31st October
27 Oct 2016
There are some days in the year that I approach with a bit of nervousness. New Years Eve is one. Will I have to go to a party that seems to never end (after all, you can’t slip away until after midnight)? Will I be firmly encouraged to join in with “silly games”?
The other date that gives me a similar kind of fear and dread is 31st October. I confess it’s not because I am full of passion for God’s glory as I should be and hate the darkness of halloween. It’s probably more because I’m very British and dislike my doorbell ringing and being asked for a handout - even if it just a gift of the sweet variety.
If you are a Christian, Halloween is a difficult time of year, even if you are an extravert! The shelves of spooky children’s toys and fake blood that fill our supermarkets may just be another way of cashing in on the calendar, but it does feel a bit unsettling to those of us who know that there are such things as good and evil. If we are parents, we may wonder how to discuss it with our children - and wonder where the line should be drawn between what is fun and what is potentially dangerous.
How should we think about Halloween?
DON’T BE SCARED - REMEMBER EVIL HAS BEEN DEFEATED
With the increased commercialisation of Halloween it can be tempting to think that the forces of evil are growing stronger. It can be very easy to blow out of all proportion what is essentially just another way of people making money, and another excuse for a party. While it may not be fun for older folk to walk the streets after dark at the end of October, it is just people (mainly children) in silly costumes!
The most fundamental fact to remember is that evil has been destroyed and Satan has been defeated at the cross. The letter to the Ephesians reminds us that our Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of his Father in the heavenly places “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” (Eph 1:21). We can “stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph 6:11) not because we are called to defeat him, but because we stand “in Christ” in the place of victory.
It is an interesting co-incidence (or perhaps not!), that 31st October is an important day in church history. It is reformation day when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral, which gradually began the reformation and the rediscovery of the great truths of the gospel.
DON’T TRIVIALISE EVIL - REMEMBER EVIL IS NOT YET DESTROYED
I have noticed a trend over the last few years of Christians trying to rehabilitate halloween. The argument goes something like this - because the devil has been destroyed, the best way that we can show that is to laugh at him. Dress up in silly costumes. Pretend to be a witch or wizard and show the world how little power he has!
These arguments have tended to come from America. It is probably true that over there Halloween is a bit different. There seems to be a stronger tradition of neighbours joining together on 31st October, and the dressing up is not just restricted to ghosts and ghouls, but includes superheroes and other costumes. The desire behind making that argument seems to be to make sure Christians don’t cut themselves off from their communities and become seen as killjoys.
I’m not sure that we can adopt that approach unquestioningly though. Although Satan has been defeated he is not yet destroyed. He is out but not yet down. While the letter to the Ephesians strongly reassures us of Christ’s victory, God is just as clear about our need to remember that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12).
C.S. Lewis’ comments on the devil are very apt here -
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight” (C.S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letters. 1942, p. ix).
Halloween - with it’s mix of commercialism and hedonism - risks training us and our children in the former error. We are more likely to not think about the real spiritual battle we are in if we only ever think of the devil in a cartoon like way once a year.
DON’T BE DISTRACTED - REMEMBER WHO THE DEVIL IS AND WHAT HIS TACTICS ARE
Perhaps the biggest problem with Halloween is that it can act as an enormous distraction from the real work of the devil in our churches and in our lives. While we are getting worked up about 31st October, the devil is going about his more destructive business unchallenged.
We need to remember we are in a spiritual battle - but let's make sure we are fighting the right one. We may have differing views about whether it is right or wrong to enjoy books or films which include fantasy elements. Personally I think books like Harry Potter and the Lord Of The Rings are valid and enjoyable. The best fantasy, like the best science fiction, explore themes about life and our world deeply and carefully. Although they may include themes of magic, they can be very moral and show the triumph of good over evil, often through self sacrifice and redemption. Children need to read them at an appropriate age - but as they do that they are not stupid. They know what is a story and what is true.
Our bigger problem is that we forget what we know about Satan. “We are not unaware of his schemes”, (2 Cor 2:11), but we get amnesia at times. He is the “accuser of the brothers” (Rev 12:10) - pointing out our sin trying to show that God can’t forgive us. He is the “tempter” (Matthew 4:3), allowed by God to tempt us to sin. He is the “father of lies” (John 8:44) spinning and publicising falsehoods about God.
Don’t let halloween distract you from what the devil is doing right now. Don’t think that your lack of assurance when trusting in Christ is a small thing - actively believe what is preached on Sunday, and preach the gospel to yourself day by day. Don’t believe your own thoughts about God - keep coming back to God’s word. Don’t think that being careful about theology doesn’t matter. The devil is at work in the world and the church, and the danger is we can be too distracted to notice.
Because of this I think that “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis is the most helpful book about spiritual warfare. Written as a fictional exchange between a junior and senior devil in their quest to tempt a young Christian, it shows the sheer “normality” of temptation, and how every situation in life can be used to either glorify God or make room to give the devil a foothold. Many books on spiritual warfare are terrible (full of nonsense about “claiming the ground” and things like that) - but Lewis is a must-read.
DON’T BE NEGATIVE - REMEMBER EVERYTHING GOOD COMES FROM GOD
We need to end where we began. Remember Jesus Christ has won the victory! Even in the struggle, remember there is a day coming when Satan will be finally and fully defeated. (Rev 20:7-10).
For that reason - we should do all we can to be positive, even at halloween. It would be sad if Christians project fear or misery at this time of year, as we have the best news to pass on.
That’s one reason why we are running a Family Light Party on 31st October. A chance to enjoy a party, games and food in a positive atmosphere - and to hear about the great victory Jesus Christ has won! I hope it is a great success and we continue to do it year after year. 6pm-7pm in Latimer church hall.