My Halloween Rant
by Motte Brown on 10/30/2007 at 6:09 PM
Last year I wrote a defense of my unapologetically dark house on Halloween. It was in response to a blog Tim Challies wrote in which he said that dark houses on Halloween are poor witnesses for Christ (a stance he has since softened). It made for good blogging but I came to regret my unfriendly tone directed toward Tim; particularly when I ran into him a few months later at a conference.
The following excerpt should give you an idea why. After explaining why my family doesn't participate in Halloween, I wrote:
It's our personal conviction. One that my wife and I have talked about, prayed about, and sought the advice of Christians we respect. Apparently, that's not good enough for Tim Challies.
Challies writes on his blog today that "(Christians) have to trust our consciences" on the matter but then proceeds to condemn those who would abstain as "a very poor witness." First, if it is a matter of conscience, he shouldn't make judgments on Christians who have prayed about it and concluded that they can best honor God another way. After all, as Paul instructs the Colossians, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath."
It's not awful; just a wee bit graceless. But as Suzanne Hadley pointed out in her Boundless article "Blog Responsibly," this kind of gracelessness is not anomalous among Christian bloggers.
Unfortunately this kind of graceless conversation among Christians is all too common in the blogosphere. "The secular world is not impressed with the Christian world of blogging," says Justin Taylor, proprietor of the blog "Between Two Worlds."
Justin, whose blog receives up to 1,800 visits per day, believes that many Christ-followers are abandoning the basics when it comes to their online conversations. "Jesus said they will know us by our fruit and by our love, and a lot of blogs are failing in that."
When I met Tim last May, I was embarrassed. I should have apologized then and there but I didn't. So Tim, if you're reading, I'm sorry for my graceless blog. Still though, my conscience is clear on what will be a dark house again this Halloween.
1. Fred said the following at 8:18 PM on Oct 30:
It always good to see someone step up and apologise, especially when its not a huge issue, thanks Motte.
2. Tim Challies said the following at 5:04 AM on Oct 31:
So Tim, if you're reading, I'm sorry for my graceless blog. Still though, my conscience is clear on what will be a dark house again this Halloween.
Of course I'm reading. And of course I accept your apology, while at the same time silently brooding and judging you for having your home dark tonight! :)
You're right that I softened my stance this year. Or maybe I just expressed myself a little bit better. I got to thinking about our situation in our neighborhood and compared it to that of other people we know, and soon realized that I do think Halloween is both a matter of conscience and a matter of context. Where you are and how you participate in the neighborhood around you may well dictate as much as anything how to choose to spend Halloween.
3. Motte said the following at 10:46 AM on Oct 31:
Thanks, Tim. And don't worry. We'll have our porch light on, pumpkins out and candy ready for little trick-or-treaters before we leave for church.