Halloween

I recently saw this Instagram post: “Halloween is the one night we are as Jesus told us to be: we receive everyone who comes to us no matter how ugly, strange, or scary.We compliment them and give them good things.” This post looks at Halloween theologically. Now, you might ask, but aren’t there lots of Christians who also interpret Halloween theologically as evil? Yes, this is true. But that interpretation looks at Halloween in terms of “what:” what are the origins of All Hallow’s Eve, what does the Bible say about demons/monsters/ghosts, etc.?

But suppose we looked—theologically—at the “how” of Halloween? How do people act and interact on Halloween? And what message might such actions and interactions tell us about the expectations of God has for his people? Here, I list three things about Halloween that find resonance in the biblical materials as to howGod’s people should live.

Costume Party

First, we dress up in costume, assuming a new identity. Often, this includes adopting a different manner or attitude than we normally exude. In several of Paul’s letters, we see the metaphor of “dressing up” used to describe the transformation of identity in Christ:

·“I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban...I was a father to the needy, and I championed the cause of the stranger.” (Job29:14, 16)

·“…Seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator...12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Col 3:9-11, 12 ,14)

Interestingly, modern psychology has a term for this action: “enclothed cognition.” It means that by wearing certain things—costumes, for example—we begin to adopt the mindset that goes with that identity. Paul instructs Christians to “wear Jesus”and so undergo the process of adopting Jesus’s own perspective.

Feasting and Fellowship

Second, onHalloween, we leave our homes to fellowship with neighbors and approach each other’s homes with expectations of goodness and gifts. Both the Old and NewTestament describe the habits of God’s people leaving their own dwellings tocelebrate with others and to give sweets and food to each other:

·     Therefore, the Jews of the villages, who live in the open towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, a holiday on which they send gifts of food to one another. (Ester9:19)

·     Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts. (Acts 2:46)

This engaging in celebration requires and celebrates and builds community trust. It requires us to share our lives and in some way depend on each other. (As a side note, the above quotation from Ester describes the feast of Purim, which Jewscelebrate by dressing in costumes—much like Halloween!)

Radical Hospitality

Third, God’s people are commanded to practice hospitality regardless of strangers’ appearances or affiliations. On Halloween, when people knock on our doors or step into our yards, we respond appropriately by offering them the best we have. It does notmatter how scary or beautiful or strange they look; they are all offered the same regard.

·     “For the Lord your God…executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. 19 You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deut10:17-19)

·     “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Heb 13:1-2)

Perhaps we might celebrate the season of costumes and candy as ones faithful to God’s instructions for community, generosity, and hospitality. Happy Halloween!

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