In this exclusive, Joy shares her memories of Halloween and her thoughts on the holiday.
- "I don't remember that much about Halloween as a child. My sister and I definitely got to dress up, but my family really didn't "celebrate" it, by any means. Growing up as a minister's daughter, one would expect that October 31st would be a forbidden event, but we never made much of it either way. My mom would find things already in our wardrobe that could be used as a costume and we'd walk around and get candy -- and that was it.
I do remember one year that I was a cat. That costume was basically my dance class attire, which worked well for Halloween. My mom made a tail out of a pair of black socks.
Do I agree with Halloween? Do I disagree? Honestly, neither. It is a matter of conscience for the individual, something Paul brought up in one of his letters to the Corinthians. And, as is always the case, I couldn't say it any better. Look at 1 Cor 8:4-13. ...
Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
That, friends, sums it up for me. Yes, Halloween was crafted as a pagan ritual many, many years ago, but for us Christians, God knows we are not celebrating it for that reason. We know that there is only one God.
Most of the time, Halloween is for our children. Two things I know about children is that they love to dress up and they really love candy.
What matters are our hearts. God reiterates over and over in His word that it is not ritual and practice that commend us to Him...or the abstaining of it. Not celebrating Halloween will make you no better or worse in God's eyes. It is ALL, and always, about Jesus Christ...and nothing or no one else.
I hope you get some insight from the Scriptures here. Thank you About.com for giving me the freedom to approach this subject in a way of my choosing."
