So, yesterday morning as I was waiting for a flight from Ft. Worth back to Nashville, I made a quick post on Facebook that basically said this: “early morning flight home to go trick-or-treating with my kids, then back to Texas tomorrow.” I never would have imagined the firestorm it would set off on Facebook. Much controversy over Halloween, it’s origins, what role Christian’s should play in the “celebration” or “non-celebration” of the holiday. A (very) few individuals were extremely critical of me and my faith and a whole host of people came to my defense. But by today, most of the critical post were deleted from Facebook somehow. The truth is, I’m sort of frustrated that all the harsh posts were taken down, because even though so many of them were attacking and distasteful, it showed what a beautiful contrast there is between all that can be so negative and condemning about Christendom and the true fruits of the Spirit that were so eloquently represented in so many of the responding comments.
I guess the first thing that I would say in response to the criticism is this: if my decision to take my kids trick-or-treating is reason enough for someone to “un-friend” me, dislike me, or worse, condemn me as a heretic or a member of the occult, I can, without hesitation, give you a thousand FAR better reasons to do so. Whether it’s flaws in my character or my judgment, the bottom line is that I am indeed a terribly flawed and imperfect man who loves, believes deeply in, and relies daily on the completely sufficient grace and goodness of a completely perfect God. If you’ve ever listened to my music or had the chance to know my heart at all, I have staked my life and all eternity on the fact that I am an inconsistent creature who has been saved by the COMPLETED, and completely consistent, work of Christ. Nothing less. Nothing more.
And please let me say right up front that I may be ENTIRELY wrong about my decisions with regard to Halloween, but I can say that, at the very least, they are thought out and intentional decisions, not off-the-cuff or blind cultural appeasement. So, for what it’s worth, here’s my take on things.
What man intends for evil, God intends for good. I absolutely LOVE that with the freedom of Christ we can take a holiday that was once intended by man for so much evil, and we can turn it on its ear. Imagine the idea that we get to take what was once (and perhaps, for some, still is) a pagan, ritualistic attempt to appease evil spirits, and turn it into a chance for children to dream and imagine and dress up in costumes (my boys were both their own versions of “Super Heroes” by the way), to spend precious time with their families and friends, to go out and actually see their neighbors face-to-face, and, at least in our neighborhood, watch entire communities literally come together and talk and laugh and eat way too much candy. I seriously LOVE that idea. And again, I may be absolutely wrong, but I am entirely convinced that that’s exactly what happened yesterday…at least at our house and on our street and in our neighborhood. I certainly don’t want to hyper-spiritualize it, but it’s almost as if we’re making a declaration, in a way, that old traditions that were once intended for evil, or that EVIL ITSELF, has no power over us anymore – declaring that that power was and is broken by the Gospel. We almost get to make a mockery of evil (one of the few “mockeries” we’re entitled to as Believers) when we take evil’s shining “moment in the sun” and turn it into a CHILDREN’S holiday. We take what was once intended for evil and we turn it into a celebration of youth and imagination and the lightness of childhood. And yes, we may tell a few spooky stories along the way and put scary spider webs on our front porches. The truth is, there is great merit to the more popularly accepted “Christian versions” of the holiday, so some may call it “All Saints Day” and go ”TRUNK-or-treating” in a church parking lot but some may take a less overtly spiritual approach, call it Halloween and go trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. The bottom line is, best I can figure, is that I think it can be as simple as a fun day for neighbors to actually be neighbors – to actually engage with each other and build community and childhood memories at the same time…to be relational and build bridges. Halloween, for me, is not a celebration of an old, antiquated evil tradition; it’s a celebration of my children. It’s a celebration of my family, my neighborhood, and my community. And maybe a chance to look evil in the face and not be afraid. Not to mention, a good excuse to eat a whole lot of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Amen! Wish we were neighbors b/c I suspect our families would have a great time together. :)
This! Yes, this post. Bebo Norman, you are honest, real, and authentic. Thank you for sharing your messy.beautiful life with us. Thank you :)
I agree with you. Any reason to reach out and touch the neighborhood you live in is a good one. We need more time to relax and love on those around us our lives are waaaaay to busy and stressful not to take time out for whatever reason.
