It’s that time of the year again. Christian parents everywhere enter into a discussion of whether or not to allow their kids to go trick-or-treating.
Nathan Finochio, an author and pastor at Hillsong Church, is tackling the topic this year, arguing that the word of God allows Christians to redefine everything.
In a story shared to Instagram, Finochio listed out 10 reasons parents should let their children trick or treat:
- Don’t instill fear of the world.
- Don’t teach them that the world has more fun.
- Don’t teach them superstition.
- Don’t teach them isolationism.
- Don’t teach them a lack of faith.
- Teach them common grace – candy is from God and that to the pure all things are pure.
- Teach them the redemptive motif – that we reinterpret culture and give it a new meaning.
- Teach them that the demonic works by willful agreement, bot accidental consumption.
- Teach them in but not of, not out and not of.
- Critique loudly what you see as you walk. Make them brave and discerning, not scared and superstitious.In an interview with Faithwire, Finochio pointed out that while there is nothing wrong with celebrating Halloween, it’s the role of a parent to properly teach their children about things like Halloween because spiritual darkness is real and ever-present.
“There is spiritual darkness surrounding everything,” Finchio stated. “Films, books, politics, and yes, even Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter.”
“I think humanity is fascinated with the afterlife, with death, with good and evil. And Halloween is a cultural recognition, a sort of strange negotiation with some of these concepts.”
He pointed out that while there are still witches, warlocks, and pagans that consider Halloween a high festival, Christians took power away from the dark even ages ago.
“This is their last stand, and we actually took it from them a long time ago,” he argued. “In the British Isles, it is known that churches were already celebrating All Saints on 1 November at the beginning of the 8th century to coincide with or replace the Celtic festival of Samhain.”
Finochio pointed out that it is also important for parents to teach their children the history of different holidays, and the real evil that takes place in the world.
Click here to view the original web page at www.faithwire.com
