Unhappy Halloween

This isn't a very popular stance these days, but I hate Halloween. No, not because it is so commercialized (I actually like the candy). And no, not because it involves wearing costumes (I enjoy seeing my kids dress up and play pretend). I don't like Halloween, because the older I get, the more I realize that Halloween is a celebration of evil.

Our culture doesn't make sense to me on this day. We live in a day and age where we have seen the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the awfulness of war, genocide, picketing groups filled with hate, and more. Isn't this enough evil? So why do we need to celebrate it?

Why do we need to decorate our yards with stereotypical witches (I'm not talking about the witches of Wicca) who want to create potions designed to hurt children? Why do we dress up as vampires who, according to mythical legend, are the undead who "live" on human blood? Why do we enjoy the idea of dead mummies coming after people to take them to the grave with them? Why are we fascinated with fear?

I don't get it. Fear and death are the tools of Satan. Maybe our culture celebrates these things because some of them are his children? (Boy, I don't like writing that or thinking it, but what if it's true?)

Thankfully Jesus overcame both fear and death through the cross. So as for me and my house, we are going to celebrate life in Christ on this day. So we'll have fun dressing up (tonight will find a bunny, a princess, and a tiger in our house), we'll enjoy some candy, and we'll have fun as a family. But we will do it without taking pleasure in scaring others and celebrating evil.

What are your thoughts?

1 But now, this is what the LORD says?
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush [a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.