READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 8

Halloween can be a controversial time for Christians. While some view Halloween as a celebration of all that is dark, demonic, and evil, others view it as a community-building opportunity to share Jesus with their neighbors. Both sides have valid points, so which one should we pick?

The origin of Halloween is definitely worrisome. It was a pagan holiday, believed to be a day when spirits came to earth to wreak havoc. To avoid being haunted, people would disguise themselves so that the spirits wouldn’t recognize them. Halloween has long been linked with witchcraft, evil spirits, and death, so naturally some Christians feel we should avoid it.

Other Christians, however, view modern-day Halloween as so far distanced from its pagan roots that it has turned into a harmless night of fun and fellowship. They note that many Christmas and Easter traditions have pagan roots too, but Christians now use these celebrations to glorify God. “So,” they say, “Why not do the same with Halloween?” They may use Halloween as a way to connect with neighbors they rarely see and even tell them about Jesus.

So who is right? Well, probably both. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul is discussing a very controversial issue in the Corinthian church: is it okay to eat meat that has been sacrificed to an idol? Paul says, if I may paraphrase, “Well, it’s up to you. You are free in Christ, so idols hold no power over you. Eat if you want, but watch those around you. Are you causing a fellow believer to stumble? If so, then don’t eat. It’s not worth it.”

Paul’s wise advice can be applied to many controversies that are not central to our faith. If your family celebrates Halloween, take full advantage of the opportunity to reach out to others, but don’t make other Christians feel bad because they choose not to recognize this holiday. And if your family doesn’t celebrate Halloween, don’t look down on those who do. The most important thing is to love one another in Christ even when we disagree. • Taylor Eising

• Do you celebrate Halloween? Why or why not?

• As Christians, how can we demonstrate love to one another even while discussing topics we disagree on?

• Why is it important to know your reasons for practicing the things you do (or don’t do)?

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 28:18-20; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:6-8; 1 PETER 3:15-16

Sharing our faith can be exciting, especially if someone is eager to listen. How can we do this well? Here are some tips:

First: Be prepared. The Bible tells us we should always be ready to explain our hope (1 Peter 3:15). If we want to bear witness to the good news of Jesus, it’s important to be investing in our relationship with God and continually deepening our understanding of our faith. Regularly reading God’s Word, talking with Him in prayer, and gathering with His people will help us be ready to share how the death and resurrection of Jesus saved us from our sins.

Second: Choose the right timing. For example, if a friend is going through something really difficult, we might think that telling them about Jesus is the best way to help. That might be true, but we might also need to just be a friend, letting them talk about what they’re going through and really listening to them. If we try to push our faith on others, or if we try to talk about spiritual things in the wrong timing, they may walk away feeling more alone than ever.

Third: Watch your language—and your attitude. If we grew up around Christians, we might be familiar with words and concepts that others won’t understand right away. We might also assume that everyone knows certain things about God. It can be helpful to use simple language when sharing our faith, at least in the beginning. Maybe we start by asking the person we’re talking with what they have heard about God or how they feel about Him. It’s important to be patient and kind too, speaking “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). This can be difficult sometimes, but as we rest in Jesus’s love for us, He will help us have the same loving attitude toward others that He has toward us (John 15:5; Philippians 2:5).

Finally: Follow God’s lead and direction. Above all, when we’re sharing our faith, we should pray often. We can ask God about how we can invite others to know Him. And we can listen when He calls us to talk with someone, and when He calls us to wait. Remember, timing matters, and we can trust that God’s timing is just right. • Emily Acker

• Have you ever talked about your faith with someone who didn’t know Jesus? What was that like?

• Do you feel prepared to tell others about Jesus and invite them to follow Him if you get the chance? What steps could you take to become more prepared?

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14 (NIV)

READ: DEUTERONOMY 31:6-8; PSALM 23; MATTHEW 28:20; JOHN 8:12

My father wheeled me out of the outpatient infusion center where I had just received my first iron infusion. I watched the bare walls and bleached floor pass by in a watery blur. By the time my dad pushed me into the box-shaped hospital entryway, now empty of people, I was crying and holding my purse like a teddy bear.

Parking my wheelchair near the sliding doors, my dad paused. “Are you okay?”

I didn’t know what to say. Did he want me to explain how I had gone to bed the night before, afraid I wouldn’t wake up? Or should I say that I was terrified of facing a chronic health issue?

Honestly, I didn’t have an answer. I just nodded.

When my dad left to get the car, I felt the emptiness encircle me. The volunteers were gone, and chairs stacked away. The lights were off, but brilliant sunlight shone into the room, contrasting the shadows of the trees.

Why do I have to experience this, Lord?

Will I ever get better?

I have learned that Jesus is present in those empty moments, like the vacant room of a hospital where I sat alone in a wheelchair, sobbing with fear as the daylight streamed in.

No, not truly alone, for Jesus was there. The light and beauty testified to my Savior’s love and goodness. I just couldn’t see it at the time.

If I could go back to that day, as that girl sat waiting for her father, I would push her out into the world underneath the shifting shadows of the trees and say, “Our lives are like those shadows. They are punctured with light. All we must do is look for the Light. He is always there.”

“But what if I don’t get better?” she would ask, her face moist from weeping.

“No matter what, He will be there.” • Sophia Bricker

• Have you ever faced an illness or a situation in life that really scared you? Were there any ways you experienced Jesus’s nearness in that time?

• Walking through hardships is not something any of us want. Yet, how can knowing that the Lord is with us, by our side even in the darkest valleys, give us hope and strength?

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)