So, Halloween's suddenly one of those deals that's hard to explain. And, the 2013 installment is especially troublesome because we're currently trending toward the dark side---vampires, zombies, the walking dead, apocalyptic scavengers, mythical epics, elves, cretans, and the Modern Family, a new kind of nightmare that scares me more than any of the aforementioned monsters. So, this week, we'll get a cross section of the American dream when a bunny rabbit, Superman, Jason, Vlad, Hulk, and Sponge Bob all troop up to our door with the goodie bag open.
The cultural stew is halloween too. Go read about it. Here is the Wikipedia version. There are a few layers to this thing now. Underneath is All Hallows Eve, a genuine spiritual ritual derived from "holy evening" and originally focused on All Saints Day each November 1, honoring the saints and praying for the souls of the dead. Factor in some Celtic harvest cult, Gaelic and Welsh mysteries, Druid celebrations, and the more Western love of the macabre, and we end up courting evil, tip-toeing around horror, and dressing in costumes that scare the wits out of the little ones.
Certain elements of fundamental faith see the devil under every rock and in every pursuit outside of hymn singing and reading the Good Book. I read a blog post the other week about the devilish themes in the Wake Forest Demon Deacon sports mascot. So, Halloween is the big bad wolf in many arenas, another proof of the total decline of Western culture. At the same time, many main-line Bible folks will put on a pair of fangs, drool a little blood, pick up a hatchet, or wear a glow-in-the-dark mask to join in the annual spook-fest. Can that little girl in the grape outfit be a messenger of Satan, a ghoul disguised as innocent fruit? Just the same, are the fine people in the dark house, all the lights extinguished, not participating in Halloween really obedient Christians?
Here we go, the "in the world" and "not of the world" thing that has us positioned in opposite corners again. This week we'll do trunk or treats, treasure nights, haunted mansions, scavenger hunts, fall festivals, and a few throw back hell houses. Some will party on in voguish costumes echoing Twilight and Walking Dead themes. Once church I read about is sponsoring a Zombie Apocalypse party. If it's a come as you are deal, we're all in trouble!
Yes, I did Halloween as a child, ran the neighborhood with my brother, sister, and other children, hoarding a grocery sack of goodies from popcorn balls to really good cany bars. It was a kinder, simpler time and most of us wore home-made costumes, not usually all that creative. You know, a pirate, a baseball player, once a ghoulish kid wearing a sheet. There were princesses, Mickey and Minnie Mouses, and even a couple of kids in diapers. Generally, it was safe, clean fun.
The times have shifted. Yes, if you look hard enough you can uncover evil at the core of just about anything. And, there will be plenty of devilish conduct Thursday night, dysfunctional people who have to destroy property, and hurt others. Still, there can be good, clean, all-American fun, where very fine people can be in the times but not of them. I applaud churches that provide an alternative, a safe place when neighbor- hood families can escape the dangers of the mean streets.
We're doing trunk or treat tonight. So, the Awana children will come on our to the parking lot and get some goodies from car trunks like ours---decorated with Harriet's Boyds Bears. Then, Thursday night, I'll dress up like a Bible character, greet kids at the door, wish them happy All Saints Eve, and give them a treat.
What does it mean that Harriet suggested I be Methuselah?
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