The black and orange holiday is here. You may be ready to don your red spandex Iron Man suit to trick or treat with your child. I personally like to dress as Princess Leah because I can strap donuts to my ears to munch along the way. I’ve already written about Satanic influences in my last article: on Witches, Spells, Voodoo and Halloween. If you and your kids must march around the block mooching Snickers from unsuspecting seniors, be creative. Teach your kids some Bible truths along the way.
Don’t be scared of death.
Jesus, the ultimate Superhero, smashed Satan, stormed the gates of hell and conquered death. Because He rose from the dead, He promised that we can too.
“When Jesus went up to heaven, He took those who were held with Him. He gave gifts to men.” When they say, “He went up,” what does it mean but that He had first gone down to hell? Christ Who went down into the deep also went up far above the heavens. He did this to fill all the world with Himself.” Ephesians 4:8-10 NLV
2. We die only once.
Forget the Zombies, the ghosts and the spooks. “It is appointed once for a man to die and after that the judgment.” Ender’s Game? Here it is. We all have a choice before we die, to accept or reject Jesus. Now is the time to ask Him to be Lord of your heart, not Lord of the Rings.
“Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.” Hebrews 9:27
3. Blood is good.
Not Vampire-sucking, scary-gory murder blood. Jesus’ blood is like Tide. It’s detergent, designed to wash your sins away. When He went to the cross, he poured His own blood on the Altar before His Father. Jesus’ blood is good. He even told His disciples when they saw blood, they should cherish and recall His sacrifice for them.
“When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us.” Hebrews 9:12 GNV
4. The Day of the Dead was originally created to remember loved ones who have passed away and honor them.
That’s not a bad idea. Teach your son or daughter that it’s okay to be sad when you lose someone you love. Write down a few happy memories about Grandma Ethel or Grandpa Joe. Talk about their lives, and talk about heaven. Lost pets need mourning, too. Barky the Beagle, Whiskers the cat and Bubbles the goldfish should be remembered, too. Flushing your limp fishy down the toilet doesn’t give your child closure. My husband wrote an article for just such an occasion. It’s called “Do Dogs Go to Heaven?”
“Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 KJV
Remember, Halloween is a great time to reach your neighbors with the love of Christ.
Our church has a great outreach called “BOO-gers and Halloweenies.” Families in each neighborhood gather around the grill, show love and compassion and share their faith.
Trick or treat if you must. Let your child ask questions about what they see and hear. Teach them to be polite and grateful. Make them share the loot, not hoard it like an evil hobbit. Otherwise they will be hyped up on caffeine and sugar for days. Enjoy an Almond Joy yourself. You can hit the gym tomorrow.