Fearless
It’s that time of year
again.
The leaves change colors,
pumpkin spice takes over the food supply, and somebody down the street puts a
twelve-foot skeleton in their front yard.
I have questions about that
skeleton. Mostly, where do you store him in January? Does he get his own
bedroom? Do you buckle him into the passenger seat when you move?
Then Halloween arrives, and
Christians begin our annual discussion about candy, costumes, and whether
buying a bag of miniature Snickers requires a theological statement.
Some families participate.
Some don’t. Some attend church events. Some turn off the porch light and spend
the evening protecting the dog from the doorbell.
Faithful Christians make
different decisions about the day. But whatever we decide about October 31,
there is something we need to consider:
Are we letting fear shape
the way we live?
In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul
reminds Timothy that God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control
rather than fear.
Paul wasn’t writing about
Halloween decorations. He was encouraging a young minister to stand faithfully
for Christ, even when that faithfulness involved suffering. In the next verse,
he tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord.
That gives this passage
some weight. This is courage for a difficult calling.
And we need that courage,
too.
We can become so worried
about the darkness around us that we forget how to carry the light.
We worry about what our
children might encounter. We worry about the direction of our culture. We worry
about what people will think if we speak up — or if we don’t.
Before long, fear has
become our unofficial spiritual adviser.
And fear gives terrible
advice. It tends to recommend panic, suspicion, and arguing with strangers in
the comment section.
Jesus gives us a better way
to live.
In Matthew 5:14–16, He
calls His disciples the light of the world and tells them to let their light
shine through good works that lead people to glorify their Father.
That means our presence in
the neighborhood ought to reveal something about God’s goodness.
People should encounter
kindness. Generosity. Patience. A willingness to listen. The kind of love that
notices a tired parent trying to keep three excited children from running into
traffic.
There are real spiritual
concerns Christians should take seriously. Scripture warns against occult
practices, and following Jesus requires discernment. We don’t need to celebrate
everything our culture celebrates.
We can set clear boundaries
and explain them graciously. We can also respect another family’s decision
without turning the fellowship hall into a courtroom.
Your convictions deserve
more thought than a frightening social media post somebody shared with
seventeen exclamation points.
Pray. Read Scripture.
Consider what an activity actually involves. Make a faithful decision for your
household. Then live that decision with peace.
If your porch light is on,
greet your neighbors warmly. If you attend a church outreach, help make it a
place where families experience genuine welcome. If your family sits Halloween
out, find another opportunity to build relationships and serve someone.
There is plenty of room for
faithful, thoughtful action, but what concerns me most is how easily we can
spend an entire evening examining a plastic decoration while overlooking the
real person standing beside it. That neighbor has a story. That parent may be
exhausted. That child may need to see an adult who is gentle and safe. Those
are people Jesus calls us to love.
Being fearless doesn’t mean
you never feel afraid. Timothy needed encouragement for a reason. Courage means
trusting God enough to take the next faithful step while your knees are still
wobbling. So, this October, ask God for discernment about your choices—and love
for the people your choices bring you near. Keep your convictions. Practice
kindness. Look for opportunities to do good. And if the giant skeleton next
door makes you nervous, remember: he may be twelve feet tall, but he still
needs somebody to put him together.
Fear doesn’t have to run
your life. You belong to Jesus. Let that confidence show in the way you love
your neighbors.
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