So previously we talked about what parts of demonic culture we SHOULD TRY to incorporate into our lives.
So, this time, we’ll talk about – EW! GET that Satanic stuff OUT of your life, for heaven’s sake! Why the back and forth of recommendations? Well, you never know what’s true anymore on the internet so it’s essential to use our critical thinking skills at ALL times!
As mentioned HERE, I’ve noticed a disturbing rise in kind young restaurant servers and other seemingly normal people1 enjoying tattooing their bodies with overtly demonic art.
Recently, I wrote here and here about why we should try to give a wide berth to the dark arts and the demonic or satanic.
This week, to confuse you, I will tell you that you SHOULD read the Harry Potter series. I didn’t say I would be consistent! Give me a break! Who has time for authenticity nowadays?
He was trained and expected to emerge as a teen rock idol.
Then, he died in a sudden air crash at a young age. Over 40 years later, his music is still popular, resonating deeply with our hearts.1 And he had shaggy hair, a groomed beard and bell bottoms, so we know we can trust him!
I was in Dollarama minding my business when a stranger opened her heart to me.
I was as surprised then as you are now, reading this. We were standing near the Halloween decorations, and as she vented, more of her heart came out. “I’m just not sure I agree with these gross decorations and letting my kids dress up as such violent characters.”
Once, I was mistaken for Ned Flanders (the ultra-Christian), not in person, but in my writing.
Ned and I are pals, actually! Ned and I are in the same group because we aren’t allowed to expel anyone (I.e., those who aren’t cool enough) from the Jesus club. And that’s a good thing, in hindsight, because what if they wouldn’t accept me?
I was in Dollarama minding my business when a stranger opened her heart to me.
I was as surprised then as you are now, reading this. We were standing near the Halloween decorations, and as she vented, more of her heart came out. “I’m just not sure I agree with these gross decorations and letting my kids dress up as such violent characters.”
Perhaps it was because my homeschooled kids had commented as they walked by the Halloween decor along the lines that the costuming was icky.
I’m unsure if that made this stranger feel I could be her confidante. It seemed she was processing her thoughts aloud as she let them out. But this wasn’t the first time this had happened.
Maybe it’s the fact that more people are accidentally getting themselves in trouble stepping into actual demonic realms, or maybe it’s because skull and demon fashion decor trends are dipping, but we clearly have modern Halloween bystanders who seem uncertain about the whole thing, especially the more disgusting the decor becomes.
But we’re not talking about that today.
We’re talking about how not to look like a loser on Halloween!
To me, Halloween feels like the desire to hang out with the cool kids, but thinking that the cool kids are a bit gross. There’s this cultural desire, or maybe the pull of candy and the fun of dressing up, because I want to play, too! But really? Why are there cut-off body parts right there?
Anyway, let’s talk about how to avoid celebrating Halloween like a loser.
To do that we will need to learn some history.
The eve of All Saints Day, or All Hollows Day (shortened to Halloween) was a day initially designed to celebrate God’s victory and even to mock the devil’s defeat.
“Let’s get free of God!” . . . Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he’s amused at their presumption. . .
We’re saying to the devil that, “Hey! You’re on the losing team because Jesus has defeated you on the cross!” But when we honor and try to lift the satanic, like those 10-foot demon statues sometimes put on lawns, were saying “I’m voting for the losing team!”
And that’s how we celebrate Halloween like a loser.
So how do we celebrate Halloween like a winner?
Again, let’s turn to history.
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther set the world on fire by birthing a reformation within the Catholic church (He did this by nailing his “Theses” to a church door -The modern precursor to email).
So let’s dress up, enjoy hot chocolate and friendship, and celebrate like a winner. Jesus won the ultimate victory, although that victory hasn’t seen its full fruition yet and won’t until He comes back again. But we know where the final victory lies!
O.K., you might not be cool, but at least you won’t celebrate with the losing team!
And that’s one step toward fitting in with our culture, being cool so people will like us, and making sure we’re doing the same things as everyone else regardless of whether or not our gut instincts wonder if we’re celebrating with the right team! (See first paragraph).
Restoring Life 