I’m asking for some opinions and input. Doesn’t matter if you’re a parent or not, you’ve still got an opinion and I’d love to hear it.

I’m a father with 3 young kids and Halloween is today. As Christians, we’re overall led to believe that Halloween is an evil day that we shouldn’t participated in (unless we call it safe names like, Harvest Parties!). My kids are interested this year (though they’re only 4, 3 & 1 yrs.) and I know they only want candy and to dress up. We’ve told them no, not this year - but still don’t have a definitive answer for them.

I always remeber the weirdos in our neighborhood growing up that didn’t ’do Halloween’. But now that I have kids and are concerned with what we let them engage in, I’m left not knowing the right answer. So on Halloween, what is a Christian to do?

Any opinions on how to approach Halloween in the proper context?

So as a staff we took a trip to the places where Christians in our community fear to tread in an effort to remind ourselves of our place in the Great Commission First off was the Mirkwood Cafe which is an occult coffee house complete with an on staff psychic healer. It’s great to drink a cup of coffee (after all coffee is the back devil) with some lady reading Tarot cards next to us. I’m going to make a concerted effort to start hanging out here. I know of several kids that go here for D&D or Magic Cards, but how do we reach them if we’re not present. It’s a dark place that needs some light. And frankly I don’t mind this type of spiritual warfare. It’s at least obvious, it’s heavy but it seems more like a fair head on fight.

Afterwards we headed for lunch at the Angel of the Winds casino. I have my own issues with casinos. Just watching the pantheon of mindless zombies hitting the slots gets to me. But how different is this than the current state of our church. We’re dealing with an age of contentment and slumber. At least here they make no pretense. Their sins are obvious, not hidden behind activities and Sunday smiles.

 It reminded me of this quote for what church is supposed to be:

We are not a museum of saints. We’re a hospital for sin sick souls.”

Edith Roberts

We like to hear stories about the dirty people that Jesus reached down to give hope and heal, but are we willing to do the same? He wasn’t afraid to go into the gutter. How often do we get our hands dirty for the sake of the cross? Are we willing to go to the places where we’re embarrassed to be seen - all for His glory?

I know I’m guilty of that. In the casino I was aware of my presence and wondered what people would say if someone from my church saw me there. But I’m reminded that it doesn’t matter. So I must continue to do what I’m called to do and go where I’m called to go.

Are there place where you wont’ tread? So where’s your gutter?