Years ago, the director of the mission agency we were working for made a comment regard-ing my organizational skills after taking a glance at my desk. He said “I have seen a variety of filing systems but this is the first time I have actually seen a pilling system”. I am pretty sure he was being sarcastic. I thought of him this month because during the first week of October, we observe “Get Or-ganized Week”. This is followed in week two of October with the observation of “Pet Peeve Week”. I have always been amused by the order of these two weeks since one of my pet peeves is having someone tell me to get organized. Of course, these two observances normally get lost in the shadow of two other big days in October. Octoberfest and Halloween. Neither of these days enjoys a full consensus among Christians in regards to participation. Some believers will argue that there is no possible scenario in which a Christian can enjoy a beer. On the other side of the table are those who join friar Tuck in thanking God for barley from which beer is made, Octoberfest is a cause for such a celebration. I think it safe to say that many regional beer aficionados would argue that although Octoberfest is German in origin, we in the Pacif-ic Northwest are blessed with microbrewers that produce a variety of beers that rival any beer made anywhere in the world.
The other observance that does not find consensus is, as I mentioned earlier,is Halloween. This day is not without its zealous fans and/or passionate disparagers. These polarizing views ex-tend into our churches. Caught in the middle are children who simply wish to seize the day in which going door to door to request and be given candy is allowed. The arguments for and against the children of Christian parents participating in such endeavors are varied and the position of parents also vary from the “firmly entrenched” to the “what’s the big deal?” categories. I doubt that I could add anything to either sides’ arguments that would serve to convince the other. I would however, exhort parents not to insinuate that anyone with an opposite view was either less spiritual than they or placing them in the ultra-legalistic category.
Both days that can be fodder for discussion can also be a cause for distraction; as can many holidays, celebrations, and even theological debates. As a people who have proclaimed Jesus Christ as Lord, we must strive to keep Him in the center of all we do. It is He who died for us on the cross, no one else. We must also strive to treat each other as the Bible teaches us.
This month, we may choose to take the road friar Tuck took in thanking God for barley or we may choose to abstain; we may allow our children to go get some candy or we may choose to keep them home because we don’t think they should engage in such activity. Whatever the case may be, we need to extend the grace Christ has demonstrated to us, to those who disagree with us. Ro-mans 14:3 “The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.” Romans 15:7 “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (both texts from NASB). I know that Christ accepted me when He certainly did not agree with much of what I thought or did. Should I, or anyone else, act differently?
Have a great October, whatever you choose to do, or not do.
Vic
The other observance that does not find consensus is, as I mentioned earlier,is Halloween. This day is not without its zealous fans and/or passionate disparagers. These polarizing views ex-tend into our churches. Caught in the middle are children who simply wish to seize the day in which going door to door to request and be given candy is allowed. The arguments for and against the children of Christian parents participating in such endeavors are varied and the position of parents also vary from the “firmly entrenched” to the “what’s the big deal?” categories. I doubt that I could add anything to either sides’ arguments that would serve to convince the other. I would however, exhort parents not to insinuate that anyone with an opposite view was either less spiritual than they or placing them in the ultra-legalistic category.
Both days that can be fodder for discussion can also be a cause for distraction; as can many holidays, celebrations, and even theological debates. As a people who have proclaimed Jesus Christ as Lord, we must strive to keep Him in the center of all we do. It is He who died for us on the cross, no one else. We must also strive to treat each other as the Bible teaches us.
This month, we may choose to take the road friar Tuck took in thanking God for barley or we may choose to abstain; we may allow our children to go get some candy or we may choose to keep them home because we don’t think they should engage in such activity. Whatever the case may be, we need to extend the grace Christ has demonstrated to us, to those who disagree with us. Ro-mans 14:3 “The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.” Romans 15:7 “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (both texts from NASB). I know that Christ accepted me when He certainly did not agree with much of what I thought or did. Should I, or anyone else, act differently?
Have a great October, whatever you choose to do, or not do.
Vic
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