Well said Bebo!! Love to you, Roshare and the boys!
Amen and Amen!
Well said and agreed!
I agree with you totally. Growing up I was never allowed to participate - and by not participating, I mean we would turn all the lights off and go hide in the bsement. How silly! We are LIGHTS and shouldn't be afraid of the dark. It's prime time to show Jesus' love to kids - they are coming to your door!! You don't even have to go looking for them. Put a Bible verse in the bag with the candy... you never know who is going to need it and read it! This is only the 3rd year I've taken my children out, and as I was walking around with them last night, I was able to greet so many people and make connections with some that I haven't spoken to since last Halloween. For the past three Halloween nights, I have said to myself, "Why didn't I start doing this before?" It's the community involvement and "meeting the neighbours" that I find absolutely amazing. It's such a free, fun night!
I'm so sorry you had those negative posts. I'm a pastor and had about 4-5 different trick or treating "Halloween" events with my kids and loved every minute of it...and got to know my neighbors and even church better. And Reese's Peanut Butter cups are my fav. :)
I thought Ed Stetzer's comment on twitter last night demonstrated a good attitude to have toward Halloween - "Let's think: what should you do tnite when all the neighbors are meeting strangers & building relationships in the street?"
I think this is one of the best explanations for celebrating Halloween (or whatever you want to label it) I've ever heard/read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, Bebo. I'm glad that you were able to take a break from tour to be with your boys last night - I'm sure that means more to them than they can fully know at this point! It's true that those of us who have had the privilege of hearing your heart through your music know that it's in the right place - with all of your dependence on the complete and finished work of Christ. I know no one is perfect, but thanks for being so consistent, and for continuing to write music that is authentic and real. I have loved your music for a long time and I'm pretty sure I have every album. :) I'm loving "Lights of Distant Cities" - I've been listening to it on repeat for the last week!
Love your heart and although I am not a big fan of the whole Halloween thing, I believe you have the right idea and a healthy perspective. I appreciated your post and continue to be a huge Bebo fan! Thanks...Press on!
I love your take on this. Extreme views on either end tend to be more harmful than helpful. We had a Halloween party last night and it consisted of drinking apple cider on the front porch and handing out candy to kiddos, and interacting with neighbors we'd otherwise rarely see. Go community! And Reese's peanut butter cups!
Awesome. We do an outreach for the kids in our neighborhood where we play games and give them prizes. All the parents receive Gospel of John books and the kids get tracts with their candy ( the good chocolate not the lame candy) Kids tell us they look forward to it every year and they have so much fun and so do we. Truly loving our neighbors as the Lord commanded.
I dig this, but not as much as I dig "Lights of Distant Cities" !!!
Bravo Bebo! Blessings to you for your considerate articulation! I am with you. I pray more people can have revelations about Romans 8:28.
I could not have said it better myself! And, might I add, thank the Lord for Daddy's who go the extra mile to fly home and be with their kids and wife on such a fun night that is no doubt making priceless memories in their lives. My husband and son were BOTH dressed as Captain America, while I was Wonder Woman, and my baby boy a Lion! Haha!! One neighbor asked my husband "How did she force you into dressing up?" (referring to the fact that I, as the wife, must have made him dress in a silly costume) My husband's quick reply "She didn't....my son asked me to, and I was happy to do it." I was proud of him. So, good for YOU, Bebo Norman! You are a good man, and I hope your family had the best Halloween with a bucket FULL of reese's peanut butter cups! :)
=) well said
This seems to have really come to a head this year, and I posted about it on FB last night as well. I see a really disheartening trend in Christianity today, where churches in the race to create a community are turning into a "commune". Locked behind their own grounds with their own events, their own versions of everything, from holidays to meals, to exercise classes. In and of itself those things aren't bad, but when they spend so much time in this group, and never meet or reach their neighbors for Christ, and are scared of the general public, it is a bad thing. I am also a musician and have noticed in the last 5 years, churches have stopped doing things with other churches and going to other Christian events because its all there for them at their own church. Like Esther said, we take the time to do some cool things for the kids in our neighborhood, meet the other families, be friendly and share the gospel while we are at it in a laid back fashion. Go out and interact with others who don't know Christ, be salt and light. And just maybe you'll enjoy some experiences your church never would have done.
