WEBVTT 00:00:11.958 --> 00:00:16.298 As October 31st approaches, many Christians face the same question. 00:00:16.778 --> 00:00:21.798 Hallows, harvest, or horror? It's the season of costumes and community, 00:00:21.958 --> 00:00:25.818 but also genuine confusion about a holiday steeped in darkness. 00:00:26.518 --> 00:00:29.598 Today we are not asking, should we celebrate? But we are asking, 00:00:29.838 --> 00:00:33.858 how should we, as people committed to kingdom living, approach this night with 00:00:33.858 --> 00:00:35.298 intentionality and light? 00:00:35.798 --> 00:00:40.198 Today, the guys cut through the confusion. We will hear the facts on the holiday's 00:00:40.198 --> 00:00:44.258 surprisingly Christian roots, break down the statistics on how believers are 00:00:44.258 --> 00:00:49.718 responding, and find scriptural principles needed to move past fear and toward discernment. 00:00:49.878 --> 00:00:53.378 Get ready to equip your family and your church to be a bright, 00:00:53.678 --> 00:00:56.738 unshakable light in the neighborhood. Let's turn up the volume. 00:01:01.598 --> 00:01:04.418 What's happening, dog? What's up, brother? Nothing. 00:01:04.958 --> 00:01:08.718 How you doing? I'm doing good. Doing good. Yeah, did you have a good day? 00:01:08.978 --> 00:01:13.838 I did have a good day. Yeah, it was relatively quiet today at work, which was good. 00:01:14.538 --> 00:01:21.398 I did go and have me a Cousins Maine lobster roll at lunchtime. 00:01:21.498 --> 00:01:24.578 Yeah, I've been waiting. We watched football last night. I watched the commanders 00:01:24.578 --> 00:01:26.978 get their butts kicked. Yeah, they definitely did that. 00:01:27.138 --> 00:01:30.938 And during the game, you mentioned you were going. So give us the review. Tell us about it. 00:01:31.358 --> 00:01:33.318 I mean, it was lobster. 00:01:33.778 --> 00:01:38.138 Like, they don't skimp on how much lobster they give you. Like I'll give them credit for that. 00:01:38.558 --> 00:01:42.738 But I mean, I was expecting like some kind of like added seasoning or flavor. 00:01:42.918 --> 00:01:45.818 I mean, it was lobster and it was good lobster. Don't get me wrong. 00:01:47.058 --> 00:01:52.338 But for just like lobster on a roll for $28, I was just kind of like, 00:01:52.478 --> 00:01:55.658 eh, probably won't do that again. No. 00:01:56.678 --> 00:01:59.758 Yeah. You know what I had? What did you have? For lunch? For lunch? 00:02:00.649 --> 00:02:04.269 Jambalaya. Oh, that Jambalaya was good. Yeah. 00:02:05.789 --> 00:02:10.169 Yeah. Oh, and then tonight for dinner, Tara messaged me like before I left work 00:02:10.169 --> 00:02:11.949 and she was like, I really don't know what to make for dinner. 00:02:12.169 --> 00:02:14.789 I said, well, I'll make something when I get home. What are you craving? 00:02:15.209 --> 00:02:18.209 And I listed off a couple of things and she picked hot dogs. Okay. 00:02:18.689 --> 00:02:23.409 I said, well, I'm going to make me some gourmet hot dogs. Tell me about them. 00:02:23.489 --> 00:02:25.609 What'd you have on them? So I got some Hebrew nationals. 00:02:26.298 --> 00:02:33.978 Did them on the grill, brought them in, and she had these mini tater tots that she had gotten. 00:02:34.178 --> 00:02:38.518 Okay. So, I put some mini tater tots on top of my hot dog. 00:02:38.658 --> 00:02:42.238 Oh, oh, on a split top Hawaiian roll. Oh, baby. 00:02:42.838 --> 00:02:46.158 And then mac and cheese. Nice. 00:02:46.398 --> 00:02:50.878 And some Cajun seasoning on that. That sounds delicious. It was amazing. 00:02:51.718 --> 00:02:55.078 Delicious. And then I went and cut some trees. Nice. Yeah. So, it was good. 00:02:55.318 --> 00:02:59.638 What about you? What did you get into today? I did lots of church admin stuff. 00:02:59.858 --> 00:03:03.978 We're going to do baptism in December. So I was getting that together and we 00:03:03.978 --> 00:03:08.638 have just some, you know, holiday season, like working through, 00:03:08.798 --> 00:03:11.018 thinking through some of that stuff, did some phone calls. 00:03:11.238 --> 00:03:13.398 For the most part, it was a pretty quiet day. I felt really, 00:03:13.458 --> 00:03:15.698 really productive, which is, which is fantastic. 00:03:16.138 --> 00:03:21.698 Good. And I stopped and had leftover jambalaya. Oh man, that was some good jambalaya though. 00:03:21.978 --> 00:03:24.478 You can make that for me anytime. Yeah, it was good. It was good. 00:03:24.478 --> 00:03:27.598 I hadn't made jambalaya in a couple of years, actually. 00:03:27.918 --> 00:03:32.598 Oh, really? And so last night, it was definitely a lot better than the football game. 00:03:34.238 --> 00:03:36.418 It wouldn't have been hard to be better than that football game. 00:03:36.418 --> 00:03:36.878 You could lick the bottom of 00:03:36.878 --> 00:03:39.298 your shoe and have been better than that football game. Oh, my goodness. 00:03:39.958 --> 00:03:46.038 Yeah. So tonight, we're talking about Halloween. Yes, we are. Friday is Halloween. 00:03:46.478 --> 00:03:51.058 Yep. And before we dive into the content, we took to Facebook. 00:03:51.338 --> 00:03:56.618 Oh. And we wanted to know what people's favorite Halloween candy is. 00:03:57.118 --> 00:04:04.158 Now, I asked the twins, and they wanted to know, is there a difference between 00:04:04.158 --> 00:04:06.358 Halloween candy and regular candy? 00:04:09.298 --> 00:04:12.478 Not really. Not really. Not really. 