Halloween: The Trap

“I think that all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him, I have lost all those things, and now I know they are worthless trash. This allows me to have Christ and to belong to him. Now I am right with God, not because I followed the law, but because I believed in Christ. God uses my faith to make me right with him.” ~Philippians 3:8-9 As simple country folks, we always looked at Halloween as a fun time. We'd dress up like hobos and start visiting our neighbors. Back then, we were invited in, sat and talked for a while and enjoyed some apple cider, cookies, or cake. Then we'd say good evening and visit someone else. It seemed to be a joyful time of visiting, fellowship, and also receiving some treats. We didn't see any harm in it. We were aware of some who would throw toilet paper all over someone's trees and yard, soap up car windows, and throw spoiled eggs at their homes, but we weren't like them. Little did we know that we were digging through the trash to find something good in all of that smelly garbage! One October Sunday morning, my wife received a pamphlet at church entitled “What's wrong in celebrating Halloween?” After reading it, she felt conviction in her heart and talked with our children, deciding not to have anything to do with Halloween. She decided to have a “Fall Harvest Party” the following weekend for other children to come to a party and take home some treats. She said if anyone came knocking at our door, we'd tell them we have no part in celebrating Halloween but would invite them to the party the following weekend. I told my wife, if someone came knocking, I'd give them a treat anyway. Then it happened! We were in bed at 11 PM that night with no outdoor lights on at all. The doorbell rang. I arose and answered the door. When I opened the door, I felt this coldness of horror as this boy dressed like a demon stood there! I closed the door, then thought, no, that little boy will probably do something to my car before he leaves! I picked up a candy bar and dropped it into his bag. Once again, I felt this cold feeling of evil?? I looked into his eyes, which was all I could see because of his costume, and they looked more like the eyes of someone very evil! He never spoke a word; he just took the treat and left. I waited for a few minutes, then turned the front porch light off. Then I noticed he did not get into a car. There wasn't a sound outside or any lights. I opened the front door in curiosity and saw no one. He didn't walk off to the next house, and no one drove him to or from our home. It was then I realized the Lord allowed this to happen so I could understand the evil in this day. Today, no one in our neighborhood and many Christians do not have anything to do with Halloween. It is easy today to see how evil it really is. A home in a nearby town is decorated in some of the most horrid crafts I've ever seen. The entire front yard is covered in 15-foot skeletons, demons, tombstones, witches and other evil beings. The next town from there brags they have a proclaimed witch on every street corner casting evil spells and curses on the town. Dogs and cats are mutilated and left hanging along the streets. What we thought was harmless 40 years ago has shown its true face boldly in the evil it represents. Have no part of “worthless trash” but instead pray for all of those taking part in something that is the opposite of what God has intended for us. We can either live in Christ or dig though the trash of this world...