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