Ben Lemery | Church & Culture

Christian Superstitions: Halloween

It is the day before Halloween and all the children are excited to wear their costumes and go trick-or-treating.  It is the pinnacle of the year, even better than Easter, because the amount of candy you can bring in on a single night depends on how much you hussle and avoid those ladies that spend ten minutes gushing over how cute you are.  We have all been there and we all want to say, "Lady, we're not here for you, we're here for the candy so put it in the bag so we can move along and live a little."

But where are all my Christian friends?  I don't see them in a costume.  In fact, when I asked one to come with me, they said they were going to a Harvest Party because their parents didn't believe in Halloween.  Ummm, ok?

So isolating kids from a general Hallmark holiday is good for them? 

Halloween is another Christian superstition, that if your child or you participates in it, Satan will be heating his poker for you down in hell.  Well that is silly.  Going around and letting your kids trick-or-treat so they can get their first cavity is hardly satanic, it is more a rite of passage, I guess to obesity (but that is another blog). 

I understand the fear that if a child that is dressed like a witch or a demon comes up to your child, that they might be sucked into the vortex of witchcraft and paganism.  I am not for dressing your child as such.  (The Bible is pretty clear on witchcraft)  But, if we are that unable to explain to our own children that this is bad and this is good so go out and have fun, then that lies on the parent and their inability to communicate the rights and wrongs of this world.

Sorry, but that is just how I see it.

By creating an alternative and lacing a Christian message with it, is really no different than what the Catholic church did in swapping Easter and Christmas out with the current day pagan holidays.  Let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the alternative is any better. 

The benefit of a harvest party, in my opinion, is the opportunity for more candy, because they usually happen after normal trick-or-treat hours are done.  If you want a great evangelical moment, get your kids to persuade their unsaved friends to come with them after the first haul of treats and come to their church for more.  Never know, something good could come of that.

But parents, don't deprive your children of the social status event of the year.  It's a big thing at schools to show how many pounds of candy you hauled in on a single night.  They could be the next Tim Tebow because they won this first and important contest in life, the halloween candy haul.

Fame: The Church in the Hot Air Balloon

About two weeks ago, America was glued to their news stations watching a hot air balloon sail through Colorado.  The fear was, a six year old boy was inside of the structure and could possibly die if it crashed or a flock of geese decided to play hackey sack with it.

Today, we all know that it is being alleged that the family pulled a fast one on authorities and the greatest hoax of this decade was exposed.  What was it the parents wanted?  Fame.  Yes, that lucrative word that brings the sound of cash register bells to your senses.  They were hoping to create a reality tv show based on their own lives.

Shock!  Appalled!  Disgusted! 

Those were the descriptors pegged to this family.  How could they be so deceptive?

Well, at 28 years old, I thought that I would be a world wide speaker, seeing revival break out everywhere and my debt would be long down the river.  People would be calling me for advice and I would wisely give them the token nugget that could change the world again.  I would laugh with the big time people and they would laugh at my jokes (that no one thought were funny until I was of course famous).  My clothes would fit just right and my photos would be of that, that says, "Ben you're cool."

Oh yes, this was my dream and at one time I probably would have done anything for it.  I mean heck, it works for the other hundred people that are now famous in the church, so why not me?

I remember attending a conference and I finally got to sit down with a young adult leader whom I respected.  But then, we started talking and the conversation was going nowhere.  They were more interested in looking for people around me, even talking to people other than me and at the end of the conversation I felt disrespected and wounded. 

What happened during that time was more important.  I remember the Lord saying to me, "if this is what you want to be, I can make you that.  However, (don't you hate when the but or however comes in) you will have no character, discipline, self-control or wisdom to go with you, just fame."  Well that perked my ears a bit.  Of course, I wanted to have the attributes that God says we must have but I also wanted to be loved by all. 

It wasn't really shocking to see a couple run after fame because the church has perfected it over the years.  We no longer elevate people based on the content and deep rooted nature they have with God; instead we look for coy, humorous speeches, with a few life-changing qualities.  We market ourselves with catchy videos and graphic design, in hopes that ours will be the next big thing. 

It's not all bad, but it's not all good either.  Of course, if we are making money, we wouldn't dare question the motive. 

So I continue to re-look at my own heart because it's not all bad in there either but it certainly isn't all good.  My main goal is surrounding myself with good friends that will call me out when I get to big for my britches.  My other goal is to be honest with them no matter what.

If God gives me the chance to speak, I don't want it to be just a polished speech with cute one liners.  I want it to be my heart, on a platter with God smothered all over it.  I don't think that will pay my college loans off any faster though....oh well. =)

Humility Doesn't Make Sense

If you truly want to accomplish anything in this world, it requires radical humility.  Christ said, "but many who are first shall be last; and the last, first." (Matthew 19:30)  He says this in response to Peter reminding Jesus that the disciples had left everything to follow Him. 

It is difficult, in the midst of taking a risk, to understand the cost and the reward for an action.  Peter wasn't reminding Jesus to boast but simply to state a deep down thought, "is this all worth it?" 

Humility doesn't make sense because it requires letting go of control and logic and placing it in somebody else's hands.  It means to go low, even when situations sting.  It also means to not react immediately, even when you may know you are right. 

It really doesn't make sense but in the long run it does.  I guess my question to you is, are you willing to envision your own personal growth in the future, if you can make some small changes now?

What do you think?

What Have You Accomplished?

I met a lot of great people during my time in Mt Pleasant.  Many talk about changing their current culture; others want to do it. 

Accomplishment doesn't always show publicly.  But even done in private, it can have lasting impact on those who surround you and beyond. 

What do you want to accomplish in your own personal journey?  What about those around you?  Could you start today?  Could you connect to someone tomorrow so that you can see a greater impact? 

Are you willing to make the sacrifice to see something bigger than yourself happen?  Are you willing to not get any of the credit, even if it was all your work?

What have you accomplished so far?  What are you going to do from this point forward?

Which Part Of My Life Is God's?

How do you get into the pattern of giving God Sunday but the other days are yours? Why do we say that a church is a sacred space of worship but the other surroundings of our lives are simply secular?

It should almost be inspirational to make a secular space sacred and invite God's presence into the normal spaces of our lives.

Could we take a moment and invite Him into our normal lives and not wait until Sunday to sense His presence again?