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Musings of a Transgendered Christian
Alright: I’m just going to put it out there – I’m transgender. Now, if you’d like to stop reading, I’m cool with that.
I normally use this blog for Bible Commentary so I realize this is a bit off-color.
As a Christian, I have found this part of my life to be very difficult. I’ve struggled for more than 20 years. It is EXTREMELY confusing to be transgender *and* a Christian. I have resolved to say God made me who I am and that includes my gender identity.
This is what I want people to know:
(1) I’m still a Christian:
I will bless the LORD all the days of my life. I will follow Christ and worship Him. I will preach His gospel and show His love.
(2) I’m still the same person:
I get asked a lot of questions like, “Do you still like guys?” and “What made you change from female to male?!” From my perspective, I’ve always been gender-male and I’ve been trying to fulfill this female role that I don’t fit into. Yes, I still like guys and my sexual orientation hasn’t changed. I still like videogames and watching comedies and going to the occasional play. I read the same books and talk to the same people, go to the same job, and drive my favorite car every morning.
(3) I want people to call me by my name:
I’ve been told, “It’s against my religious beliefs to use masculine pronouns…” Calling me by name (Tobias) is a sign of respect. Esspecially since it will soon be my legal name! I’m not asking you to go against your religion; I’m asking you to LOVE and RESPECT me as a person. Using Christ as a reason not to love someone seems a bit hypocritical.
(4) I’m not having a mental break down:
Okay, so when you cut your super-long hair and change the way you look, people assume you’re losing your mind. That’s not the case. Transgenderism is natural and biological. I haven’t lost my mind, I’ve just decided I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not any longer: pretending was making me crazy, not transitioning.
(5) I’m HUMAN:
Gosh-darnnit! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been made to feel less than human! It feels like some of my friends would be happier if I was a dangerously-depressed (or even dead) woman instead of a happy, healthy man. That might seem harsh, but that’s really how it feels. “We’re happy if you want to deal with your depression but not if it means you transition…” well, what do you want: Do you want me to be healthy or dead? I’m confused and a little sad to realize some friends feel this way.
(6) I’m not contagious:
I was born transgender. I’m not an infectious disease that your children might catch. If you don’t want to be around me because of your beliefs, that’s fine, but you’re not suddenly going to suddenly become transgender by associating with me. And I should hope that you would want your child to be able to talk about issues of homosexuality or transgenderism with you, lest they feel the need to hide their own identity from you and become ashamed and suicidal.
There is so much more that needs to be said but I think it’s best for another post. Perhaps I will start a new blog about my journey. Feel free to contact me.
Calling, Commands and Gifts
“What do you think your calling is?”
I think I’ve heard this question a thousand times. It seems like a simple question that demands a single answer. Every Christian seems to believe that God is calling them to do something and there is a long mystical journey to find out what it is. I will probably get all sorts of hate mail for saying this: God is probably not calling you.
See, people take stories from Jeremiah or David or Samuel’s life and apply it to their own. However, we must realize that those callings were one-in-a-million. Let’s look at a couple of things:
- Commands are not the same thing as calling
- Very few people in the Bible were actually ‘called’ to do anything.
Think about this: Moses was called. The people of Israel were commanded. Out of those one million people, how many were called? Just Moses. Just one. How many people do you think wanted to be King David? But there was one called to lead and the others commanded to serve. Everyone wants to believe that they are special; called by God to do something different than the rest of everyone else – and that is simply not the case. We are commanded to love God and love others: to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Paul said that each of us has spiritual gifts. He believed that each of us had talents that, together, could spread the gospel of the Christ. However, in Romans 12 Paul is not stating that there are only these seven gifts (prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy). It is quite aggravating to me when people use these scriptures and turn it into something it’s not. Instead, Paul is pointing out that we each have been given talents that can bring fame and glory to our God. For example, I like teaching and I like serving: I know how to get the job done when it needs to be done and I know how to convey messages and concepts that other people might find difficult to understand. Yet, can another person use their gift as an artist to further the Gospel as well as a teacher? I would think so. Can a nurse be as affective a minister as a pastor in the pulpit? Yes!
So then, what do you think is the best way for you to love God, love others, and spread the Gospel? Ministry? Counseling? Teaching? Serving? Maybe you’re a disciple or perhaps a disciple maker?
