To Trick-or-Treat?

Now I may ruffle some feathers here but I am going to say that I believe in Jesus and yet….yet…my children would trick-or-treat. In fact, we had a ton of fun and even hosted big “Halloween/Fall” parties as my kids grew older. We would do scavenger hunts, bob for apples, have costume contests and lots and lots of cool treats and things to eat.

We carved pumpkins and made popcorn balls and even watched old scary movies with Bud Abbot and Lou Costello. To me it made more sense to ground my children in the truth and then enjoy the good things about fall, which in their little minds included going to our neighbors houses for candy once a year.  

As they grew older obviously, the desire to trick-or-treat dissapated. But to me it was just a part of being a child. We were not celebrating evil or anything to that nature at all. We just enjoyed dressing up and getting candy, making fun cookies, carmel apples and going to the pumpkin farm. And here’s the thing, those parties, and experiences of opening my home opened the door to talk to my kid’s friends about Christ. Each time kids came to my home, there were always conversations that followed. Because just being present to listen and providing a fun and safe place for kids to interact opened the door for that. It wasn’t about celebrating something bad or evil. It was about being real, being present and honoring God with my actions.

Now I am not saying you have to agree with me or allow your child to trick or treat. But, sometimes, I think we can get bogged down in things that don’t matter. Just because you allow your child to dress up and collect candy from family and friends doesn’t mean you are serving or celebrating evil.  

Colossians 2: 6-10 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Use every experience to teach your children good from evil, but don’t forget that they are children and sometimes it’s okay to just be a kid and have fun with them