tow.
I hated it.
Even 40+ years later, I remember being terrified. I wasn’t a regular, so I didn’t know any of the other kids or the teachers or the routine or where anything was located. I didn’t want to be there because I didn’t fit in. I wanted to go home. I felt completely uncomfortable the entire time I was there. In fact, I remember crying unconsolably. When would my mom come back and get me out of this God-forsaken place?
Don’t cry. Your mom’s coming back for you soon.
I’m sure some kind teacher whispered that in my ear as she put her arms around me, the same way I’ve whispered it in the ears of children I’ve comforted over the years.
And, finally, Mom would come back, take me away, and everything would be all right.
Today, I still feel like that tiny child sometimes.
There are days when the evil and sadness of this world overwhelm me. When problems in my own life terrify me.
I hate it.
You see, I don’t fit in here. This isn’t my home. I don’t want to be here. And sometimes, I cry inconsolably…
When, Lord? When will you come back and get me out of this God-forsaking place?
And that’s when the kind and precious Holy Spirit wraps the arms of the Word around me and whispers…
Don’t cry. Your Savior’s coming back for you soon.
Soon, little ones. Dry your tears. He’s coming back for us soon.
Out of honor to my mom, I just wanted to say that I totally understand why she had to take me to the daycare from time to time. I would have done the same thing with my child. I’m sure it was a fine daycare with loving teachers. I’m just the kind of person who never outgrew stranger anxiety. This was my brokenness, not anyone else’s unkindness.
(This article, originally written October 24, 2014, is periodically updated.)
Foreword Please Read Before Commenting
I have re-run this article every year for ten years. And every year, people who call themselves Christians fly into a rage and say all sorts of verbally abusive things to and about me simply because I don’t call down fire from Heaven upon everything about October 31 outside of locking yourself in your home with the lights turned off.
It’s been ten years. It should be obvious by now that I’m not going to do that. My reasons should also be obvious from even a casual reading of the article. But since reading comprehension skills seem to be on life support these days, let me attempt to spell it out as clearly as possible:
There is a difference between the words participate and celebrate. Take a moment to ponder that difference. Then, read the article and notice I’ve used the word “participate” (referring to Christians) throughout.
Whether you like it or not, there are non-sinful aspects of, and activities surrounding Halloween. Many of these include evangelism. Evangelism is never sinful. If you condemn Christians for sharing the gospel on Halloween or any other day, you need to follow 2 Corinthians 13:5‘s admonition to examine yourself and see if you are in the faith.
As I stated in the article, participating in non-sinful aspects of Halloween (or pretty much anything else) is an issue of Christian liberty. If you don’t know what that is, you need to learn (see the “Additional Resources” section at the end of the article). Scripture does not permit you to bind other Christians’ consciences to yours.
Perhaps you, years ago, already studied the relevant Scriptures, prayed through the issue, and arrived at a godly and wise decision about Halloween for your family. That doesn’t mean every other Christian has. There are new Christians, and Christians who have only recently been brought by God to the place in their sanctification where they now realize they need to think this issue through biblically. This article is a teaching and discipleship moment for those Christians. The biblical way to make decisions is not to make a knee-jerk determination based on what I (or anyone else) have decided according to my conscience. The biblical way is to search the Scriptures, pray for wisdom, and then make the most godly decision possible according to your own conscience. That is the purpose of this article. Give people the space and the grace to do that.
After ten years, I have heard all the legalistic lambasting I can take on this subject, and no one is coming up with any unique arguments. Therefore (per policy), I will not be reading or publishing legalistic (or antinomian, for that matter) rants or verbally abusive comments here or on my social media platforms, and such emails and social media messages will be immediately deleted without response.
Since there is no specific Bible verse that says, “Thou shalt/shalt not participate in Halloween and its related activities,” this is an area of Christian liberty that must be decided by each individual or couple on the basis of scriptural principles and prayer. If there are non-sinful Halloween activities available to you that do not violate scriptural principles or your conscience or cause you to become a stumbling block to someone weaker in the faith (which may even be your spouse or child), you are free to participate in those aspects of Halloween.
(Please understand that when I say “Halloween-related activities,” I am including things like handing out candy and tracts to your neighborhood trick-or-treaters, participating in your church’s trunk or treat {assuming no sin is being committed and the gospel is being shared}, etc.)
Here are some Scriptures and principles that may be of help as you make your decision:
1 Corinthians 10:23: “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
Is it helpful? Does it build you/your family up?
1 Corinthians 10:24-30: Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
Who is watching what your family does? Are you serving your neighbor and drawing him closer to Christ by the activities you participate in?
1 Corinthians 10:31: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Are you glorifying God by participating in the activity you’re considering?
Philippians 4:8: 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.
Does the activity exemplify and cause you to think about things that are pure, lovely, etc.?
Ephesians 5:11-12- Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Is the activity spiritually unfruitful, a work of darkness, shameful? Are you taking part in evil or exposing it?
Isaiah 5:20: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Does the activity celebrate, honor, or make light of sin, evil, and darkness?
1 Corinthians 15:54b-55: Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Christ died to put death to death. Does the activity you’re considering glorify death?
If your church is planning a trunk or treat, or any outreach event ever, really, or even if your church just ever has visitors, please read this X post from Eric and remember that hospitality isn’t just providing food, a venue, and an event, it’s welcoming others as Christ welcomes us.
When I was a little girl, around three or four years old, my mother occasionally needed to drop me off at a daycare center so she could run errands or attend to other things you can’t take care of with a pre-schooler in tow.
I hated it.
Even 40+ years later, I remember being terrified. I wasn’t a regular, so I didn’t know any of the other kids or the teachers or the routine or where anything was located. I didn’t want to be there because I didn’t fit in. I wanted to go home. I felt completely uncomfortable the entire time I was there. In fact, I remember crying unconsolably. When would my mom come back and get me out of this God-forsaken place?
Don’t cry. Your mom’s coming back for you soon.
I’m sure some kind teacher whispered that in my ear as she put her arms around me, the same way I’ve whispered it in the ears of children I’ve comforted over the years.
And, finally, Mom would come back, take me away, and everthing would be all right.
Today, I still feel like that tiny child sometimes.
There are days when the evil and sadness of this world overwhelm me. When problems in my own life terrify me.
I hate it.
You see, I don’t fit in here. This isn’t my home. I don’t want to be here. And sometimes, I cry inconsolably…
When, Lord? When will you come back and get me out of this God-forsaking place?
And that’s when the kind and precious Holy Spirit wraps the arms of the Word around me and whispers…
Don’t cry. Your Savior’s coming back for you soon.
Soon, little ones. Dry your tears. He’s coming back for us soon.
Out of honor to my mom, I just wanted to say that I totally understand why she had to take me to the daycare from time to time. I would have done the same thing with my child. I’m sure it was a fine daycare with loving teachers. I’m just the kind of person who never outgrew stranger anxiety. This was my brokenness, not anyone else’s unkindness.
