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Halloween After Thoughts
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Surprisingly, I saw that many had searched for Halloween ideas for Youth Ministry. Next time around I will gather some ideas that other youth groups do for Halloween and you can make the decision.
I personally told the students that I lead that they need to respect what their family believes about Halloween as their seems to be many different interpretations on what to do and not do.
One thing stands out loud and clear for me and that is it’s a huge opportunity to talk about spiritual things! My family and I dressed up our kids and we went tricker treating because we don’t see any harm in it - matter of fact I had a great conversation with my 5 year-old son who asked many questions about ghosts and heaven and hell. It was so awesome! What an opportunity as a parent!
I wanted to share a couple of other blog posts that I read about Halloween and would appreciate other youth workers opinions about the subject now that it has come and gone.
The first article is from Greg Stier (Dare2Share) guy:
“Want to see something REALLY scary?”
This line from an old school scare fest from the eighties (can you guess the movie?) is a perfect halloween zinger. So do you? Do you want to see something REALLY scary?
Beyond the fright night micro goblins and monsters that will be wandering our neighborhoods tonight with a bloodlust for everything that will rot their teeth and fit in a paper bag, is their anything that should scare us? I mean REALLY scare us?
How about hell? There I said it. I used the “H” word (and not on TBN this time!)
Since Halloween is a time when people talk about “the dark side” of other-worldly creatures, why not use it as a discussion about the reality of the real dark side of a Christless eternity? Why not speak about the unspeakable with those who don’t want to think about it?…
CLICK HERE for the rest
Another article I found was from Adam Mclane a fellow youth worker and co-founder of YMX.
Here are his thoughts:
Here are 3 reasons why I think every Christian should embrace Halloween as a cultural phenomenon beyond personal convictions that you are endorsing evil.
- Don’t punish your kids for your convictions. We don’t let our kids dress up as demons or witches… but we do allow them to wear costumes because it’s fun. But to keep them at home, locked in the basement while you watch some cheesy Christian movie instead of getting bucket loads of candy tonight… that’s just mean. We are called to bring light into darkness not hide from darkness. (Ephesians 5:8-14) You can take your kids to your neighbors houses, keep them safe, and show them that being a Christian isn’t about hiding from the world.
- Be hospitable. I know plenty of people live in rural areas and don’t get trick-or-treaters. So you folks are exempt… for a night. But if you are like me and hundreds of kids will be walking by your house looking for a few pieces of yummy candy don’t be the jerk on you block. Head out to the store right now and get yourself a couple bags of candy. Titus 1:8 pretty much makes it clear that anyone in leadership at their church must be hospitable. Turn your light on, answer the door, and be hospitable. Even if you can’t be home tonight, leave out a bowl and turn the light on. People know what to do! (Yes, just let people steal your candy!)
- Don’t be afraid! I think a lot of this anti-Halloween stuff is based on terrible theology. The Bible tells us to resist the devil. Peter tells us to “resist him” which indicates a struggle. (1 Peter 5:8-9) But the Bible doesn’t tell Christians to hide from evil. Look at the example of Paul as he went to various towns. He encountered evil in all its forms and chose to bring Christ there.
You can read his entire article HERE.
So what did your church do? What did you do? What would Jesus do?
