Seeing All of Life Through the Truth of Scripture

PARENT MEMO Lesson 9 Seeing All of Life Through the Truth of Scripture

MAIN IDEAS We have seen that the Bible is the source of truth for all of life’s most important questions. God must act to remove a sinner’s blindness so that he will accept the truth and believe in Jesus. After a person has come to know and love the truth of the Gospel, the Bible should be the “lens” through which he sees and interprets everything else in life. This involves a process in which the mind is renewed and transformed. A Christian must ask the question: How now should I live?

Summary from Previous Lessons: SATAN’S LIES + SINFUL HEART à REJECT THE TRUTH à GOD’S WRATH GOD’S TRUTH + NEW HEART à TRUST IN JESUS à ETERNAL LIFE

The Truth • The Gospel is meant to transform our lives. (See Romans 12:2 and Colossians 4:6-8.) • The Bible is to be the lens through which we see and interpret everything in life. (See Psalm 43:3a; Psalm 119:105; and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.)

The Bible Answers the Most Important Questions 1. How did we get here? 2. Why do we exist? 3. What is wrong with the world? 4. What is the solution? 5. What will happen when we die? 6. How now should we live?

ARTICLE Read and discuss the article sent home with your student “Christians and Halloween,” by Travis Allen. How might God’s truth transform the way in which you see, interpret, and respond to a celebration such as Halloween?

INTERACTING WITH YOUR STUDENT Your student has been asked to apply one truth learned from this lesson to his/her life this week. Ask about this, and pray with your student to encourage him/her in this application. Ask God to work in your student’s heart, and encourage your student to grow in God’s truth. Encourage your student to complete the “At Home” section of the Student Journal and discuss it with you. Help him/her to complete the “Advertising: An Exercise in Discernment” activity in this section.

Colossians 2:15; 1 Peter 5:8; Hebrews 10:27; move a distinctively Christian holiday to a spot on Romans 2:14-16 the calendar that would directly challenge a pagan Halloween. It’s a time of year when the air gets holiday. The intent was to counter pagan influences crisper, the days get shorter, and for many young and provide a Christian alternative. But most often Americans the excitement grows in anticipation of the church only succeeded in “Christianizing” a pa- the darkest, spookiest holiday of the year. Retailers gan ritual--the ritual was still pagan, but mixed with also rejoice as they warm up their cash registers Christian symbolism. That’s what happened to All to receive an average of $41.77 per household in Saints Eve—it was the original Halloween alternative! decorations, costumes, candy, and greeting cards. The Celtic people of Europe and Britain were pagan Halloween will bring in approximately $3.3 billion Druids whose major celebrations were marked by this year. the seasons. At the end of the year in northern It’s a good bet retailers won’t entertain high expec- Europe, people made preparations to ensure winter tations of getting $41.77 per household from the survival by harvesting the crops and culling the Christian market. Many Christians refuse to partici- herds, slaughtering animals that wouldn’t make it. pate in Halloween. Some are wary of its pagan ori- Life slowed down as winter brought darkness (short- gins; others of its dark, ghoulish imagery; still others ened days and longer nights), fallow ground, and are concerned for the safety of their children. But death. The imagery of death, symbolized by skele- other Christians choose to partake of the festivities, tons, skulls, and the color black, remains prominent whether participating in school activities, neighbor- in today’s Halloween celebrations. hood trick-or-treating, or a Halloween alternative at The pagan Samhain festival (pronounced “sow” their church. “en”) celebrated the final harvest, death, and the The question is, How should Christians respond to onset of winter, for three days—October 31 to No- Halloween? Is it irresponsible for parents to let their vember 2. The Celts believed the curtain dividing the children trick-or-treat? What about Christians who living and the dead lifted during Samhain to allow refuse any kind of celebration during the season— the spirits of the dead to walk among the living— are they overreacting? ghosts haunting the earth. Some embraced the season of haunting by engaging The Pagan Origin of Halloween in occult practices such as divination and commu- The name “Halloween” comes from the All Saints nication with the dead. They sought “divine” spirits Day celebration of the early Christian church, a day (demons) and the spirits of their ancestors regard- set aside for the solemn remembrance of the mar- ing weather forecasts for the coming year, crop tyrs. All Hallows Eve, the evening before All Saints expectations, and even romantic prospects. Bob- Day, began the time of remembrance. “All Hallows bing for apples was one practice the pagans used to Eve” was eventually contracted to “Hallow-e’en,” divine the spiritual world’s “blessings” on a couple’s which became “Halloween.” romance. As Christianity moved through Europe it collided For others the focus on death, occultism, divina- with indigenous pagan cultures and confronted tion, and the thought of spirits returning to haunt the established customs. Pagan holidays and festivals living, fueled ignorant superstitions and fears. They were so entrenched that new converts found them believed spirits were earthbound until they received to be a stumbling block to their faith. To deal with a proper sendoff with treats—possessions, wealth, the problem, the organized church would commonly food, and drink. Spirits who were not suitably “treat- ed” would “trick” those who had neglected them.

