Gradually Seeing Things Differently
As the end of another year is quickly coming upon us, people tend to become reflective. Resolutions from January are re-evaluated, achieved goals are tallied, and we start asking ourselves a lot of questions.
I'm no different! It’s important to ask myself some questions that are meant to foster growth.
Such questions might be:
”Does my maturity match my age?”
”Do my lips properly reflect my heart?”
”Have I learned anything in this pain?”
While these are good questions to ask, I also review what I do daily.
"Do my actions line up with what God wants me to do?"
I find at this time of year, another question arises: “As a Christian, is it OK to celebrate Halloween?”
Coming to Christ is a revolutionary experience.
Our identity goes from being totally about color or culture to being identified as a child of The King of The Universe. We go from loving sin and all its accouterments to learning to hate it, while still loving the people who commit it. And we go from doing whatever we felt like doing whenever we felt like doing it to not knowing if what I used to do is now considered satisfactory behavior in the eyes of The One Who saved me. And the question about whether should I celebrate Halloween is like that.
Before Christ, I may have celebrated Halloween, but after accepting Christ and the lifestyle of a true believer, should I still do so? Here are some thoughts about this...
There comes a time when we may recognize that viewing things as either “Right” or “Wrong” or “Black” and “White” may not always suffice. There is room for nuances and a spectrum of truth that is not quickly solved like that of a math equation whose answer is absolute and makes sense every time. Mulling over thoughts, and Scriptures, meditating, praying, and wrestling with God even, a renewed mind can arise from it. Thoughts can then go from, “Is what I'm doing right or wrong?”, to "how does affect my relationship with God?".
Here's what God is asking you:
Is what you’re able to do going to benefit our relationship?
Is what you’re allowed to do going to please you or please Me?
Although our relationship will not stop because of this, will our relationship grow because of this?
When babies are being breastfed, it can be hard to get them to transfer over to eating other food because they have been conditioned since birth to desire, crave, and be satisfied with the taste of milk and the comfort of being breastfed. It’s said that breastfed babies have to be weaned off of milk, and onto other food. To wean means to encourage someone to gradually stop using or doing something that is not the best for them anymore.
(Hosea 4:6) "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
If you are unaware or uncertain, 'Halloween' is not the best for us spiritually. In a nutshell, it is a hallowed day (hence HALLOWeen) or a holy day, or a day that is set apart for evil to be manifested on earth (intentionally by evildoers, and unintentionally by unsuspecting participants). Let it be known to us that Satan is a legalist, a deceptive, slick prosecuting attorney.
In the fine print of Satan’s legal documents that is ratified by our agreement, known or unbeknownst to us, I’m sure a clause can be found in it which goes something like this: “Participation shall be regarded as (an) invitation.”
This means unsuspecting participants put themselves at risk of inviting evil into their lives.
Another clause that is probably tucked away somewhere in his deceptive document is: “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
This means that if one does not know the law, or doesn’t know the statute, or doesn’t know the clause, that still does not disqualify the one who unknowingly participated in it from having to deal with the consequences of having done so. Ouch! Truly, the gravity of the oft-quoted Scripture: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” certainly hits differently in our lives in light of this. Now, don’t feel condemned -- for we all fall short of doing what’s right from time to time. But if convicted, let us repent and see things differently.
(Phil 2:12 AMPC) “… Work out your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (with serious caution… tenderness of conscience… timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God).”
So, should we celebrate Halloween as Christians?
If you’re new to the faith, that question is OK to ask. We all have to learn how to walk with God. And God will walk with us from whatever point we find ourselves. That’s why He’s so easy to love!
Now if you’ve been in the faith a little while, allow room for thoughts to be more relationship-based, such as, “Will celebrating Halloween enhance my personal relationship with God?” In that way, we give The Spirit of God more rein to tug at our hearts and wean us away from those things that are considered to be so hallowed, beloved, and dear to us from our past.
(Phil 3:8 NET) "I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."
May we each come to discover in God’s process and timing the lesser, hollow temporary pleasure of pleasing self compared to the greater, deeper, long-lasting satisfaction of considering His feelings and His heart when making decisions.
Until next time, be blessed!
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Brian Chrichlow is a devoted husband, father of two beautiful daughters, and partners with his wife to lead Changing Lives Christian Center's PRE-TEEN MINISTRY. His intellect and humor positively affect everyone around him! In his spare time, he can be found fellowshipp-ing with the men of CLCC, spending quality time with his family, or acting on stage for a CLCC holiday play!
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