This past Saturday, my 5 year old put on a blue uniform that said “Police” along with a hat, sunglasses and handcuffs. He was stoked to show people his badge and he walked to our neighbors asking for candy.
He got tons of nerds and suckers and skittles - then he came home and sorted through his candy in two piles: Keep vs Sweep.
And you know what’s crazy?
Who would have guessed the entire time he was actually worshipping Satan and engaging in the pagan rituals to summon dark spirits?
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You know what one of the most difficult things in the entire world? Answering someone who is so set on the idea that they are right and everyone else is wrong.
In fact - Solomon, the wisest man to roam the earth, writes this in Proverbs 26:4 -
4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
But then - in the VERY NEXT VERSE - he says -
5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
So which one is it?! Do we answer people like this or not?
Well - according to Solomon: yes and no. Sometimes we just let people talk and do their thing.
But sometimes, we have to answer them.
And with all love, I believe this is one of those times.
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Many people on my social media and in my every day world have expressed multiple opinions about how Halloween is evil and how any churches who do trunk or treat are sinning.
I ignored this for a very long time, but alas, it has become too much of a head ache and I’m tired of people commenting on my posts telling me my 5 year is going to hell lol.
This isn't directed at Christians who choose not to celebrate Halloween. I respect that conviction. This is directed at Christians who believe their personal conviction gives them permission to condemn everyone else.
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To address this issue simply, I think we just need to consider two things:
1. Not everything you believe is wrong is actually a sin.
Morality (the idea of what is good vs what is bad) is generally absolute. In other words, it is absolutely wrong to murder someone. It is absolutely wrong to abuse children. I could go on, but you get it.
In fact, this is actually a huge piece of evidence for the existence of God. If God is not real, then how do you explain morality? If there is no God, how can you tell anyone they should or should not do something? And if there is no God, you have to realize that anything you believe - the opposite is equally valid.
Most morality is absolute.
However, even in scripture, there is some morality that is just… preference.
Not everything you believe is wrong is actually wrong.
Paul talks about this multiple times in scripture. For example, in Romans 14 he says -
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
He gives us another great example in Corinthians when it comes to eating meat sacrificed to idols.
In 1 Cor. 8 he says,
4 So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. 5 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. 6 But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. 7 However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.
9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.
He says this again in chapter 10 -
25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.” 27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Basically Paul is saying, “Hey - eating meat sacrificed to idols is not really a bad thing. But there are Christians who might struggle with it, so please be considerate of them.”
Notice how he doesn’t condemn one group of people or another depending on their choices. He basically says, “If it bothers you, dont do it. If it doesn’t bother you - do it - but remember to be gentle and considerate of those it does bother.”
Now replace “trick or treating” with “eating meat.”
Paul's point is that something associated with pagan worship is not automatically an act of pagan worship. The context, the action, and the conscience matter.
Satan does not own copyrights to Reese's pieces.
It’s just a fun thing to dress up and go get candy. We aren't summoning demons or praising witches.
And yet, there are people out there who really struggle with this - so you will never hear me make fun of them or tell them they their faith is weak and they need to just grow up.
Trick or treating is just a preference. It’s not a sin. Some people struggle to participate, and that’s totally okay. We love them anyway.
2. The bible condemns witchcraft - and trick or treating is not witchcraft.
I don’t know about you - but I know witches.
I know people involved in the world or whifchcraft and a dark spiritual world - and let me tell you - not a single one of them have ‘Trick or treat” on their to do list lol.
Witchcraft is condemned in the bible as people who summon spirits and communicate with demons.
This requires intellectual honesty here - so be real with yourself. My kid just wants skittles lol. He loves Iron man. He is truly enjoying his life and having a great time.
And that night, we prayed to Jesus and thanked Him for the delicious candy.
These are two completely different things.
But let’s say I’m wrong.
Lets say you’re right and I’m wrong - and by engaging in these pagan days he is somehow sinning.
You win.
But here’s my question (and I know this is going to sound weird)… what do you do about Tuesday?
I’m not sure if you know - but Tuesday is named and celebrated after a Norse God of War. Its is 100% pagan ideology and you know what’s crazy? You participate in it!
What’s more - Tuesday through Friday are ALL named after pagan God's!
So keep that energy.
Throw out your calendar.
Make a post about how all of us are going to hell.
Rename your days of the week. After all, we are participating in idol worship and celebrating multiple God’s by acknowledging Friday.
Time to rebel against culture and tell everyone to repent.
But chances are, you are not going to.
You are going to make a strong case that you are not, in fact, worshipping the Norse God tomorrow - and that even though you will participate in calling it Tuesday - it is something completely different.
All I am asking is that you apply that same logic to my 5 year old.
If you can participate in a pagan day while following Jesus, he can dress up as a chicken.
And if you can’t it’s okay. I still love you. And I hope you still love me.
And since you didn’t go trick or treating, I’ll gladly share my sour patch kids with you.
(Let's be real that's the worst candy out there anyway. You can have them all 😉 )
Love - Kevin
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