Your Word is Truth © 2010 Jill Nelson, Published by Children Desiring God Permission granted to copy for students and parents. 1 The fear of haunting only multiplied if that spirit had generations borrowed or adapted many customs been offended during its natural lifetime. without reference to their pagan origins. Trick-bent spirits were believed to assume grotesque Hollywood has added to the “fun” a wide assort- appearances. Some traditions developed, which be- ment of fictional characters—demons, monsters, lieved wearing a costume to look like a spirit would vampires, werewolves, mummies, and psychopaths. fool the wandering spirits. Others believed the spirits That certainly isn’t improving the American mind, could be warded off by carving a grotesque face into but it sure is making someone a lot of money. a gourd or root vegetable (the Scottish used turnips) and setting a candle inside it—the jack-o-lantern. The Christian Response to Halloween Into that dark, superstitious, pagan world, God mer- Today Halloween is almost exclusively an American cifully shined the light of the gospel. Newly convert- secular holiday, but many who celebrate have no ed Christians armed themselves with the truth and concept of its religious origins or pagan heritage. no longer feared a haunting from departed spirits re- That’s not to say Halloween has become more turning to earth. In fact, they denounced their former wholesome. Children dress up in entertaining cos- pagan spiritism in accord with Deuteronomy 18: tumes, wander the neighborhood in search of candy, There shall not be found among you anyone…who and tell each other scary ghost stories; but adults uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or often engage in shameful acts of drunkenness and one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who debauchery. casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who So, how should Christians respond? calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is First, Christians should not respond to Halloween detestable to the Lord (vv. 10-13). like superstitious pagans. Pagans are superstitious; Nonetheless, Christian converts found family and Christians are enlightened by the truth of God’s cultural influence hard to withstand; they were Word. Evil spirits are no more active and sinister tempted to rejoin the pagan festivals, especially on Halloween than they are on any other day of the Samhain. Pope Gregory IV reacted to the pagan year; in fact, any day is a good day for Satan to prowl challenge by moving the celebration of All Saints Day about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). in the ninth century—he set the date at November 1, But “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the right in the middle of Samhain. world” (1 John 4:4). God has forever “disarmed prin- As the centuries passed, Samhain and All Hallows cipalities and powers” through the cross of Christ Eve mixed together. On the one hand, pagan super- and “made a public spectacle of them, triumphing stitions gave way to “Christianized” superstitions over them through [Christ]” (Colossians 2:15). and provided more fodder for fear. People began Second, Christians should respond to Halloween to understand that the pagan ancestral spirits were with cautionary wisdom. Some people fear the activ- demons and the diviners were practicing witchcraft ity of Satanists or pagan witches, but the actual inci- and necromancy. On the other hand, the festival dents of satanic-associated crime are very low. The time provided greater opportunity for revelry. Trick- real threat on Halloween is from the social problems or-treat became a time when roving bands of young that attend sinful behavior—drunk driving, prank- hooligans would go house-to-house gathering food sters and vandals, and unsupervised children. and drink for their parties. Stingy householders ran Like any other day of the year, Christians should ex- the risk of a “trick” being played on their property ercise caution as wise stewards of their possessions from drunken young people. and protectors of their families. Christian young Halloween didn’t become an American holiday until people should stay away from secular Halloween the immigration of the working classes from the Brit- parties since those are breeding grounds for trouble. ish Isles in the late nineteenth century. While early Christian parents can protect their children by immigrants may have believed the superstitious keeping them well-supervised and restricting treat traditions, it was the mischievous aspects of the holi- consumption to those goodies received from trusted day that attracted American young people. Younger sources.

