Loving Zombies
Chrissy (my wife) and I were talking earlier yesterday about the controversial holiday, Halloween, among Christian circles. It’s gotten a pretty bad rap for sure, and for a few reasons of which I fully understand. And although we shouldn’t be endorsing the black gothic satanic church of St. Lucifer down the street, I believe there are still ways to be a light in this world. And Chrissy and I came to the realization that instead of avoiding innocently disguised 5-10 year-olds knocking on your door this year, why not love them? Why not hand them a track or a church invite card? (NOT in place of candy, of course).
Ask yourself this question: would Jesus hide from tricker treaters? Would He shun anyone with a mask on? I can confidently say… probably not. I don’t think Jesus would see a dressed-up witch or some guy with zombie make-up on, he would see a soul in need of saving. And when you look at Jesus’ ministry here on earth, He is so about people, no matter who they are or what their history is. He’s into looking for perfect opportunities to minister to people. And this holiday, my friends, is for sure a perfect opportunity. What other day in the whole year do people willingly migrate straight to your door step? Usually we have to go to them. But no, they’re approaching us! All you have to do is wait for people to come! It’s fantastic! No leg work!
Yesterday in my devotion, I was reading in 1 John 4. In the NLT, it says:
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him… 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
A lot of what John says here applies to believers loving believers, but at the same time, look at the example of love John gives us: Jesus dying on the cross. Jesus didn’t die for fellow believers, he died for sinners. So if God loves sinners, shouldn’t we? I mean, it says it right there pretty plainly… “anyone who does not love does not know God”. It’s not: “anyone who does not love [your fellow brother in Christ]”. It’s not: “anyone who does not love [kittens]”. It’s, “anyone who does not love”. Period. To be marked by God, you must be marked by love. And if God is living in us (which is the case if your faith is truly in Christ), then, like it says in that last line, “his love is brought to full expression in us”. He uses us to portray His love to the world. What a phenomenal concept.
So this year, instead of turning the lights off and pretending like you’re not home, grab a stack of church invite cards, a bag of candy, and bring on the princesses, ninjas, and little cowboys. And remember, don’t just give out flyers. That’s lame and no one will come to your church if you do. Kids want candy! Give them some, but then tell them to give this little RebelChurch invite card to their mommy and daddy. That, my friends, is being not of the world, but living and loving in it.
