“The
first church a neighbor visits is your driveway. You don’t get to be a good
church and a bad neighbor." Jon Acuff
A highlight for me while growing up was trick-or-treating.
On one occasion it opened doors into the home of an older couple who became
great friends. Like all children, I loved dressing up and I loved candy!
One Halloween we decided to see if we could
make a bigger haul, so we went on the other side of a major road across from
our subdivision to do some trick-or-treating. Somehow we convinced each other to
go up a long driveway with a gated entry and trick-or-treat. We did know it but
the Jamesons lived there. Looking back, apparently they were retired and lived
on a large property of several acres. The reason that their driveway was gated was
that they had two beautiful English Setters.
Apparently, no other trick-or-treaters ever
ventured up there. They loaded us up with goodies and I had my very first
caramel apple. They even took us on a wagon ride (another first). All because
one of us had the courage to suggest trick-or-treating at their home. Later, as
a boy, I’d often wander up to their home and play with their dogs or they’d
load me up with pecans from their pecan trees. Fifty years later I can still
remember how kind they were to all of us…all because they opened their gates
and doors to a bunch of kids out trick-or-treating.
All year long at Grace we ask our neighbors
to come and visit our church. But on one night of the year, Halloween, our
neighbors are pouring into our church. Since we started our Halloween outreach some
years ago, we’ve had many of them share that they never knew that there was
even a church here. This year we’re inviting them to join us as we move up the
road to our new building. We easily have some 300 neighbors come through. Over
and over again they thank us again and again for being thoughtful, serving hot
dogs, popcorn and candy. If the weather is chilly or rainy, they’ll thank us
for opening up our warm building. Many will thank us for having a bathroom
available for a small child with an emergency.
For several years, Janell Alvarez, has faithfully headed this up and done a fantastic
job. This year though Janell is assisting Ryan Mueller, Jr. Ryan believes God
is leading him into the ministry. We’re a family and this is a safe place to
get some experience at leading in ministry, so Janell and Ryan’s father, Ryan
Sr., will be assisting him as he heads up this outreach.
We
can always use more help! We need folk to pass out candy, hot dogs and popcorn.
We need people to greet our neighbors! There is plenty for everyone to do. Let’s
use this tradition of children collecting candy as an opportunity to serve our
community and to show-case our church, and invite them to our new building that
will be opening soon.
If
you’re going to stay home, let me encourage you to pass out candy to the little
neighbors who’ll be ringing your doorbell. Ooh and aaah over how cute the
children are. Greet the parents and commend them for spending an evening out
with their children. It’s estimated that between 80 and 90 percent of children
trick-or-treat each year, giving us the opportunity to build gospel bridges
from the comfort of our own doorstep. The world might celebrate this night with
ghosts and witches. We know the One who has true power over both this world and
the next.
Let’s be honest though. For some believers Halloween is a difficult holiday.
They just don’t feel comfortable participating in it, and that’s fine. Too
often in the Church we make grey issues black and white. In our culture of
choosing sides, we’ve jettisoned an important doctrine called “Soul Liberty.”
We’ve made those who participate or who don’t believe that they should
participate feel guilty. Some believers feel that Halloween is a pagan holiday that
Christians should avoid all costs.
Where the Bible is clear, we need to be clear, but there are many areas
of life and behavior that are not clearly addressed by Scripture. It’s in those
areas that we need to live according to our own understanding of God’s Word and
our conscience. Each of us is responsible before God to study His Word. We have
the liberty to choose in areas where Scripture does not speak expressly about what
we are to believe and how we are to behave. No one should be pressured to
violate their conscience.
Through the ages Christians have struggled with these things. They are
not a question of spirituality but personal liberty. We’re all tempted to give
in to pride and judge others…judge them on their liberty or lack of it. Too
many Christians are ignorant of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 9. Twice the Bible
unpacks for us that we are not to judge each other on non-essential
matters where the Bible does not give specific commands. There are many areas the
Bible doesn’t address or where it allows liberty of conscience. In these
matters, Scripture repeatedly says we’re not to judge or regard one another
with contempt (Romans 14:1-10). Rather, we’re to always love one another and accept
one another, just as Jesus Christ has accepted us.
Wonderfully, God doesn’t want “cookie cutter” Christians. A local church
is a body made up of various parts. So if you can help us reach out on
Halloween, please join us. If you want to build bridges to your neighbors, go
for it. If you’re not comfortable with participating in Halloween activities
and it violates your conscience, then please pray that our efforts will be
effective for the Kingdom! All of us though have a responsibility to reach out
to those around us with the Gospel, 24/7, 365 days a year. We’re missionaries.
So what are you doing to reach your part of the mission field?
Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.
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