Micah 6:8 says “…And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
Jesus extends this command to us: “’you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first commandment. And the second is like it: ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
This focus on finding one’s calling stems from a focus on “me” instead of a focus on God and others. Maybe each of us is called only to do that which the Lord requires. Why would that be so bad? Perhaps we should be less focused on what God might be calling ‘me’ to do, and simply focus on doing the things that He has already commanded us to do.
The Vending Church
After a three-ish year intermission, my husband and I have decided to head back to church. And, while you may not agree with our decision to forego church services, it has afforded us the opportunity to discuss what we believe and what kind of Christians we want to be (as individuals and as a married couple). Looking at the church from the outside while still maintaining our faith (as opposed to being a non-believer outside of the church) has given us a perspective that I believe we are now ready to share.
- Other Christians want you to serve God the same way they serve God
When our dear fellow Christians found out that we had decided not to attend church, we received various responses: all of them negative and most of them condemning our decision. We have friends who don’t visit us because they believe we are “living a life of sin” by not going to church. One person even suggested that our salvation would be affected by not “meeting with others to fellowship.” Rewind, we understand that fellowship is important and we still meet with Christians on a regular basis: just not at church.Even a handful of times, people tried to convince us that their church was worth going to and we should just “give it a try…” While we never said anyone’s church was less superior to another people seemed to think that we were making such a statement.
Only a few respected our choice: these are the ones tend to be those we commune with regularly.
- Christians assume that if you’re not going to church, you’re “not being fed”
Let’s pull out all the stops right now: false! I get way more out of talking with friends, defending my faith at work, or talking through Biblical theologies with my husband. We have in-depth discussions about faith: what certain scriptures mean and how we can incorporate certain Biblical standards into our life today within our current societal structure. - Churches want your money
This is a very unpopular belief and I know people will be offended: tithing is not a New Testament principle. As a minister, I understand that money is a necessary part of church, but I despise it. I don’t like the political church structure; I don’t like where the money goes; I don’t like that pastors tell the poorest people in their congregations that God commands them to give 10% of what they have to the church so that the pastor can buy an extra Starbucks or an extravagant house.There are a lot of Old Testament principles that we have dropped because we are under a new covenant, why has no one questioned why we kept this one about money?
- Church worship services have become very “Me-Centric”
One thing I have noticed in our return to church culture is that people (in and out of church) seem to be obsessed with themselves. Now, this may not be a fair assessment of every church.There are three types of “worship” music:
(1)Worship – an expression of adoration for who God is
(2) Praise – an expression of gratitude/thankfulness for what God has done
(3) Prayer – a request made for what God can do or what God can giveAll these types of songs are Biblical and should be expressed. However, I have noticed a trend toward prayer songs: “God, touch this place”, “father, send your healing”, “Jesus, let us know that you are near”.
I am extremely cautious of what I say to God, and thus, have noticed less churches worshipping God because he is God but asking Him to do something for them. I believe it stems from the church telling every person that they must have a personal relationship with Jesus and therefore they personalize their worship services so you get something out of it.
This brings me to my last point;
- We treat God as a vending machine
Someone once told me that if they didn’t feel anything at church that they wouldn’t believe. That simply makes my heart curdle. I would never abandon my faith based on what I feel or don’t feel at church.Here’s the problem: we have told people that if they pray, then God will answer. If they draw near to God, God will meet with them; if they follow Jesus with all of their heart then goodness and love will follow them for all the days of their lives. I believe the Bible does say these things. What we don’t tell people is that even if God doesn’t answer, and even if he doesn’t meet with them and even if bad things happen to you – He is still God. How dare we treat God like He should give something to us! He owes us nothing and we owe him everything.
Things My Family May Never Understand
The decision to become a Christian seemed natural to me: I had always believed in the existence of God (even though people told me there was not god). I can remember, at six-years-old, standing on the jungle gym wondering why God made me exist; why I could see though my eyes and thinking how small I was and how big God must be. My mother even told me that God hates it when you lie and He always knows when you do. So, as a teenager it seemed natural to make that step – to become a Christian, be baptized and follow Jesus fully.