2 Permission granted to copy for students and parents. Your Word is Truth © 2010 Jill Nelson, Published by Children Desiring God Take-Home Articles Third, Christians should respond to Halloween with evangelism to shock young people and scare them gospel compassion. The unbelieving, Christ-rejecting into becoming Christians. They walk people through world lives in perpetual fear of death. It isn’t just the rooms patterned after carnival-style haunted houses experience of death, but rather what the Bible calls and put sin on display—women undergoing abor- “a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and tions, people sacrificed in a satanic ritual, conse- the fury of a fire which will consume [God’s] adver- quences of premarital sex, dangers of rave parties, saries” (Hebrews 10:27). Witches, ghosts, and evil demon possession, and other tragedies. spirits are not terrifying; God’s wrath unleashed on Here’s the problem with so-called Hell House evan- the unforgiven sinner—now that is truly terrifying. gelism: To shock an unshockable culture, you have Christians should use Halloween and all that it to get pretty graphic. Graphic exhibits of sin and its brings to the imagination—death imagery, super- consequences are unnecessary—unbelieving minds stition, expressions of debauched revelry—as an are already full of such images. What they need to opportunity to engage the unbelieving world with the see is a life truly transformed by the power of God, gospel of Jesus Christ. God has given everyone a and what they need to hear is the truth of God in an conscience that responds to His truth (Romans 2:14- accurate presentation of the gospel. Cheap gim- 16), and the conscience is the Christian’s ally in the mickry is unfitting for Christ’s ambassadors. evangelistic enterprise. Christians should take time There’s another option open to Christians: limited, to inform the consciences of friends and family with non-compromising participation in Halloween. biblical truth regarding God, the Bible, sin, Christ, There’s nothing inherently evil about candy, cos- future judgment, and the hope of eternal life in Jesus tumes, or trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. In Christ for the repentant sinner. fact, all of that can provide a unique gospel oppor- There are several different ways Christians will tunity with neighbors. Even handing out candy to engage in Halloween evangelism. Some will adopt a neighborhood children—provided you’re not stin- “No Participation” policy. As Christian parents, they gy—can improve your reputation among the kids. As don’t want their kids participating in spiritually com- long as the costumes are innocent and the behavior promising activities—listening to ghost stories and does not dishonor Christ, trick-or-treating can be coloring pictures of witches. They don’t want their used to further gospel interests. kids to dress up in costumes for trick-or-treating or Ultimately, Christian participation in Halloween is a even attending Halloween alternatives. matter of conscience before God. Whatever level of That response naturally raises eyebrows and pro- Halloween participation you choose, you must honor vides a good opportunity to share the gospel to those God by keeping yourself separate from the world and who ask. It’s also important that parents explain their by showing mercy to those who are perishing. Hal- stand to their children and prepare them to face the loween provides the Christian with the opportunity to teasing or ridicule of their peers and the disapproval accomplish both of those things in the gospel of Je- or scorn of their teachers. sus Christ. It’s a message that is holy, set apart from Other Christians will opt for Halloween alterna- the world; it’s a message that is the very mercy of a tives called “Harvest Festivals” or “Reformation forgiving God. What better time of the year is there to Festivals”—the kids dress up as farmers, Bible share such a message than Halloween? characters, or Reformation heroes. It’s ironic when you consider Halloween’s beginning as an alterna- —Allen, Travis. “Christians and Halloween.” http:// tive, but it can be an effective means of reaching www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A123_Christians-and- out to neighborhood families with the gospel. Some Halloween? (accessed June 25, 2010). Copyright © 2006 churches leave the church building behind and take by Travis Allen, Director of Internet Ministry, Grace to You (www.gty.org). acts of mercy into their community, “treating” needy families with food baskets, gift cards, and the gospel message. Those are good alternatives; there are others that are not so good. Some churches are using “Hell House”