Treats

God is calling each of us as His followers and His ambassadors to walk in the light of Christ.  In 1st John 1, we read:
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

God directs us to follow the light of Christ - He is the light of the world, and He calls us to unite with Him in radiating that light.  We are called to not only walk free from the darkness that is so prevalent in this world, but to shine His powerful light into dark places, to expose darkness, and to dispel it. Our actions, based on God's truth, can be powerful tools that He can use to overcome darkness and invite people to walk in the light of Christ.

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Jesus said that He was the light of the world, and He also tells us that we are the light of the world -
we are to radiate His light into the dark places. In John 1, in a passage about Jesus, we read:
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

This coming Monday, the day known as Halloween will be celebrated once again - and it's become a retail treat, and pastors see it as an opportunity to share the gospel, according to a new LifeWay Research survey which was reported on by Christianity Today.

According to the National Retail Federation, almost seven out of 10 Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, The average American consumer will spend about $83 on candy, decorations, and other goodies. That’s up from $74 in 2015.

Last year, a LifeWay study showed that around 6 out of 10 Americans said Halloween “is all in good fun.” But 21% indicated skip Halloween altogether and 14% avoid its pagan elements. Among self-identified evangelicals, 28% said they would skip it entirely and 23% said they would skip the pagan elements.

According to the recent Christianity Today article, this year's survey, which was limited to pastors, showed that, among Protestant pastors, 67% encourage church members to invite friends and neighbors to a fall festival, trunk-or-treat, or judgment house.  Just over half - 52% - encourage members to befriend neighbors who trick-or-treat, and 26% encourage church members to hand out gospel tracts to trick-or-treaters.

Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, is quoted as saying, “This is a time when your neighbors literally come to your doorstep,” adding, “Pastors don’t want their church members to waste that chance to make a connection or invite someone to church.”

So, one of the morals of the story, sort of speak, is don't waste an opportunity, or as it's been said, God doesn't waste anything.  If a popular celebration can be used as a Christ-centered outreach opportunity, then go for it.  That's not to say we should completely ignore the dark origins of the so-called "holiday." There are distinct and well-documented "pagan elements," as the CT story calls them, associated with Halloween.  And, I believe that is a factor for why churches and ministries are offering alternatives. You could say it's a simple case of light shining in the darkness.

There are some ideas that have been shared on the ChurchCentral.com website by Kris Eldridge, who is Community Outreach Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA.  Here is a summary of his suggestions from the article, 7 ways to be missional this Halloween:

One is pray.  He suggests, "Prayer-walk the neighborhood several days before Halloween. Pray that God would go before you and prepare the hearts of those you will meet." He encourages prayer during Halloween night.

Another is answer the door.   Eldridge writes, "Don’t be the house that turns out the lights and shuts the window blinds. Instead, be warm and inviting. "

Others include: visit every home that has a light on, go trick-or-treating with other neighbors, and give out the best candy.  He also suggests a "reverse trick-or-treat," going out and giving "treats" to the neighbors.  And, finally, he says to "Be creative" and to "Brainstorm creative ways to serve the parents."

I think that creativity can play a significant role in our effectiveness in reaching out.  We can pray for the God of creativity to give us ideas and the wisdom to carry them out.  That can apply to Halloween and other opportunities that we might have.