Unless you’re hiding under a rock, you know that today is Halloween. It’s one of those holidays that is confusing to most Christians. Do we celebrate it? Do we hide from it? Is it ok to dress up? Are “Fall Festivals” an appropriate alternative? There is such a wide range of beliefs on this holiday in the Christian world. I remember trick or treating in the neighborhood as a kid. I also remember going to church sanctioned Fall Festivals.
Somewhere along the way, the belief sprang up that we should shun Halloween, turn off all the lights in the house and lock the doors. We couldn’t give out candy because we would be celebrating the devil’s holiday. When someone still knocked on the door, even though the lights were out, everyone would get quiet so the person outside wouldn’t know we were in there. Hopefully, they would think we weren’t home and go to the next house. Then we would try to figure out what kind of person knocks on a door where all the lights are out.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to disagree with that approach to Halloween. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus said we were the light of the world. So why would we turn out our light on the one night people other than Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons come knocking on our door? Tonight is your greatest opportunity all year to be the light of the world that you were called to be.
There isn’t another time this year that you will have complete strangers coming to your house asking for a treat. What better treat is there than God’s promises? I’m not saying that you should just put Bible verses in everyone’s bags. They’re coming for candy. Give them candy, but also give them God’s Word. You can buy labels for your printer and print John 3:16 out on it. Attach that sticker to candy.
If you don’t want to do that, sit on the porch with Christian music playing on your radio while you talk to neighbors and hand out candy. There are lots of things you can do to be light tonight. Closing your door, turning off your light and hiding is not one of them. Jesus didn’t just preach in the temple. He took His message into the homes of others and also to the hillside. We are not to hide behind the walls of the church or in our homes. We are to go outside and be who He called us to be.
Don’t let tonight just be another Halloween. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. Your good works could be passing out candy, hot chocolate or anything. Jesus said if you give even a cup of water in my name, you will be rewarded. Don’t just give someone a sugar rush tonight. Give them a spiritual rush. Give them life and light because that’s what you have. Don’t hide it under a bushel.