00:04:14.038 --> 00:04:17.158 I mean, do you think there is? I don't think so, but, like, they were talking 00:04:17.158 --> 00:04:20.638 about, like, some of the candy that, like, only comes out around Halloween, 00:04:20.638 --> 00:04:26.058 like, you know, Reese's pumpkins or. But, I mean, it's still the same as a Reese's 00:04:26.058 --> 00:04:27.478 cup. Yeah. Like, it's not any different. Yeah. 00:04:27.698 --> 00:04:31.478 And, you know, just some, you know, candy corn, like the pumpkins. 00:04:31.778 --> 00:04:33.378 Like, you can really only get those around. 00:04:34.158 --> 00:04:36.178 Unless you go to Sharp Shopper. Unless you go to Sharp Shopper. 00:04:36.238 --> 00:04:37.638 Then you can get them year-round. Yeah. 00:04:37.958 --> 00:04:41.998 We had some good ones on the old Facebook page. Yeah, what we got? Let's see. Oh, Hannah. 00:04:42.198 --> 00:04:45.578 Hannah Horse. Did she like Kit Kats? That would be Riley's pick. 00:04:45.738 --> 00:04:47.978 Riley loves some Kit Kat. That's a dark horse. 00:04:48.738 --> 00:04:51.458 Another one, Dixie Miller's is Paydays. 00:04:52.278 --> 00:04:55.518 Okay. Okay. I'm not a huge fan of Payday, but we have a couple. 00:04:55.738 --> 00:04:59.498 So we have Reese's Pumpkins and Reese's Cups. I'm going to put those together. 00:04:59.698 --> 00:05:02.938 I'm going to put those together. Yeah. Reese's Cups or any other Reese's Shapes. 00:05:03.258 --> 00:05:07.778 Yeah. Although if I'm given either a cup or a shape, I'm going to take the shape. 00:05:07.978 --> 00:05:09.538 Well, because you get more peanut butter. Exactly. 00:05:09.878 --> 00:05:14.538 Yeah. Let's see. Old RB talks about, oh, he brought up when he was little, 00:05:14.638 --> 00:05:18.038 he liked the flavored Tootsie Rolls. Oh, yeah. The Fruities. 00:05:18.578 --> 00:05:21.598 Yeah, he has vanilla and fruit flavors. Yep, yep, yep. Yep. 00:05:22.018 --> 00:05:25.318 And again, he talked about how Halloween was the only time when he was little that you could either. 00:05:25.678 --> 00:05:30.618 Now he says it's Nerds or Nestle Crunch. I do love me some Nerds. I like some Nerds too. 00:05:32.098 --> 00:05:36.178 Probably, probably my favorite answer here is from Trudy Burgess. 00:05:36.178 --> 00:05:40.998 She talks about how they had a neighbor who would make homemade caramel popcorn balls. 00:05:42.418 --> 00:05:47.898 That's yeah. I could eat. I could eat a caramel popcorn ball. Yeah. 00:05:48.418 --> 00:05:51.578 How much he was your favorite of the of the Halloween candy. 00:05:51.978 --> 00:05:56.138 All right. So I separate you're going to I know we've talked about this before 00:05:56.138 --> 00:06:02.458 and you and the boys both made fun of me because I separate my candy into you 00:06:02.458 --> 00:06:03.698 have like the chocolate candy. 00:06:04.612 --> 00:06:12.032 Types of candy or you have like the, the more like sugary gelatin based types of candy. Okay. 00:06:12.432 --> 00:06:16.932 So if I'm picking a chocolate candy, I'm going to go with one that a lot of 00:06:16.932 --> 00:06:21.252 people probably are not super duper keen on. Okay. 00:06:22.072 --> 00:06:27.832 Fifth Avenue. Okay. I love a Fifth Avenue bar. Love it. Yeah. Okay. 00:06:28.672 --> 00:06:31.112 Yeah. I mean, just cause you're not cool as me, it doesn't, you know, 00:06:31.272 --> 00:06:33.472 that, that, yeah, that's why. Yep. Okay. 00:06:34.212 --> 00:06:41.252 Okay, so the other Chewy Spree. Dude, Chewy Spree. That's a dark horse pick. Oh, my goodness. 00:06:41.512 --> 00:06:44.672 That's a dark horse pick. I've loved Chewy Spree ever since I was a kid. Yeah, Chewy. 00:06:45.012 --> 00:06:47.592 The boys got – have you seen the freeze-dried Spree? 00:06:48.212 --> 00:06:51.392 Oh, yeah. Don't do it. All the freeze-dried can. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:06:51.752 --> 00:06:56.392 They got them the other day, and I grabbed one. I felt like I was biting a green piece of Styrofoam. 00:06:56.632 --> 00:07:00.112 Well, I mean, people freeze-dry this can, and they sell it for like five times 00:07:00.112 --> 00:07:02.652 the price, and you're like, wait a minute, dude. Hang on. Yeah. 00:07:03.192 --> 00:07:06.332 It's not even as good. Yeah. But anyway. Yeah. Yeah. 00:07:06.752 --> 00:07:09.972 Or Snickers. I love a Snickers. Oh, yes. That's classic. Yeah. 00:07:10.252 --> 00:07:14.932 All right. So I'll follow you. If we're going chocolate candy, 00:07:15.192 --> 00:07:16.892 probably going to go to the Whatchamacallit. 00:07:17.372 --> 00:07:22.352 Okay. I like a Whatchamacallit. Yeah. They're not as readily available as other ones. 00:07:22.752 --> 00:07:27.032 Well, they can be if you know somebody who works in Stewart's Drafton. Yeah. 00:07:27.472 --> 00:07:31.132 Yeah. Okay. And the gelatin candy, gelatinous form. 00:07:31.692 --> 00:07:36.952 Just give me give me Sour Patch Kids ooooh I do like some Sour Patch Kids yeah 00:07:36.952 --> 00:07:40.872 we're not sweet as fish I'm I feel like we've talked about this before I'm not 00:07:40.872 --> 00:07:45.272 a huge Swedish fish guy nah you're a hater okay are you so do you do you employ the dad techs, 00:07:45.906 --> 00:07:48.706 Halloween candy? I don't call it the dad tax. I just take whatever I want. 00:07:48.926 --> 00:07:49.966 Okay. That's cool. I mean. 00:07:50.226 --> 00:07:53.026 That's cool. That's more like a dad tariff than tax. Pretty much. 00:07:53.206 --> 00:07:55.826 Pretty much. Okay. The tariff changes depending on what kind of candy it is. 00:07:55.966 --> 00:07:57.666 Now, here's the big question. Okay. 00:07:58.126 --> 00:07:59.926 Candy corn. In or out? 00:08:02.046 --> 00:08:05.666 I'm not going to seek out candy corn. I'm not going to throw it in the trash, 00:08:05.686 --> 00:08:11.906 but like if there's candy corn sitting next to like M&M's, I'm not touching 00:08:11.906 --> 00:08:13.386 the candy corn. I mean M&M's. Okay. 00:08:13.766 --> 00:08:17.426 I'm a candy corn lover. Really? I love candy corn. I love it. 00:08:17.486 --> 00:08:20.266 Not a lover. My candy corn lover. Bro, what about black licorice? 