Opportunity Knocking

Should a pastor friend of mine have accepted an invitation to "Beerfest," an annual gathering of men at a neighborhood home? What would his congregation think if they found out? Well, he went... with the cost of admission in hand: a 6-pack microbrew. This resulted in getting to know several neighbors better, even having some personal & spiritual conversations that night. He gained far more that night than if he would have boycotted the event & stayed home with his arms folded in protest.

What about the annual festivity just days away, Halloween? Yes I said the "H" word. Will you boycott or will you seize the opportunity?

Let's be honest, to the majority of the nation, Halloween is nothing more than a fun day of make-believe and dress-up. Yet, the Church spends a lot of time emphasizing the pagan roots of All Hallow's Eve. Some even go as far as calling the entire holiday "evil." In a terrific 1999 article, John Fischer wrote:

"Not to diminish the reality of spiritual warfare - something to be taken seriously by all believers - but the last day of October is not a spiritual battle any more than any other day. If Satan comes out on Halloween, he doesn't go back into hiding the next morning.... If Satan wins anything on this day, he may win more through the darkened homes of Christians than anything else."

624My wife & I were inspired by this article, so we started "Halloween Haven" on our block. We set up a tent outside of our garage so kids can play games and win prizes & candy. Inside the garage we serve hot dogs, hot cider, and coffee. We've been able to meet many neighbors and share openly about our faith. Regardless of your Halloween beliefs, on this day your neighbors WILL be walking your streets - knocking on your door. Will you be there to welcome them and engage in conversation?

Many Christians feel the best approach is to attend a Halloween alternative party at church. I believe this only adds to the problem. October 31 will be one of the biggest community hang-outs of the year, but where will the Christians be? Your dark house will speak volumes.

Just like a pastor carrying Jesus' light into Beerfest, my family will make sure our lights (physical and spiritual) are shining bright on my block on Halloween. Will your lights be on?

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Comments (10)

The Jews have always had a healthy attitude about wine, beer and strong drink. Rather than make it an illicit substance which increases the allure and potential for abuse, wine was seen as a gift from God to be enjoyed in a social context. The buzz and social lubricating qualities that alcohol produces were seen as blessings. At the feast of tabernacles Moses even gave permission to enjoy strong drink. “You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires” as long as you could enjoy it in the presence of the Lord and the family. The prohibitions, of course, were against drunkeness or being “addicted to much wine”. The only people I know in our church of 5000 who don’t enjoy an occasional brew are the pastors. Pretty funny. In my denomination Jesus could not be a pastor because he drank wine. What are they going to do at the marriage supper of the lamb when “fine wines” are served. I completely agree with you.

I also agree with you on Halloween. In our neighborhood, Dads and Moms took kids from house to house and it was probably the best opportunity of the year to meet neighbors. I say, reclaim the day. It’s all saints day! Hallow Een is a contraction of Holy Evening when we remember the departed saints.
Thanks for a great, thought-provoking post. I have always wanted to do something...more...on Halloween than ignore it or another church "harvest party." I just haven't been sure of what.

This year, my kids will not be in town for Halloween...they are visiting grandma and grandpa in another city. But next year...I am adopting your idea. Way to go...really look forward to hearing how it goes for you!
Very well said. There are many in our church who get worked up about Halloween. That's fine for them . . . and I understand why, I guess. But to em it has always been a time to hang out with our neighbors. You have articulated the reasons behind my decision much better than I. Nice post.
My "boycott" of Halloween in recent years has been more for economic than spiritual reasons, although I went through a season of railing against the spiritual evils surrounding the anti-holiday's origin. We've also participated in "alternative" events, with mixed results.

But this year we're participating in something similar to the "Halloween Haven" idea. Our church's small groups have been encouraged to pool their resources and concentrate on members' homes where high traffic is expected (ours is one of them). We'll be giving away a generous amount of candy (the "good stuff") and hope to engage people and build relationships, with the obvious intent of sharing the gospel.

It's an interesting twist on "outreach," because they will, indeed, be coming to us. How can we squander the opportunity?

Unfornately, some in our fellowship will not embrace this concept, because of sincere convictions against "endorsing" the implicit evil in the day. But we hope many will light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.

(Note: I might approach the Beerfest event differently. I have two sisters who were killed by a drunk driver, and there are real life problems with alcohol abuse that I would not want to unintentionally endorse. But I do commend the pastor who was willing to think outside the church box...)
It really sounds like a great idea. I've already committed to this year's Trunk or Treat, but we are also taking our kids out to other places for Halloween as well. I'll keep this idea open for next year however! I admire the pastor going to the beerfest and being a light out there for others. A lot of people forget that Jesus didn't hang out with the religious leaders of His day, He hung out with everybody folks, regardless of where they were at, or what they were involved in doing.
I've always enjoyed Halloween and been sad when churches made such a deal around it. It only gave power to those who wanted to make a fuss.

We had one year when we had to be gone. We left the porch light on with a bucket of candy and said...Sorry we can't be home, happy halloween, take some for yourself and leave some for others.

When we got home there were a few pieces of candy left, and someone wrote on the sign...thanks

In Ky we had a halloween party and had such fun. One older couple came with the outfits they wore when they left for their honeymoon. Oh they were beautiful...and won hand's down the contest...a good time was had by all.
Great article Dave T....I think we sink too far to relate to the culture. We should stand for something. But I like your approach...to offer shelter.

David Rupert
www.redletterbelievers.com
(thanks for playing Everfound a couple of weeks ago. You got a big mention on their website, www.everfoundmusic.com)
most of my profound and meaningful conversations happen with a few beers on the table and couple in the stomach. so i do commend the pastor for being brave enough to go to the Beerfest.

great post. insightful. and btw, i love under the radar! "best gourmet music you've never heard"

alvin
The purpose of Halloween is to laugh at Satan, for "that proud spirit" cannot bear to be mocked. Dress up in funny caricatures, and laugh at the fact that he has no power over us. For that matter, go ahead and go trick or treating.
I am always bothered when people try to stop church holidays. It is All Hallows Eve/Reformatin Day. All Hallows Eve because it is the day before all Saints Day, the day thechurch set aside to honor all those to be honored as saints because of their martyrdom. It was eventually followed by All Souls Day on Nov. 2, a day to honor all those who had died in Christ who had not been martyred. The conflation of the holiday into one day marking ALL SAINTS who have died has come about becausewe in the United States do not have many martyrs for the faith, and our common understanding of the word Saint has come to mean all who are baptized in the faith---a somewhat Lutheran understanding of us being at the same time saint and sinner.

Holloween is the preparation for those two days, and a day to "give the devil his due" by mocking him. Why shouldn't we? After all he has been conquered, what we experience now is just his death throws (sp?).

As for beer---as a good Evangelical Lutheran, I imbibe whenever possible, but I try to make it the good stuff of microbreweries, after all I do live in Portland, Oregon, the micro brew capital of the world. I alos believe God enjoys one now and then, at least his Son was a party animal.

Be at peace God is NOT mocked.

Peace and Power,

Pastor Don Voeks
"...life is slippery. Take my hand."

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