Lots of love and admiration to you and your family! Keep the "realness" coming. You never know what each day will bring but grace abounds and you have shown a lot of that!
Love it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! (and I happen to agree :)
SO well said, love all of your thoughts.
You know, I remember that post! I also remember thinking, when I read it, "Wow! That guy is willing to travel that far to spend time with his kids?! You go, Bebo!" I work with teens. I also deliver mail for the Post Office, in both of these positions, I see far too many dead beat dads that live in the same town, in several cases, live in the same house and couldn't care less about their kids or what they are doing! Going out of their way to spend time with them? Not happening! I never really cared that much for Halloween, even as a kid. I did, and still do, enjoy the candy. That being said, I see this as a time for kids play dress up with Dad! That doesn't happen every day regardless of the job he has! They have a time to walk around town with the one man on this planet they think is the greatest, and get get a sugar rush at the same time, win-win! They have no idea about All Hallows Eve, nor what it means, to them- they get to play dress up, and get sweets. Dad gets the enviable pleasure of being with them. I really don't see the problem.
good and honest words from a heart that has given everything to our God! the Lord bless you brother!!
Yeah Reese's!
This is great! I grew up not celebrating Halloween, but fortunately my parents weren't legalistic about it or judgmental toward those who celebrated it. For my family, it's become an opportunity to get together with some friends and family, and walk around the neighborhood with all of our kids. There are too few opportunities to meet neighbors and build community as it is!
Seeing a lot of symbolism here in that we are lights who should not be hiding even on a holiday that celebrates death and the devil. We turn on our porch lights to show that we are a safe place to come to for treats and maybe something fun. So keep celebrating. I have never not celebrated Halloween and think that's the way it will always be for me. The Bible says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and so I think we should find any and every holiday we can and turn it into a celebration of the light and life of Christ.
I agree with everything you said! I love the fact that as a neighborhood we get back to welcoming people to our doors and community. I have a wonderful neighborhood that many people drive their children over to trick or treat. A few neighbors get together to set up games, a Charlie Brown movie on a big screen, give away food (not just candy) and Bibles. They are using this as a platform to share Jesus in a way that doesn't offend anyone, since we are too worried about that! I can find many larger things to get worked up about being the Devil's work that have nothing to do with Halloween. Plus the joy and excitement the kids have as the dress up and show their costumes off is priceless!
Well said and may God continue to richly bless you and your family. Also love your new CD!
As always, thoughtful, honest and realistic. Keep being you and living the life you are living. It is why you so loved and so appreciated by so many. : )
God Bless you Bebo! Eloquently said!
