Every holiday marks an opportunity to live the mission of Jesus in the culture that surrounds us. Over the years, Halloween has been a holiday that has led to much confusion and controversy as to just what a Christian should do on October 31. The simplest answer to this quandary is to do what the Scriptures teach us to do every other day of the year. We must find the most strategic way to live the mission of Jesus inside of the context of the culture that surrounds us.

In the given context of Midlothian, there are typically 3 major possibilities for what you can do this coming Monday evening:

1. Find a church building that is hosting a “harvest party” that is safe for the whole family and devoid of any imagery and theme that could be considered dark.
2. Retreat within the confines of your home and turn off the porch light to indicate that your home is not a “candy friendly zone” for the kids that will be roaming the streets looking to trick or treat you.
3. Actively engage your neighbors in areas that have an abundance of trick or treating by handing out candy and possibly greeting the families on the streets around you with conversation and refreshments.

Clearly, I am in favor of the third option. I am in no way demeaning the first two options, given the right circumstances. With the current climate in Chesterfield County, and especially the neighborhood that I personally inhabit, there isn’t a better day of the year for me to actively engage my neighborhood in order to build relationships that lead to redemption in Jesus. It is simply the most strategic choice that I have. Last year, I was shocked to witness a few hundred children descend upon my neighborhood from all over Chesterfield County roaming the streets for candy. Also, the residents of my neighborhood not only gave out candy, but designed elaborate front yard themes and met the treaters at the end of their driveways, putting on what can only be described as a community block party.

Because of THEIR efforts, I was given the opportunity to begin to build relationships with my neighbors and community members. Because of this experience, and many similar stories from other Villagers, we are actively encouraging all of you to gauge the temperature of your community and attempt to leverage this holiday to build relationships by intentionally living missionaly in your neighborhoods.

Yes, this will require a bit of strategy on your part as well as the possibility of some work. But the mission of Jesus calls us to live intentionally, forming strategy in order to reach those in the community around us. I also realize that for some of you, this simply isn’t strategic. There are a few neighborhoods that practice street wide blackouts of front porch lights in order to discourage trick or treating, and it typically works. There is also the possibility that you live in a neighborhood that simply doesn’t have any small children or an apartment complex that is gated or any number of possible reasons this won’t work for you.

This is why your community group can serve as a valuable resource. This week as you gather together, intentionally strategize with each other as to how to best to live the mission this Monday evening. Maybe you can gather as a group at the home of a group member who lives in a neighborhood that will be beaming with activity this Monday night to give out even more candy and invite cards (hint, hint) than could have been passed out before. We live in community to help each other live on mission.

Remember:

• You are redeemed in order take redemption to others.
• You are not alone. Gain strength from the community in the Village to step outside of your comfort zone and engage your neighborhood.
• You don’t have to preach. Just pass out candy with a smile, engage people in conversation, and love them with the hope of building relationships that will lead to redemption.
• You can pick up some invite cards this Sunday morning at our Worship Experience @ Tomahawk Creek Middle School @ 10 am. There is always the possibility that conversations will develop in such a way that you can hand a few invite cards out.  Maybe you will even muster up the courage to invite some friends to a worship experience with you.
• Be creative. It may be a children’s holiday, but their parents will be with them. Maybe you should set a grill up and cook some hot dogs, or build a campfire for some s’mores.
• Live the mission of Jesus in worship of Jesus!