Sanctifying shabbat, even on Halloween
This upcoming shabbat is October 31st – Halloween here in the US. How can disciples of the Master keep shabbat holy in spite of Halloween?
Do we go negative and talk about all the ugly, occultic origins of Halloween? Do we cite the Scriptures, and show that God requires us to avoid — rather than celebrate — witches, witchcraft and the conjuring of spirits? Do we cite the New Testament where the Master tells us to avoid even the appearance of evil? Or do we close our window blinds and pretend not to be home while trick-or-treaters ring our doorbell? 🙂
Between the trick-or-treaters and wild yard and store decors, Halloween can be a distraction to Yeshua’s disciples. But on a deeper level, it can be a divisive issue in our own families. How should we handle Halloween?
Messianic apologist J.K. McKee has an excellent, balanced article on how Messianic believers should look at Halloween: A Messianic Perspective on Halloween. I’d recommend starting there.
McKee notes that the Evangelical Christian world has opposed Halloween and continues that opposition to this day. This Christian stance is to be commended. But beyond merely opposing Halloween, what in practice should be be doing on Halloween? And what about a Halloween that falls on a shabbat?
My approach is this: to do righteousness and goodness regardless of what the world is doing. I think in such things, God is pleased. Doing that, we sanctify shabbat and we busy ourselves doing good while avoiding the world’s Halloween.
With that in mind, I’m going to be volunteering at Feed My Starving Children, and I hope you’ll join me. Details below.
Join us for Feed My Starving Children
Instead of sitting at home whining about Halloween, how about God’s people do good works and give to charity? A little more excellent, a little more righteous I say! 🙂
When: October 31st, 7pm
Where: Feed My Starving Children, 18732 Lake Drive East, Chanhassen, MN 55317
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a Christian charity that helps kids in poor countries by shipping free food to the kids. Show up, pack some meals, ship the food. Optionally, you can donate money to provide for the food itself. This is what disciples of Yeshua ought to be doing anyways, no?
I was at FMSC last year on Halloween, and am glad to report there is zero Halloween junk, and the focus is 100% service to God. I think it’s a great way for Yeshua’s disciples to busy ourselves with righteousness. A good way to avoid the negativity around Halloween and amplify the righteousness of God – hallelu!
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” – Proverbs 11:25
