Condo Pitches & Fall Festivals
Posted by Chris
"Mom, can we go to Billy's church on Halloween? They're giving away lots of candy and are having games."
"Sorry, son. They're just trying to sell us something. We're just going to go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood where it's safe."
I was driving home from work yesterday, passing church after church who were advertising their Halloween Parties, I mean, "Fall Festivals." Andrea & I had the conversation about what our October 31st activities are going to include, and whether those plans included stopping at any of our local churches to take part. One is having a fairly large party, with games & the lot. Another is having a "trunk-or-treat" in their parking lot while showing "The Great Pumpkin" on a movie screen.
I honestly doubt we'll do either (we will likely travel to a friend's neighborhood to let the kids trick-or-treat). If we had to pick one, though, it would be the trunk-or-treat. Why? Because the kids are going to have to sit through a gospel presentation at the other church in order to take part in the fun/candy.
I got to thinking...
If we, as Christian parents, are turned off by the idea of making our kids sit through a 'pitch' in order to get their treats, how do non-Christians feel about all of it? Is some family having the same discussion we were having, trying to determine where the 'safest' place for their kids to celebrate Halloween is without having to subject them to undue sales situations.
I know that the 'sales pitch' idea isn't exactly true, but it feels like it. It feels like those offers you get in the mail for the "free vacation weekend" at the condo resort - the ones that you have to endure a sales pitch and pressure-packed calls in order to enjoy the perk.
It just doesn't sit well with me. It's up there with the whole 'hell house' idea - make a 'pseudo-haunted house,' throw in some scenes of a group of teenagers drinking & driving (and dying some incredibly bloody death), or a girl getting an abortion, and then present the gospel after everyone is shocked enough.
If we're going to offer a safe Halloween alternative, so be it. Let's just do it right. Let's provide a safe atmosphere for kids & families to have a great time without feeling like they're being manipulated. Call it what you want - let's just try being Jesus to a lost world in the process. Somehow I can't see him standing in the last room of a hell house or trying to keep a group of costumed children quiet while he tells them about his story - all the while dangling a bag of candy over to the side for those who listen well.
"Sorry, son. They're just trying to sell us something. We're just going to go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood where it's safe."
I was driving home from work yesterday, passing church after church who were advertising their Halloween Parties, I mean, "Fall Festivals." Andrea & I had the conversation about what our October 31st activities are going to include, and whether those plans included stopping at any of our local churches to take part. One is having a fairly large party, with games & the lot. Another is having a "trunk-or-treat" in their parking lot while showing "The Great Pumpkin" on a movie screen.
I honestly doubt we'll do either (we will likely travel to a friend's neighborhood to let the kids trick-or-treat). If we had to pick one, though, it would be the trunk-or-treat. Why? Because the kids are going to have to sit through a gospel presentation at the other church in order to take part in the fun/candy.
I got to thinking...
If we, as Christian parents, are turned off by the idea of making our kids sit through a 'pitch' in order to get their treats, how do non-Christians feel about all of it? Is some family having the same discussion we were having, trying to determine where the 'safest' place for their kids to celebrate Halloween is without having to subject them to undue sales situations.
I know that the 'sales pitch' idea isn't exactly true, but it feels like it. It feels like those offers you get in the mail for the "free vacation weekend" at the condo resort - the ones that you have to endure a sales pitch and pressure-packed calls in order to enjoy the perk.
It just doesn't sit well with me. It's up there with the whole 'hell house' idea - make a 'pseudo-haunted house,' throw in some scenes of a group of teenagers drinking & driving (and dying some incredibly bloody death), or a girl getting an abortion, and then present the gospel after everyone is shocked enough.
If we're going to offer a safe Halloween alternative, so be it. Let's just do it right. Let's provide a safe atmosphere for kids & families to have a great time without feeling like they're being manipulated. Call it what you want - let's just try being Jesus to a lost world in the process. Somehow I can't see him standing in the last room of a hell house or trying to keep a group of costumed children quiet while he tells them about his story - all the while dangling a bag of candy over to the side for those who listen well.
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