00:08:20.666 --> 00:08:24.026 How about I lick the bottom of my shoe? Exactly. That's what I'm saying. 00:08:24.146 --> 00:08:25.166 That stuff is disgusting. 00:08:25.626 --> 00:08:30.266 That's disgusting. That's disgusting. Nasty. So let's talk about black licorice real quick. 00:08:30.546 --> 00:08:37.346 Funny black licorice story. A few years ago, we did the Bean Boozled game with the jelly beans. 00:08:37.686 --> 00:08:42.646 And black is either black licorice or skunk spray. 00:08:43.619 --> 00:08:46.659 And I forget which one of the kids it was, but they popped one of those black 00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:47.479 jelly beans in their mouth. 00:08:47.579 --> 00:08:52.679 And I mean, started gagging like, and like, I looked over and I was like, 00:08:52.739 --> 00:08:55.319 oh, is it skunk spray? They're like, no, it's black licorice. 00:08:55.459 --> 00:08:57.359 Yeah, black licorice is nasty. 00:08:58.359 --> 00:09:01.679 All right, that's a lose-lose. Nothing good about that. If you're thinking between 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:04.319 black licorice and skunk spray, I'm out. 00:09:05.539 --> 00:09:09.459 So we're talking about Halloween. Halloween. You know, for a lot of Christians, 00:09:09.999 --> 00:09:14.819 Halloween can be a bit of a tricky wicket. Yep. Oh, tricky, wicked. 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:20.559 Yeah, depending on, I know some Christians who don't celebrate Halloween and 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:21.559 are happy to tell you about it. 00:09:21.899 --> 00:09:24.079 I know some Christians who do celebrate Halloween. 00:09:24.579 --> 00:09:26.379 Did you celebrate Halloween growing up, Jeremy? 00:09:27.119 --> 00:09:28.919 Funny story about that. 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:34.179 I told my mom that we were going to be talking about Halloween on the podcast. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.119 And she was like, oh, yeah, I know there are some people who, 00:09:37.119 --> 00:09:40.979 you know, are not, you know, don't let their kids do Halloween or they don't 00:09:40.979 --> 00:09:41.819 do Halloween, whatever. 00:09:42.339 --> 00:09:45.659 I know, you know, when you all were kids, we took, I'm like, what? 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:50.299 She was like, yeah, didn't we? And I'm like, no, no, no. 00:09:50.499 --> 00:09:54.199 Like we played, you made us play games in the living room. Like we couldn't 00:09:54.199 --> 00:09:56.199 go trick or treating. And she was like, really? 00:09:56.659 --> 00:10:00.239 I know we took you to some people's houses. She suppressed the. 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:01.499 And I'm like, I'm like, okay. 00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:03.839 All right. Well, maybe you did take us to some people's houses, 00:10:03.839 --> 00:10:07.699 but like we didn't get dressed up and go trick or treating. Like that's hilarious. You know what I mean? 00:10:08.099 --> 00:10:11.259 And she was like, oh, well, I just thought blah, blah, blah. 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:14.159 But yeah, I just thought it was funny because like in my mind, 00:10:14.319 --> 00:10:18.099 like my memory is not Halloween's bad. We don't do Halloween. Okay. 00:10:18.359 --> 00:10:20.619 Right. So that was my memory as a kid. Okay. 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:25.119 What about you? We didn't like trick or treat because we didn't really have 00:10:25.119 --> 00:10:26.819 an area that trick or treated. 00:10:26.999 --> 00:10:29.879 We dressed up and mom and dad would just like take us in the car and we would 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:32.139 go to relatives and close friends houses. 00:10:32.539 --> 00:10:35.839 And I think maybe that's what my mom was remembering. Like, but I don't really 00:10:35.839 --> 00:10:36.919 remember getting dressed up ever. 00:10:38.578 --> 00:10:41.678 I found some statistics. Ooh, I like statistics. Yeah. 00:10:42.118 --> 00:10:48.298 It talks about that nearly 45% of evangelicals see the fun aspects of Halloween, 00:10:48.298 --> 00:10:54.638 but a sizable percentage, 28% of those surveys, choose to avoid the holiday completely. 00:10:54.898 --> 00:10:56.938 Huh. Compared to Catholics. 00:10:57.278 --> 00:10:59.958 71% of Catholics see no harm in it. Hmm. 00:11:00.118 --> 00:11:03.618 So I actually would have pulled that the other way around. So now pair that 00:11:03.618 --> 00:11:08.878 with that only 19% of pastors who they surveyed see Halloween as problematic. 00:11:10.118 --> 00:11:16.218 Okay. So the number of Christians is much higher, significantly higher than the amount of pastors. 00:11:16.558 --> 00:11:19.638 And in fact, many churches have kind of embraced like, you know, 00:11:19.698 --> 00:11:22.138 the fall festival or the trunk retreat or. Sure. 00:11:22.278 --> 00:11:25.898 Which we've done at our place, I guess, as an alternative. 