Tis the season once again for Halloween. I haven't heard as much buzz this year as I had in years past about the pagan abomination that is the celebration of Halloween. . .praise the Lord!!! While it is good to know the roots of our celebrations, there are times when we can't see the forest from the trees. I chose a picture of the kids with some of the bears at Epcot (from the movie Brother Bear I believe).
Why bears? Sunday night as we drove to East Jackson/Law rd area to a church called Union Grove Baptist, Graham said that the forest looked scary. We said, "Really? Why do you say that?" He proceeded to explain that he thought bears lived there and that was why the forest was scary. We assured him that bears did not live there and even if they did, there would be little danger. We even vacation in a place called Gatlinburg, a common stomping ground for bears. Once he realized that he was cool.
We have placed a lot of bears in Halloween that are just not there. Is it a time when some of the darkest subcultures tend to raise their heads? Perhaps. I tend to think of all of this as one great thinker once observed, "The problem is not that the darkness is so dark, but that the light is just not BEING light enough." So many are on the defensive to combat the evils of Halloween while this is just a symptom of a greater problem. They do not need a lecture on the dangers of Halloween as much as a simple presentation of the Good News of Jesus Christ who died for their sins and can deliver them from their love affair with darkness. The church has to remember that the scripture says that the "gates of Hell will not prevail against" us. (Matthew 16:18) A gate is a defensive posture, not offensive. I may have written this before in one of my blogs but I just keep coming back to it.
So what are you going to celebrate this season? Some choose to focus on a harvest festival or fall festival. We have been celebrating for a few weeks now as we have lived for the last 4 years in countries where the leaves did not change color. So it has been a show for us to see how beautiful things can be in the Fall.
Maybe you are one of those theologian types. . .then don't forget that October 31 is the Lutheran holiday celebrating the Reformation. It supposedly is the day that Martin Luther nailed 95 theses (or grievances) on that Castle door at Wittenberg. Some consider this the birth of the protestant movement.
(read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day)
Having lived in a Catholic country, I now celebrate Reformation day. I thank God that we have broken away from a church that essentially tried to sell forgiveness of sin. That is only the tip of the iceberg. Baptizing babies and praying/worshiping Mary are commonplace in the actions of the people and the church. I am thankful for a doctrine/church that has realigned itself to the true doctrine of Christ.
So there is some food for thought for you Taco Assassins out there. Find a way to enjoy life. It is way too short. Your kids grow up fast. Go play light sabers with your son. Dress your girls up as Tinker Bell and Cinderella and tell them how beautiful they are. As the song says, "Give em' roots, give em' wings, and they'll grow up, to do great things."
Oh yeah and "DON'T FEED THE BEARS."
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