“Touch the casket,” the teen in the red stained apron said a little too eagerly.
She had that smirk on her face like one who’s delighting in making someone do the uncomfortable.
The big eyes of my four year old keep shifting back and forth between me and her, unsure what was the right move to make. Yet she kept insisting that he find the black ceramic salt and pepper caskets as “cute” as she did. I was having one of those moments that struck me so oddly I didn’t know what to do either.
Yes, it was Halloween in the pretty little pink donut shop I liked.
Then she pointed up to the windows I hadn’t noticed yet were draped with ripped gauze and a bloody rubber severed foot. What was going on here? Why did she think this was appropriate to make him appreciate the mature décor?
As I took in a full view of the shop I saw a butchered fake arm and drippy blood colored stains hanging all around above us. If I hadn’t already ordered a sweet coffee and a pair of sprinkled donuts, I probably would have backed my way out of there. I spent those 5 eternal minutes helping him find the floor tiles fascinating.
Finally, my number was called. I grabbed my order and a napkin from the vampire holder and pulled him outside. I just left thinking – Why?
What bothered me was the glee in the waitress’ face. The reason most get a bit of a rush for successfully scaring someone or finding it funny to make someone cringe. The spark of rebelliousness in enjoying something we shouldn’t. It’s bad but it feels good. Why do we allow it?
What Should We Think?
It brought my thoughts back to this verse:
“Finally, brothers (fellow believers), whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
I had recently looked up definitions of discipleship to consider in my relationship with my kids. One that stuck out to me for a true disciple was one that “had no compartmentalization of faith, no realm in which Christ is excluded.”
This may be difficult to uphold as we pass down every area of lives to our kids and see our inconsistencies on display.
Think on anything lovely and worthy of praise…except for the month of October? Then deck your house and yard out with actual signs of death and creepiness and let your children dress like the undead?
If we stop to think of them as symbols of dismemberment and murder, isn’t that the absolute worst part of humanity? Why decorate with these things? Is the month of October one long season of PTSD attacks at every turn for those who have had a loved one killed or faced the savagery of combat? Am I overthinking this?
At the grocery store I saw cut candy fingers to top cupcakes. Brother and sisters around the world are seeing their children’s fingers cut off because the parents will not deny Christ. My stomach churns to see these candies and think of my kids chewing on them.
Again, Philippians 4:8.
If I am going to disciple my children to not compartmentalize this life or leave Christ out of anything our hearts are set on, then I have to consider how I am leading them. Above all, we are called to walk in the light and not in darkness. If we are aiming to be consistent disciples and examples, shouldn’t that mean leaving Halloween with its dark message, decorations, costumes and movies behind too? How do you handle this season?
Lord, We submit our choices to Your guidance in this role of guardians of little souls. Help us to protect the innocent when it is our choice and choose days filled with light. By Your power, help us not open them up to images or feelings that un-center their minds but rather help set their minds on the things above. May we walk in the light with You, the God of peace, that they may follow our footsteps. Search us Lord, and bring more of our lives into Your satisfying light.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Check out our other articles related to Halloween:
Be the Light Party: A Halloween Alternative for Christians
How Christians can Be Inviting on Halloween and All Year Too
“Oh great Light of the world come fill up our souls!”
Your post speaks the truth that many need to hear, especially now, when our world is choosing anger over kindness, fear over peace, disunity over togetherness. It is not right to treat evil as fun, funny, or just kidding. Thank you for your honesty and good advice. May God protect the innocent, and give us as guardians of their lives wisdom.
Thanks Jane for your fierce example too not to leave Christ out of any corner of our lives and cling to God’s Word as a true guiding source!
A thousand times, YES!!! This is part of what I have been teaching our children. Thanks.
I love this! Thank you for speaking truth. I always refer back to Philippians 4:8 when instructing my children too. I don’t see anything good in Halloween. Also, hearing testimonies from former devil worshippers on what they do that night is chilling.
Yes, that concerns me too. I don’t want to be celebrating, even in a way I thought innocent, in unison with those who are calling on more evil to happen in this world.
YESSSS!!!!! I am SO with you on this! Honestly, I’m surprised by the number of Christians who don’t have any problem with Halloween. There is NOTHING good about it, and it centers around evil and scary things. It never bothered me as much until I had children – when I thought of how to explain those things to them, it sealed the deal. I despise all things Halloween, including the huge dark and scary displays at every single grocery store. My boys have my tender heart and have never liked scary things. How can I explain why people actually like that stuff to my 3 and 4 year olds? My 4 year old has spoken to several Walmart employees about the matter (and he is autistic – very anxious and shy, and usually does not speak when strangers speak to him) and asked them directly to take away the scary things, as his younger brother hides under his blankie in the cart. He told me a couple weeks ago, “Ome day Jesus will throw away all the Halloween.” I couldn’t help but think about the truth in his words. We should all strive to glorify Christ in every way, every day. I can’t celebrate something that centers around everything evil – ghosts, vampires, zombies, witches, death, demons, and the list goes on – what part of that glorifies Christ? I don’t care how “cute” you make those little ghost activities, there is nothing cute about it. It still represents evil, and it doesn’t glorify our Lord, and I certainly can’t come up with a good explanation for my children, so NO THANK YOU. No Halloween here. Ever. Haha, I may be a bit passionate about the topic! 🤣
Yes! I hear your passion, and I understand. It has always been confusing to me and a confusing message to my children as well. I’m sorry that your children faced this. We used to go out to eat on this night but the wait staff all dress now and that became scary at times too. Thanks for weighing in. I know I am not alone.