00:11:26.618 --> 00:11:30.478 So, you know, there's kind of a mixed bag. Like, you know, you got, 00:11:30.598 --> 00:11:35.958 you got what, basically 49% of Protestants saying, saying it's okay. 00:11:36.278 --> 00:11:42.498 And then 28% saying avoid it completely. I guess the other is kind of line between. 00:11:42.898 --> 00:11:51.698 The tricky thing about Halloween is like, what are you actually celebrating? You know what I mean? 00:11:52.118 --> 00:11:56.278 Right. There's not like a, like Thanksgiving, you know, we're celebrating the 00:11:56.278 --> 00:11:58.258 death of a turkey. Right. 00:11:59.194 --> 00:12:03.854 We're going back to like the pilgrims being thankful and celebrating the death 00:12:03.854 --> 00:12:05.294 of a turkey. The death of a turkey. 00:12:05.434 --> 00:12:08.614 Okay, fine. I'm celebrating the death of a turkey because turkey tastes delicious. 00:12:08.834 --> 00:12:10.074 But anyway, you know what I mean? 00:12:10.474 --> 00:12:14.774 And like most other holidays, you're celebrating something specific. 00:12:14.994 --> 00:12:17.554 Right. Even if they're not a Christian holiday. Right. 00:12:18.234 --> 00:12:22.214 So to be fair, we trace the roots of Halloween. Oh, yes. Okay. 00:12:22.714 --> 00:12:28.954 And so I know the, so the original, like the original idea of Halloween is actually 00:12:28.954 --> 00:12:35.574 a Celtic idea. It comes from a festival of Samhain and it's spelled S-A-M-H-A-I-N. 00:12:35.854 --> 00:12:39.174 So it's pronounced differently than it's spelled. Yeah, it definitely does not. 00:12:39.314 --> 00:12:42.514 Yeah, it doesn't look like that. But it marked the end of the harvest. 00:12:43.294 --> 00:12:48.774 And the Celtic mysticism is pretty different than what we would go with. 00:12:49.114 --> 00:12:54.894 But so Celtic mystics believe that the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest. 00:12:55.114 --> 00:12:59.654 So that's what established themes of death and spirits and things like that, 00:12:59.714 --> 00:13:04.774 that the veil between the spirit world and the... Became blurred. Yeah. 00:13:05.254 --> 00:13:07.694 Interesting. That's an interesting thought, actually. Yeah. Weird. 00:13:07.694 --> 00:13:12.914 Celtic spirituality. I know you kind of looked up some of the Christian roots. What did you find? 00:13:13.254 --> 00:13:18.134 So, like, the first thing I said when we got here was All Hallows' Eve. 00:13:18.354 --> 00:13:22.274 Yeah. Which I don't remember the details of when or how that started. 00:13:22.374 --> 00:13:24.054 Do you have that there? Well, yeah. 00:13:24.394 --> 00:13:28.314 So, you know, then morphed into All Saints' Day. Yes, that's right. Okay. 00:13:28.714 --> 00:13:32.814 Right. So, which was actually, it was November 1st, and then November 2nd would 00:13:32.814 --> 00:13:43.174 be the All Souls' Day. It was established by Pope Gregory IV on November 1st in 835 A.D. 00:13:43.254 --> 00:13:48.714 To honor all the saints and martyrs. And then October 31st then became a holy 00:13:48.714 --> 00:13:50.694 vigil of preparation to celebrate. 00:13:50.894 --> 00:13:54.454 So, I mean, there are some Christian roots in this holiday, right? 00:13:55.602 --> 00:14:00.162 And really, I mean, like most holidays, it's been, what do you, 00:14:00.402 --> 00:14:04.702 what's the, what's the word I'm thinking of? Monetized or whatever. Oh, absolutely. 00:14:05.542 --> 00:14:14.982 So like that, like trying to make money off horror films and all of the things scary, right? 00:14:15.162 --> 00:14:22.582 Like that was, that was really brought, brought about more and more to make money. 00:14:22.782 --> 00:14:29.022 Yeah. Well, and even the idea of candy actually finds its roots back to a Christian 00:14:29.022 --> 00:14:33.482 practice for All Hallows' Eve. It was called souling. 00:14:34.082 --> 00:14:38.322 Souling. Souling. So basically, it was a medieval Christian practice, 00:14:38.562 --> 00:14:43.262 primarily in Britain and Ireland, when the poor often children would go door 00:14:43.262 --> 00:14:48.282 to door on All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Day and offer prayers for the dead 00:14:48.282 --> 00:14:50.582 in exchange for a sweet little treat. 00:14:50.582 --> 00:14:53.482 So they were known as soulers or soul cakers. 00:14:53.762 --> 00:14:58.042 They would recite prayers, sing hymns, or give a blessing for the deceased family member. 00:14:58.182 --> 00:15:02.442 In exchange, the homeowner would give them soul cakes, small round cakes, 00:15:02.662 --> 00:15:06.182 often marked with a cross, specifically for this occasion. 00:15:06.682 --> 00:15:12.162 It was a payment or a charitable donation for offered prayers. 00:15:13.553 --> 00:15:17.493 That's very interesting. Yeah. I can't say I knew that. Yeah. It's, uh, yeah. 00:15:17.973 --> 00:15:23.313 Souling. So, all right. So who's going souling on Friday night? 00:15:23.533 --> 00:15:26.073 I don't know if I'm going to soul in, but I mean, I'll eat cake. 00:15:26.613 --> 00:15:27.973 I'll eat cake. I'll eat candy. 00:15:28.573 --> 00:15:32.533 I'll eat all of it. So what do you, what do you think is, what do you think? 00:15:32.773 --> 00:15:36.233 How is we, how can we as Christians? I mean, most, most of Christians I know 00:15:36.233 --> 00:15:37.253 do celebrate Halloween. 00:15:37.913 --> 00:15:41.153 Same. How do we, how do we talk about that together? 00:15:42.093 --> 00:15:53.413 I mean, I mean, obviously not embracing any of the darkness of Halloween is a good place to start. 