Pastor's Corner

It is finally October again! Thus begins my favorite time of year. I love college football, the weather change, and the holidays we celebrate over the next few months. Later this month, Halloween arrives, and many Christians have mixed feelings about this one. Is Halloween OK to celebrate as a follower of Christ? My thoughts have gone back and forth over the years and now I think the answer to the question depends on what, exactly, are we celebrating.

Long ago, the Celts celebrated a holiday at this time of year which sought to honor and placate their god of the underworld. The belief was that the barrier between the living and the dead was at it thinnest in late October, so there was concern evil spirits might attempt to play tricks or harm you, thus you left them treats and dressed up in scary clothing to frighten them away. Over time, the day took on a "death worship" theme. This is not something we should support as followers of the Author of Life.

As Christianity spread to the villages around Celtic Europe, there was a need to address the day. Was there a way to change the practice and the meaning to keep the faithful safe, and honor God? The Church had long held the practice of honoring or remembering inspirational individuals who had passed into Heaven. November 1st was marked as "All Hallows Day", today called All Saint's Day and the night before became "All Hallows Eve". This was an intentional reappropriation by the Church of some (though not all) of the traditions and use them to teach healthier practices.

Hallows Eve was an opportunity to honor and mimic the kind of selfless living the Saints lived, so the tradition of leaving food (usually bread) outside for the poor or hosting meals for the less fortunate became common. It was a good time for warm, homecooked meals to be shared with others and candles to be lit in remembrance of the deceased. For the most part, it was a holiday for adults. Over time (basically the last 100ish years), the kids needed things to do, so traditions like bobbing for apples and Trick-or-Treating became popular.

Today, modern Halloween is most often thought of as a children's holiday – or a day to act like children. We dress up in silly costumes, eat candy, and have parties. Rather than a day of fear and creepiness, silliness and imagination have taken center stage. My family always enjoys carving pumpkins and this year, we will be carving ones we grew ourselves! Of course, I grew more than I needed, so I share some with other households. It is a fun time of snacks and friendship in the neighborhood.

Yes, there are some out there who still choose to celebrate a day of "magic, creepiness, and worship of the dead", but they don't need a special day to do that. The Church-created holiday (Holy-Day) of Halloween is something quite different. So here are my thoughts: as followers of Christ, we should always seek to find ways for the community to promote positive laughter, selflessness, and community. We should seek to avoid anything that fixates on death, pain, or horror. As the 31st approaches simply ask yourself, "does this activity promote Christlike values, or undermine them"? Whatever you choose to do, whether it is absolutely nothing, some form of charity, or a big party, do so with thought to God and compassion for others.

Lead Pastor Evan Edwell

Pomeroy Church of the Nazarene