[...] What man intends for evil, God intends for good. I absolutely LOVE that with the freedom of Christ we can take a holiday that was once intended by man for so much evil, and we can turn it on its ear. Imagine the idea that we get to take what was once (and perhaps, for some, still is) a pagan, ritualistic attempt to appease evil spirits, and turn it into a chance for children to dream and imagine and dress up in costumes (my boys were both their own versions of “Super Heroes” by the way), to spend precious time with their families and friends, to go out and actually see their neighbors face-to-face, and, at least in our neighborhood, watch entire communities literally come together and talk and laugh and eat way too much candy. I seriously LOVE that idea. And again, I may be absolutely wrong, but I am entirely convinced that that’s exactly what happened yesterday…at least at our house and on our street and in our neighborhood. I certainly don’t want to hyper-spiritualize it, but it’s almost as if we’re making a declaration, in a way, that old traditions that were once intended for evil, or that EVIL ITSELF, has no power over us anymore – declaring that that power was and is broken by the Gospel. We almost get to make a mockery of evil (one of the few “mockeries” we’re entitled to as Believers) when we take evil’s shining “moment in the sun” and turn it into a CHILDREN’S holiday. We take what was once intended for evil and we turn it into a celebration of youth and imagination and the lightness of childhood. And yes, we may tell a few spooky stories along the way and put scary spider webs on our front porches. The truth is, there is great merit to the more popularly accepted “Christian versions” of the holiday, so some may call it “All Saints Day” and go ”TRUNK-or-treating” in a church parking lot but some may take a less overtly spiritual approach, call it Halloween and go trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. The bottom line is, best I can figure, is that I think it can be as simple as a fun day for neighbors to actually be neighbors – to actually engage with each other and build community and childhood memories at the same time…to be relational and build bridges. Halloween, for me, is not a celebration of an old, antiquated evil tradition; it’s a celebration of my children. It’s a celebration of my family, my neighborhood, and my community. And maybe a chance to look evil in the face and not be afraid. Not to mention, a good excuse to eat a whole lot of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Nothing more. Nothing less.” Blog Link [...]
Well said. God bless you and yours and continue to enjoy creativity, imagination, community, and God's goodness in all things - and in so doing you will be pushing back the darkness and taking all things captive for the rightful King Jesus. That's what ambassadors do and we should be having fun doing it!
You just released an awesome album last week when your music has always been Autumn music to me. Then, you post this blog that references what I literally just posted on Halloween that's from "The Screwtape Letters" about "mocking evil." :) I didn't know I could post on here as a Guest, and I didn't find out until after I tweeted you and posted on the status about this on your facebook.
PS: Yeah, and am too tired to figure out how to work this properly. haha I was going to ask were you thinking of "The Screwtape Letters" when you wrote about "mocking evil?"
I agree with you too and many churches (ours included) have "Trunk or Treat" celebrations so the kids can dress up and enjoy the fun. I would never think of denying a child the fun of Halloween. People need to lighten up! Love your music and your work, and I think God is pleased with most of what goes on at Halloween. The extreme dark will always be there, and He will deal with that in His own way.
Thank you for your thoughtful insight into a holiday that most of us Christians enjoyed as children, but feel pressured to give up for legalistic reasons.
Thank you! Well said!! You rock!!!!!!
Thank you for posting this. I used to be so torn about how to handle Halloween. I am a Christian mom who saw the evil in Halloween but I also liked watching my kids play dress-up, use their imagination, laugh with friends, etc. I love your viewpoints presented here. You have helped me to finally see in words what I was trying to find words for these past few years. God bless you!
Research please my brother and sister and see this evil still in the world today and that some things God does use for good i beg you research
see how the Ancient druids took advantage of children and research how they continue today to keep it alive dont be deceived brother and sister in this last hour
LOVE!!!!!! I agree 100%
Great post . I was one of "those" hard liners in the past but changed my mind over time after realizing what power does darkness have over the light . None . Well argued and said.
So well said!
Very well said. Great post =)
As an Aussie married to an American, I only have one problem with this post ... Peanut Butter and Chocolate do NOT go together in a cup! Haha ;). Thanks for sharing your heart mate and encouraging outreach over legalism.
It's kinda like the thought that some Christians don't want their children to go to public school, but be sheltered in homeshcool or private school. Which is fine, but the real support and teaching comes in the home as we are to be sent out as salt and light, not sequestering ourselves from the world. Nothing against homeschooling as I've done it for my kids, but some folks I know use it to shield their children from the storm rather than teach them how to go through it with Jesus. I think Halloween is a liberty that we as Christians need to make very sure that we aren't skating around acting like the world, but we can be salt and light in it and teach what it means to the world, but also know that it is still "the day the Lord has made...let us rejoice and be glad in it."
this is a great example of how easy Christian musicians have. make a post about kids, communities, practices, etc, and holy shit what a sage. people wake up. you are living in a world of saccharin bull shit. be human beings please and leave this trite shot behind.
Our last Halloween party was a blast! But having pumpkin and all is that ideal though.