00:15:53.593 --> 00:16:00.693 You know, if as a Christian you're embracing like the evil and scary things, I mean, 00:16:00.873 --> 00:16:09.313 that doesn't really fit in us sharing the light of Jesus with others, in my opinion. 00:16:09.313 --> 00:16:14.673 So obviously kind of rejecting the darkness side of it is probably the first step. 00:16:14.893 --> 00:16:19.533 But then, I mean, you can be the light. I mean, just like on Sunday morning, 00:16:19.533 --> 00:16:26.293 we have those cards that we can give out for trick-or-treaters coming to our 00:16:26.293 --> 00:16:27.413 house to invite them to church. 00:16:27.873 --> 00:16:30.193 So, I mean, that's a great opportunity for outreach. 00:16:30.954 --> 00:16:36.614 Absolutely. So as Christians, like, use it as an opportunity to share about 00:16:36.614 --> 00:16:42.614 Jesus and, you know, hand out invitations to church along with the candy and just talk to people. 00:16:42.834 --> 00:16:49.694 I mean, kids, a lot of times it might be the only chance these kids get to hear about Jesus. 00:16:50.074 --> 00:16:53.194 Yeah. So. It made me think about 1 Corinthians chapter 10. 00:16:53.574 --> 00:16:57.934 Okay. Verse 31. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, 00:16:58.094 --> 00:16:59.634 do it all for the glory of God. 00:16:59.954 --> 00:17:03.154 Yes. You know, so Paul kind of enters this thing about, oh, should we eat food 00:17:03.154 --> 00:17:05.154 sacrificed to idols? He's like, you're kind of missing the point. 00:17:05.354 --> 00:17:08.194 You're putting a lot of energy in debating this thing. 00:17:08.594 --> 00:17:11.314 Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. Yep. Right. 00:17:11.434 --> 00:17:17.534 And so I think the heart behind what you're doing is much more important than the practice. 00:17:18.054 --> 00:17:23.614 Right. And so, yeah. So maybe the question isn't, is it a sin or is it not? 00:17:23.794 --> 00:17:27.634 But how do I glorify Christ in the way that I respond to this thing? Yeah. 00:17:28.534 --> 00:17:32.654 And, you know, like for a lot of a lot of Christians and people that I know 00:17:32.654 --> 00:17:40.154 that and celebrate Halloween is like celebrating Halloween almost doesn't doesn't even fit. 00:17:40.274 --> 00:17:44.714 Like you're not really celebrating any thing, in my opinion. Yeah. 00:17:45.194 --> 00:17:52.234 Like we're getting together and having a meal and seeing the kids in the costumes 00:17:52.234 --> 00:17:57.494 and like meeting all the kids that come up to the door and all those things. 00:17:57.634 --> 00:18:01.794 It's more of an opportunity just to get together and be part of one another's 00:18:01.794 --> 00:18:05.894 lives and share stories and all those good things that we like to do anyway. 00:18:05.954 --> 00:18:10.994 It's almost like we use it as an excuse to do something we'd like to do anyway. Yeah, basically. 00:18:11.754 --> 00:18:16.954 That's true. Well, and it's one of those things like is is participating in 00:18:16.954 --> 00:18:20.854 Halloween by dressing up in a costume and walking around like, 00:18:20.994 --> 00:18:25.474 is that the same thing is like running a Ouija board or, you know, 00:18:25.674 --> 00:18:31.194 sacrificing images to a demon or something like that? Like, I just don't see. 00:18:32.089 --> 00:18:36.909 I don't see the connection in the two. I think if you are participating in Halloween 00:18:36.909 --> 00:18:41.229 in a way that glorifies darkness or glorifies evil, that's very different. 00:18:41.589 --> 00:18:44.209 Agreed. The other thing I find interesting, and man, this could, 00:18:44.689 --> 00:18:47.729 if anybody's listening to this with your kids, you might want to turn this off. 00:18:49.309 --> 00:18:52.569 So, you know, Jess and I don't do, we don't do Christmas. 00:18:52.909 --> 00:18:55.669 We don't do, I mean, we do Christmas, we don't do Santa Claus. Oh, same. 00:18:55.829 --> 00:18:58.809 And I had this conversation with someone a few years ago because they were like, 00:18:58.869 --> 00:19:03.289 well, why is it that you don't do Santa Claus, but you will do Halloween? 00:19:03.569 --> 00:19:08.389 I'm like, well, first of all, Santa Claus and Halloween are not the same thing, in my opinion. 00:19:08.609 --> 00:19:15.689 Second of all, when we do Santa Claus, everybody plays in this elaborate lie. 00:19:15.929 --> 00:19:18.329 Sure. And Halloween, everybody knows we're all kidding. Yeah. 00:19:19.018 --> 00:19:23.098 Like, nobody puts on a costume and they don't, like, actually make the kids 00:19:23.098 --> 00:19:26.018 become something that they're not. Like, we're all playing a game together. 00:19:26.218 --> 00:19:29.118 Yeah, we're all playing a game. And the whole Santa Claus thing, 00:19:29.438 --> 00:19:32.638 like, you know, it's now become, like, this lie where adults dress up. 00:19:32.738 --> 00:19:35.298 Very elaborate lie. Very elaborate lie. 00:19:35.498 --> 00:19:41.438 Right. And so, I do think there's something, like, in the all good fun, you know. 00:19:41.658 --> 00:19:47.118 I agree 100%. Yeah. I mean, we don't, our kids don't, like, dress up in anything 00:19:47.118 --> 00:19:48.798 that's, like, demonic or nasty. 