Party Poopers

How Halloween divides the saints! I am sorry about that—as I am about anything that makes sweet Christian people turn into fighting cats. You know the issues, and I’ve written about several of them in the past. (I’ll put my Halloween links at the bottom of this post.) But, I’d like to address the issue of party poopers. I mean the “Fall Party” poopers.

This year, more than ever, I’ve read blogs and articles against churches holding fall parties. Oh my! It is terrible! Can you believe it? (I am being sarcastic, but this is what they say.) Little children, dressing up as their favorite Bible characters, and receiving candy at their church as they walk from booth to booth or tailgate to open van! The horror of it all!

Or a group of Christian adults getting together for a pumpkin spice everything party! How could they do that on Halloween night?

How dare Christians substitute something good and wholesome—except maybe, too much sugar—for a heathen celebration?!!!

The principle of substitution is taught all through the Bible. Putting away bad habits, immorality, vices, and the way we lived before Christ is actually recommended in the Bible. Oh yes, the Fall Party Poopers say. Put away! I am all for that!

But, in the same Bible passages, God tells Christians what to substitute for the bad stuff. Put away, but put on, too. Let’s look at some of them, reading carefully to see what’s done away with and the wonderful substitutions for a life in Christ:

• Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light (Romans 13:12b).
• That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:22-32).
• But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:8-10, 12-17).
• Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
• Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:1-4, 8-11, 15-21).
• But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).

Look at all the good that gets substituted for bad—far outweighing the bad in both number and quality! It’s a biblical concept.

Let’s get back to Halloween. If a group of Christians decides to exchange light for darkness, isn’t that a good idea? If they have fun and let their children dress up as Bible characters, isn’t that a good idea? If Christians decide to have a God-honoring, non-alcoholic, pure party, with prayer and a devotional thought, isn’t that good? Is there something terribly wrong with turning a holiday we don’t celebrate into a wholesome fun time?

I think not.

Another principle in the Word of God is about special days. The context of the whole chapter of Romans 14 is about new Christians whose consciences bothered them about food and special days (like Halloween) that were dedicated to idolatry. The Bible says that each person needs to come to his own conclusions and not judge another person because his conclusions are different. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind (Romans 14:5).

So, I’ve told you I think it’s okay to have a Fall Party and let little kids dress up. I’ve told you I think it’s okay to have a Pumpkin Spice Party at your house, too. But, if your conscience won’t let you do either of those things on Halloween night, it’s okay. We can differ. Am I partying on Halloween? No, I’m not much of a party person. But if you are, it’s okay. Do I celebrate Halloween with darkness, goblins, and ghosts? No, and as a Christian, I have an issue with those. I have no such problems with pumpkins, wholesome fun, and laughter.

Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

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If you’d like to read past posts about Halloween, you can access them here:

APersonal Look at Halloween  and  WhatReally Should Scare Us