Today I came across a 42-year-old picture of my sister and I dressed up for the school Halloween costume contest. I had just turned 10 years old and was dressed as Moses. My sister Wendy, then age 6, chose to dress the part of a ballerina since she had been taking ballet lessons.
I never won the costume contest at school, but I remember a kid who dressed up like Abraham Lincoln and won several years in a row. Now that I know how amazing Lincoln was, I appreciate the costume so much more.It was fun to dress up and act like someone you admire. Halloween in the 1970’s was generally not about scary decorations, but it was about kids getting the gift of way too much candy on a chilly night.
Our church was known for having an event called “The Fall Festival” held in the commercial building at the fairgrounds. It had all sorts of carnival games in many booths, a cakewalk, bobbing for apples and fun food to eat. I don’t remember gross costumes of the horror type, or lots of evil represented. It was an event close to Halloween where kids could wear their costume and act like their favorite superhero or an animal, making it a fun time for families. Looking back at it now with my ministry experience, I’m sure it was a ton of work; I’d like to take a time machine back and thank all those people who worked so hard to put that event together every year.
Indeed, my childhood history with the last evening of October has many fond memories.
Culture Moves Toward Darkness
When I was in college in the early 1990’s, I learned a bit more about the dark side of Halloween. While walking downtown with a few friends, I found myself in a mob situation where thousands of young people crowded the streets and police on horseback had to disperse the raucous crowds. The costumes were more sexualized and darker with a lot more emphasis on witches and demonic themes.
By the time I came back to Chico in 1998 to become the youth pastor here at Neighborhood Church, Halloween had become a full-on festival of darkness, with the city of Chico having to spend thousands of dollars to try to contain it, bringing at least 300 additional police into town for one or two nights of revelry.
Bringing the Light
The church rose up and hosted worship in the city plaza on Halloween and mobilized adults to prayer walk the streets to bring the peace and light of Christ. Instead of being one of the costume-clad young people, I decided to go prayer walking with a friend in the area of 5th and Ivy streets.
Over the course of a few years with strategic prayer, coordination and strategic initiatives from the Police, the Chico City Council, downtown businesses and the churches, Halloween in Chico was shut down as an annual out of control drunken party. The number of sexual assaults and other crimes dropped and peace returned to our city.
Become a Light-House
In the past 20 years of owning our home in a Chico neighborhood, we have used our house as a safe, “light” house for others. While the rest of the neighborhood may have hosted scary, demonic décor and themes, we turned on Christmas lights, gave away light snacks, coffee, and cider. We often show whatever World Series or other sporting event that’s being aired on our garage door with a video projector.
We have tried to use this night as a way to get to know our neighbors and build relationships. As trained Street Pastors, my wife and I have used our de-escalation skills to take authority over mischief and fights breaking out in our neighborhood. We have tried to walk in our authority as sons and daughters of the King, in praying and bringing the presence of God with a posture of love for others. Most years, I have done these things dressed like a cowboy, because… well … I’ve always thought they were really cool.
One friend in the city that doesn’t know Jesus recently recalled with me that he remembered our house as “the house that gave out tiny little Bibles instead of candy.” The truth is that we have never given out tiny little Bibles, but that was his way of saying our home had the appearance of a place of light, and I believe God’s reign certainly was felt by him all those years ago.
This has been my experience with the last evening in October, all the while, feeling the conflict of what this night has been turned into: a very dark celebration of evil things and fear.
So, you might be saying, Andrew, since you are taking part in activities on October 31st, aren’t you condoning the evil behind Halloween?
I would point the effort of our family to come in the opposite Spirit, to shift and change the atmosphere to love on my block.
I don’t want to celebrate the enemy or what represents his kingdom.
I don’t want to condone or come into alignment with the works of the devil.
I don’t’ want to confuse others about what I believe.
3 Ways You Can Choose to Change the Atmosphere
So, as we approach All Hallows Eve - which literally should be the most holy evening by name - how then shall we live? What will you do on that evening?
Here’s three ways you can respond…
- Gather together with other believers to pray for our city, first responders and the younger people who gather. During this prayer time together, also have fellowship and fun.
- Focus on the real holiday (All Saints Day, November 1st). Get people together to have a meal and tell a story or two of some of the saints who lived such amazing lives and have incredible testimonies.
- Become the “lighthouse” on your block, where others feel safe, where your décor and approach are all about the hospitality and love for others. When taking this approach, you will have opportunities to explain your reason with others for doing so, saying things like: “We don’t celebrate Halloween, because as Jesus followers we want to live our lives in the light, but we want to be a blessing to you as you are walking around with your kids this evening. It’s all about loving our neighbors is what we have learned. This is the only night of the year that my neighbors will all come to my door, and I can plant seeds of future relationships by loving, serving, giving and blessing them at my “lighthouse.”
As Christians, when we bring life and health into unhealthy dead places in our culture – it will change the atmosphere and be a witness of Jesus Christ – and living a better way. So many times we don’t engage because we are afraid of getting “cooties” from the world, but I believe health always brings health. Light always chases away darkness. Love always kills off fear.
Having said this, if you have struggled with dark habits or practices in the past, or your kids are small, you might consider skipping the scary content altogether and remove yourself from the festivities of this one evening.
Guide Us, Holy Spirit
I know many of you struggle with how to engage on this one evening of 365 in a year. I pray that the Holy Spirit will allow the eyes of your heart to see and know what is right and best for your family. As you find others with a similar plan, partner up and enjoy good fellowship and ministry.
Jesus, may you protect the people of our city. Will you reveal yourself through your people, and bring your light into dark places!
I look forward to seeing you next Sunday at our Worship Service in the Dome at 10:00 a.m.
You can also live stream our service on Facebook and YouTube at 10:00 a.m.
If you missed last week's message, "The Big Picture #7 - Biblical Poetry" click here.