00:19:49.018 --> 00:19:51.798 Yeah or anything like that like i guess the boys are doing it now 00:19:51.798 --> 00:19:54.798 because they have girlfriends and the girlfriends want to dress up together it's like 00:19:54.798 --> 00:19:57.638 one of them's curious george and the man in the yellow hat and the 00:19:57.638 --> 00:20:00.438 other one's shaggy and scooby-doo you know 00:20:00.438 --> 00:20:03.358 like we've never had like we don't let our kids do the 00:20:03.358 --> 00:20:06.318 like vile gross stuff yeah 00:20:06.318 --> 00:20:09.138 you know in fact man i 00:20:09.138 --> 00:20:12.138 should see if i can find a picture last year ethan made his 00:20:12.138 --> 00:20:15.078 own costume do you remember this yeah what did he make he was 00:20:15.078 --> 00:20:17.978 a box of mcdonald's french fries that's right yeah it 00:20:17.978 --> 00:20:20.718 was amazing it was amazing i still 00:20:20.718 --> 00:20:23.998 gotta say one of my favorites is riley is wally when tara 00:20:23.998 --> 00:20:27.498 made the wally costume that was awesome yeah yeah so 00:20:27.498 --> 00:20:33.638 you know there is something to be said about and i guess that's the deeper question 00:20:33.638 --> 00:20:37.278 here isn't just like should christians celebrate halloween but what does it 00:20:37.278 --> 00:20:43.398 mean to be in the world but not of the world and is celebrating halloween part 00:20:43.398 --> 00:20:46.658 of becoming like the world. I don't think so. 00:20:47.861 --> 00:20:54.021 I really don't think so either, because even when you think about people that 00:20:54.021 --> 00:20:58.461 aren't Christian that are celebrating or participating in Halloween, 00:20:58.481 --> 00:21:01.401 maybe participating is a better word, participating in Halloween, 00:21:02.221 --> 00:21:10.521 even a lot of the people today that do it don't do it with any evil or Satan-worshipping 00:21:10.521 --> 00:21:12.381 or demonic things in mind. 00:21:12.381 --> 00:21:18.761 It's literally just a fun time to dress up and eat candy. 00:21:19.121 --> 00:21:24.261 It's literally an excuse to dress up, have fun, and eat lots of candy. 00:21:24.621 --> 00:21:28.601 Yeah. Essentially. To most people, that's what Halloween is. 00:21:28.801 --> 00:21:31.601 So, I mean, I do those things almost every day anyway. 00:21:31.821 --> 00:21:34.821 I kind of dress goofy. So you're participating in Halloween daily. 00:21:35.041 --> 00:21:36.561 Yeah. I kind of dress up goofy. 00:21:36.981 --> 00:21:42.741 I hang out with my friends. I eat candy. I am Halloween. I am the embodiment. Reach. of Halloween. 00:21:43.581 --> 00:21:49.901 And so, here's a hot take for you. Ooh. I actually don't, I don't like churches doing chunk retreats. 00:21:50.041 --> 00:21:52.261 Oh, really? I don't, I don't like it. 00:21:52.621 --> 00:21:56.821 Interesting. Okay. I don't, I think we are missing a really good opportunity. 00:21:57.581 --> 00:22:00.061 I mean, I've always done them because our church has done them. 00:22:00.161 --> 00:22:02.861 This is like the first year that we haven't done one in a long time. 00:22:04.065 --> 00:22:08.545 I actually don't like it. Okay. Because I think you will have more impact if 00:22:08.545 --> 00:22:11.645 you're at home welcoming kids in your own neighborhood. 00:22:12.405 --> 00:22:15.745 Okay. That's an interesting thought. Yeah, like handing out the invitations 00:22:15.745 --> 00:22:18.045 or having conversations with your neighbors. 00:22:18.445 --> 00:22:22.885 Because nine times out of ten, I mean, maybe your church is in your neighborhood, right? 00:22:23.285 --> 00:22:29.245 Lots of the people who we want to minister to aren't going to church for a chunk or treat. 00:22:29.705 --> 00:22:33.705 Like, you know, I would say that, you know, most of the folks who really, 00:22:33.825 --> 00:22:36.365 really need Jesus there. That's a very good point. 00:22:36.625 --> 00:22:41.065 Yeah. So I think we have an opportunity to have like in our congregation, 00:22:41.065 --> 00:22:43.485 you know, we have we have 100 plus families. 00:22:43.985 --> 00:22:47.405 We have 100 plus people in their own neighborhoods handing out candy to be able 00:22:47.405 --> 00:22:48.165 to talk to their neighbors. 00:22:48.325 --> 00:22:51.065 And we now just put them all in a church parking lot and said, 00:22:51.145 --> 00:22:52.345 well, we'll make them come to us. 00:22:52.645 --> 00:22:56.425 Yeah. I just I think that. Yeah, you're right. Yeah. Never thought of it that way. 00:22:56.585 --> 00:23:00.505 Yeah. And I mean, I've never really like, that's probably the first time anybody's 00:23:00.505 --> 00:23:03.365 ever heard me say that because I'm just like, Hey, if the church is going to 00:23:03.365 --> 00:23:07.685 do it, like I want to support the church is about, but I actually like what we're doing this year. 00:23:07.825 --> 00:23:11.865 We, we printed out and provided some little invitations to church that people 00:23:11.865 --> 00:23:13.265 could put in their home bags. 00:23:13.765 --> 00:23:16.825 Yeah. One of the ladies in our church brought that up, but I don't know. 00:23:16.925 --> 00:23:19.985 I just think, I think we have an opportunity where literally people are coming 00:23:19.985 --> 00:23:22.585 maybe for the only time all year. 00:23:22.845 --> 00:23:25.965 Somebody might knock on your door and you might get to talk to them and tell 00:23:25.965 --> 00:23:28.545 them about Jesus, and it might be your neighbor, and it might be your friend, and. 00:23:29.308 --> 00:23:34.568 Yeah, I mean, think about it. What other time do you have people coming to you 00:23:34.568 --> 00:23:37.288 and you have the opportunity to share with them? 00:23:37.468 --> 00:23:41.128 Yeah, yeah. And that doesn't mean like, oh, hand out tracks and put the tracks 00:23:41.128 --> 00:23:45.148 in there, pumpkins, or make sure you have the fall for Jesus napkins or whatever. 