Walking in the light

Overcoming the darkness of Halloween

Halloween is an annual festive celebration, from fancy costumes, ‘Trick or Treat’ outings to special TV programmes. And so, as Christians, it can be confusing on whether we should be involved or not. And so, we may ask the question “How can we represent Christ during this season?”

‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’
Matthew 5:14-16

‘What is the light that Jesus is talking about here?’ Jesus talks about you and me being the light of the whole world, not just in our families, friendships or other environments we are in, but the whole world. And we carry this light when we belong to Christ.

‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’
John 8:12

As Jesus says, those who follow him will not walk in darkness but will be the light in the darkness. And as followers of Jesus, we are called to be set apart from darkness and carry the light of Christ into every environment we are in.

‘But is our light bright or dim?’ It is natural that when we face the world and its challenges, our light may decrease in intensity. The analogy that Jesus mentions in Matthew 5, is a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, that stands out, that is prominent for all to see. We must be bold, to shine Christ, into every area of our lives.

We must not hide that light, but let it shine for all to see, Jesus expresses the importance of a ‘lamp stand’ to illuminate the whole house, not just a part of it, but the entirety of it. We are the lamps, the true spiritual light, the light of Christ. The light that is meant to be seen by all and is not covered up.

‘So how can we be a light during this Halloween season?’ The simple answer is to represent the light of Christ, be that light in your workplace, school, university, family and friendship circle. Love people, have fellowship with them, speak Christ into their lives just as Jesus did, express his light through ‘good deeds’ that it may bring glory to our father in heaven. That people may see that we are set apart, that even in the darkness of Halloween we are able to be that city on a hill, shining the light of Christ in the darkness of the world.

‘For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.’
Ephesians 5:8

Let us all live as the light that the Lord calls us into and let his light shine into this Halloween season together.

-Kenneth Sam