Since I was thinking about the great worship we experienced at the Story Conference, the question caught me off guard. It surprised me so much I wasn't sure I heard it correctly...
"You think they worship Satan?"
"What?"
"Do you think they're devil worshipers?"
"Who?"
"Parents who dress their kids up for Halloween and celebrate Satan. You think they're of the devil?"
(Now, you should know Sheila and I didn't celebrate Halloween with our kids and we're not going to have Halloween parties at GCC, but I've got to admit, this guy wigged me out with his suggestion.)
"Dude. Are you suggesting the parents who let their daughters dress up like Cinderella and the Little Mermaid are worshiping Satan?"
"Hey," said my very religious interrogator, "It's the devil's day. So do you think Trick-or-Treating is demonic, or not?"
"Let me ask you a question before I answer," I said. "Do you believe all the people who attend a Church Wedding service are living for Jesus? Are all the people who dress up for Church Weddings committed to Christ and His Kingdom?"
"Of course not. That's ridiculous. You know a lot of them aren't living for Jesus; they're just coming to a Church Wedding. That doesn't mean they're committed to Christ; they may not be committed at all."
"Then let me suggest that dressing up for Trick-or-Treat doesn't mean you're committed to Satan any more than dressing up to attend a Church Wedding proves you're committed to Christ."
I probably should've had a better response, but that was the best I could do at the time.
1 Samuel 16:7b - God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Great response-I'm stealing it!
Posted by: lISA Vukmirovich | October 31, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Amen!! exactly my view on it! But of course, you worded it better than I would of. I'm not that nice.
Also GREAT message this weekend.
Posted by: Brittany Klein | October 31, 2009 at 09:01 PM
Great response. I think I recognize your technique though. ;-) Jesus Christ used a similar type of response when some presented him with hard questions.
Unfortunately, such an extreme view/question takes the conversation away from the more considered approach. Yes, there should be some discussion whether the observance of Halloween is a practice that followers of Christ should engage in. But having to first deal with harsh judgments or condemnation of others just derails the conversation. Sigh...
Posted by: Ron S. | November 01, 2009 at 02:44 PM
I agree. Great response and I agree, I think it's probably the way Jesus would have replied. I'm thankful for you and your leadership!
Posted by: Jami Ruth | November 02, 2009 at 11:45 PM