00:23:45.308 --> 00:23:46.508 Like, okay, that's your style. 00:23:46.788 --> 00:23:51.168 But it's more just about like build that relationship and, you know. Plant that seed. 00:23:51.328 --> 00:23:56.148 Plant the seed. And like nine times out of ten, like you can find a place in 00:23:56.148 --> 00:23:59.048 the conversation to bring up faith, you know, if you look hard enough. 00:23:59.508 --> 00:24:03.288 But, I mean, if you're at the church doing the harvest party thing and your 00:24:03.288 --> 00:24:06.108 neighbor's knocking on your door and you're not there, you've missed an opportunity. 00:24:06.708 --> 00:24:09.128 I don't know. That's just a very valid point. I have to say, 00:24:09.228 --> 00:24:11.648 I've never, never thought of it 00:24:11.648 --> 00:24:14.508 that way. And I'd imagine a lot of people listening haven't either. Yeah. 00:24:14.788 --> 00:24:19.868 And it's, I mean, it's just like, why did churches start doing trunk or treats? 00:24:19.948 --> 00:24:24.228 Well, I think it was because of they don't know how to interact with Halloween. 00:24:24.228 --> 00:24:29.388 And so the easiest thing we can do is just kind of grab it, grab it and try 00:24:29.388 --> 00:24:31.588 to holify it. Holy fight. 00:24:32.308 --> 00:24:36.888 Is that a word? Is that a word? I just made a new word. Holify it. Holification. 00:24:37.848 --> 00:24:41.328 Sanctify it. Try to sanctify it. All right. If it's not a word, 00:24:41.448 --> 00:24:42.948 it's going to be tomorrow. I like it. 00:24:43.388 --> 00:24:48.768 Holify. New holified. New word on the Life on 11 podcast. I like it. 00:24:49.108 --> 00:24:53.868 I love it. Yeah. So we, we will be, we'll be doing some Halloween festivities. 00:24:53.868 --> 00:24:55.668 Yep. It'll be, it'll be fun. 00:24:56.148 --> 00:24:59.648 Absolutely. Always is. Yeah. Kids are going to, kids are going to enjoy it. Oh yeah. 00:25:00.408 --> 00:25:03.748 You know, just seeing all the kids get together. Oh man, I'd love it. 00:25:04.248 --> 00:25:07.968 Love it. Yeah. Well, and, and it's interesting because I mean, 00:25:08.088 --> 00:25:11.248 I would say if you push the idea of Halloween to the oomph degree, 00:25:11.568 --> 00:25:15.288 then we wouldn't celebrate any, any holidays. 00:25:16.168 --> 00:25:19.948 True. Yeah. That's, you know, absolutely true. I mean, even cause I could, 00:25:20.148 --> 00:25:22.708 if we're going to use, if we're going to apply the same logic that we apply 00:25:22.708 --> 00:25:24.348 to Halloween to everything else. Mm-hmm. 00:25:25.095 --> 00:25:28.155 You know? Yep. You're right. Absolutely. 00:25:28.595 --> 00:25:34.655 All that to say, you know, I would, I would say avoid anything that is overly demonic or overly dark. 00:25:34.835 --> 00:25:37.015 Absolutely. Don't, don't practice those things. Yeah. 00:25:37.235 --> 00:25:43.415 I mean, not because, and so here's the next thing, not because you're like going 00:25:43.415 --> 00:25:47.675 to get demonically possessed or something like that, but just, yeah. 00:25:47.815 --> 00:25:49.775 Refer back to that podcast. 00:25:50.755 --> 00:25:54.015 Yeah yeah yeah i did 00:25:54.015 --> 00:25:56.815 you see the clip of like the televangelist who was like make sure 00:25:56.815 --> 00:25:59.635 you don't buy your clothes from the goodwill because it could have a demon on it 00:25:59.635 --> 00:26:02.555 and you bring it to your house oh no i did not see that it's pretty funny 00:26:02.555 --> 00:26:05.495 i was like what i'm gonna have to see that that sounds funny 00:26:05.495 --> 00:26:08.235 yeah yeah it was it's like a video and it's like the guy's like oh 00:26:08.235 --> 00:26:11.135 the scriptures say don't live in fear then there's this guy he's like 00:26:11.135 --> 00:26:13.975 don't suffer the goodwill the shirt could 00:26:13.975 --> 00:26:17.555 have a demon on you bring it to your house what just 00:26:17.555 --> 00:26:20.375 happened i don't understand and so when we 00:26:20.375 --> 00:26:23.015 say we don't don't celebrate halloween we're not it's not 00:26:23.015 --> 00:26:26.535 because we're afraid you're going to catch something but merely 00:26:26.535 --> 00:26:29.735 because you know celebrate halloween 00:26:29.735 --> 00:26:33.235 and stay away from the other stuff because it can desensitize 00:26:33.235 --> 00:26:37.455 us to what really is you know i think that's the other side like maybe maybe 00:26:37.455 --> 00:26:40.355 that's maybe that's something to think about you know if we if we take our kids 00:26:40.355 --> 00:26:45.955 and we let them dress up like little demons all the time then And then demons 00:26:45.955 --> 00:26:50.075 become funny little characters and not something serious and supernatural that 00:26:50.075 --> 00:26:52.015 we need to think about. Not something serious or dangerous or, yeah. 00:26:52.615 --> 00:26:55.835 You're right. But that could be true about it really all time. 00:26:55.935 --> 00:26:58.575 I mean, anytime. Not just Halloween. Oh, absolutely. 00:26:59.215 --> 00:27:06.255 Especially with all the junk that's on the old television and YouTube and all that stuff. What? What? 00:27:07.441 --> 00:27:11.081 And I mean, we didn't unpack the whole, like, you know, all the roots, 00:27:11.281 --> 00:27:13.361 but there's some really interesting reading out there. Yeah, 00:27:13.421 --> 00:27:14.361 there definitely is. Yeah. 00:27:14.621 --> 00:27:17.361 You know, about the roots of these whole holidays. 00:27:17.981 --> 00:27:21.441 Yeah. And eat candy corn. Yeah. 00:27:22.241 --> 00:27:26.081 I'm really hoping that I'm going to have some peanut butter M&Ms. 00:27:26.801 --> 00:27:30.161 Ooh, solid choice. I do like some peanut butter M&Ms. 00:27:30.641 --> 00:27:34.861 We need to find out who around us is doing the full-size candy bars. 00:27:34.861 --> 00:27:38.041 The place we're going is doing the full-size candy bars. Okay, done. 00:27:40.141 --> 00:27:45.061 Like, if you want to be the light of the world, give out full-size candy bars. 00:27:45.341 --> 00:27:48.001 Oh, yeah, absolutely. Everybody will be at your house. 00:27:48.501 --> 00:27:52.481 Yeah. I'll be at your house. An invitation to church and a full-size candy bar? 00:27:52.561 --> 00:27:54.821 Bro. That's a job well done. 00:27:55.741 --> 00:27:58.701 You are setting the standard right there. Yeah. 00:27:59.081 --> 00:28:01.161 Kids will be talking. Full-size candy bar and an invitation to church. 00:28:01.161 --> 00:28:02.401 Have you ever been to one of those houses that, like, 00:28:02.481 --> 00:28:05.201 sets up, like, the full, like, haunted house or something out in 00:28:05.201 --> 00:28:08.161 front of their house i've been by yeah that's crazy yeah 00:28:08.161 --> 00:28:11.921 yeah that is that is crazy yeah okay so 00:28:11.921 --> 00:28:16.601 oh snap before we go oh no do you feel like i feel like i feel like like lately 00:28:16.601 --> 00:28:19.701 past few years like there's really been a rise in decorating for halloween was 00:28:19.701 --> 00:28:22.581 that a thing when we were little like when we were honestly i don't remember 00:28:22.581 --> 00:28:26.081 it when i was a kid yeah because your your mom made you stay in the stay in 00:28:26.081 --> 00:28:28.301 the living room all right true it is true, 00:28:29.128 --> 00:28:32.328 Mom, I'm sorry if you're listening to this, but that's what I remember. 00:28:32.608 --> 00:28:33.948 You might remember it different. 00:28:35.348 --> 00:28:39.388 But that's what I remember. But no, you're right. 00:28:39.508 --> 00:28:44.408 I've seen a lot more people decorating for Halloween with spider webs going 00:28:44.408 --> 00:28:48.308 up to their house with fake spiders and lots of orange lights and stuff. 00:28:48.508 --> 00:28:51.568 Oh, dude. There's a guy on the way back to the church. He has a whole horror 00:28:51.568 --> 00:28:53.928 movie scene in his front yard. For real? Oh, yeah. 00:28:54.348 --> 00:28:57.928 I know the house now. because like the first year he did it like he had a dude 00:28:57.928 --> 00:29:00.748 and like when you went by your headlights would catch it it looked like a guy 00:29:00.748 --> 00:29:02.308 standing in his yard with a chainsaw, 00:29:02.788 --> 00:29:06.388 yee yeah like that's a good way to have somebody run up in your yard try to 00:29:06.388 --> 00:29:07.988 save your life and realize it was a 00:29:08.368 --> 00:29:11.408 pair of jeans and a sweatshirt stuffed with hay you gotta watch out for that 00:29:11.408 --> 00:29:14.528 stuff dog yeah that's true that makes me think about a hilarious one for Christmas 00:29:14.528 --> 00:29:18.088 though have you seen the ones like where somebody like puts a ladder up and 00:29:18.088 --> 00:29:20.768 like they have the ladder falling over oh yeah there's like a dude hanging from 00:29:20.768 --> 00:29:24.648 the gutter yeah but it's not really a dude yeah yeah that's hilarious I love that Yeah, 00:29:24.788 --> 00:29:28.268 we had some members of our church back last year when the elections were going on. 00:29:28.408 --> 00:29:31.328 They had a life-size cardboard cutout of Donald Trump on their front yard. 00:29:32.808 --> 00:29:36.448 And one night, like, I left the church and my headlights happened to hit it. 00:29:36.608 --> 00:29:39.868 And I called him the next day and I was like, I was about to fall into, 00:29:39.928 --> 00:29:41.128 like, ninja pastor mode. 00:29:41.268 --> 00:29:43.828 Like, I thought somebody was trying to break into your house. 00:29:43.848 --> 00:29:45.848 Donald Trump's breaking into their house. 00:29:47.288 --> 00:29:50.788 I was ready to call the cops and, like, whip up your driveway and be like, 00:29:50.908 --> 00:29:52.548 hey, that's my friend's house. 00:29:53.868 --> 00:29:58.108 When I got close enough I realized it was just Donnie I wish you would have 00:29:58.108 --> 00:30:05.488 That would have made for a great newscast Local pastor arrested After assaulting 00:30:05.488 --> 00:30:08.548 a Donald Trump cardboard cutout A Donald Trump cardboard cutout, 00:30:09.809 --> 00:30:12.569 Oh, man. You can't make it up. Yep. 00:30:12.749 --> 00:30:15.709 Oh, man. All that being said, however you're going to celebrate Halloween or 00:30:15.709 --> 00:30:18.689 not celebrate Halloween, we hope you do it as best you can. 00:30:18.809 --> 00:30:22.909 Bring out Jesus and take the opportunity to share your faith with others. 00:30:23.149 --> 00:30:27.269 And Jeremy, I guess I'll see you next time. Yeah, brother. Have a good night. Later. 00:30:32.669 --> 00:30:36.569 Thank you for turning up the volume on faith and kingdom living with us today. 00:30:36.569 --> 00:30:41.929 If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 00:30:42.209 --> 00:30:47.369 You can also connect with us on social media. We're on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. 00:30:47.769 --> 00:30:51.769 Just search for Life on 11. We can't wait to see you next time.