I had thought that this change would change my personal life but I had no idea how it would change my family’s perception of me. There are a few things I really want my parents and siblings to understand:
- Why my faith is so important to me
During the most crucial points in my life, a certain Christian family made sure that my sisters and I were at church with them. And while I may not have accepted Christ until I was a teenager, a foundation of faith was built. Now, I understood that God existed before being told and to this day I can see that He exists just by every miracle of the universe. My jump from agnosticism to Christianity is based in faith: I can prove, scientifically, that God exists; however, my belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ is my chosen religion and I accept that I must believe it on faith.My faith in Christ shows me how I follow Jesus daily and build up the fruits of the spirit in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. My faith tells me how to love and respect my husband; how to love and raise my family; how to love and serve others; and how to love and worship God. I want my actions in my faith be proof of Jesus for others and to glorify the Father.Jesus is my life – without him I am and have nothing. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world but lose his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
- Why I chose to be a minister
I know that ministry wasn’t my parent’s preferred career path for me. I could have gone to a university and become anything I wanted, so why ministry? I wanted to be a minister: I love to help people. Even before I became a Christian, I always thought people ignored the pains of the rest of world. It seemed that no one else seemed to share my views or compassions but as I delved into the Bible I learned that Jesus cared for the sick, widowed, orphaned, poor, the least of these. I knew that ministers didn’t make a lot of money and that some churches didn’t allow women to be pastors at all but a degree in ministry would help me learn more about the God I loved and propel me into a world of helping people.In Bible school I wondered if I was making the right choice. I could become a nurse or doctor and still help people, right? Then, one day there was a fourteen-year-old kid standing outside the church offices. I asked him if he was looking for someone and he said, “I need to talk to someone. I messed up and I want to fix my life.” I couldn’t believe my ears. I called the youth pastor who took the young man to lunch and talked with him about his lifestyle and this boy became a Christian. He then told his friends about a church that was helping him turn his life around and brought them to church with him. Soon, our church was a popular place for kids with less-than-perfect lifestyles wanting to turn their lives around. It wasn’t easy and some of the kids went back to their life or joined gangs or even went to jail but the ones that remained graduated high school and have maintained their faith. It was that fourteen-year-old boy that made me remember why I wanted to be a minister.A pastor taught me that a good minister doesn’t just fulfill their job description but does whatever needs to be done for the cause of Christ’s ministry.
- How hard it is to be mocked and judged by my own family
It is hard not to be taken seriously by my own family. I seldom solicit the advice of my mother because we have such radically different views. My parents think I’m brilliantly smart and have accepted my faith as part of my life but don’t think it should dictate how I live. I am treated by my siblings as though this faith is a delusion I will eventually grow out of: I truly believe and yet I’m not taken seriously. Some of my family have tried to “tell me how it is” or said “I’m not falling for any of this Jesus Crap”.Some of my siblings have said they believe I am judging their lifestyles yet they’ve never asked my opinion. Almost every one of them has called me “close-minded” when my views have not been heard. They feel put down by my faith when I have never put them down. They’re vocal about their beliefs to me but promptly say that I am not allowed to be vocal about my faith or “try to change them”.Normally I would have no problem with these dispositions (say, at work or with friends), but when having faith means I have to walk on eggshells around my family to try not to offend anyone… It becomes so difficult. I love them unconditionally: regardless of their faith or lifestyles. And yet, somehow, no matter what I don’t do, they’re offended.
I write this muse in hopes that one day I hope my family will really, truly understand the salvation of Jesus Christ and follow him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Pharaoh’s Big Problem
Recently, I heard someone questioning whether Pharaoh had free will since the scripture says “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart”.
Let’s talk about the background:
The Egyptians had all these different gods but some of the major ones were the god of frogs, the god of locust, the sun god, etc. With each plague, our God (YHVH) was showing his power (and sort of even mocking) each of the Egyptian gods. Imagine if you worshipped frogs and then all of the sudden, they are in your beds and ovens and you’re stepping on them and they have become the bane of your existence.
Pharaoh himself believed that he was a god: the sun god. We see YHWH unleash a plague of darkness onto Egypt, and thus rendering Pharaoh’s ‘power’ useless: Our God proved his mighty power over Pharaoh.
Regarding Pharaohs hardened heart:
Before the plagues began, God tells Moses why He is going to harden Pharaoh’s heart; “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt… And the Egyptians shall know that I am YHWH when I stretch out my hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them…” (Exodus 7:3, 7:5)
God is “…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). This has always been true, even in the Old Testament. Remember, Nineveh was going to be the next Sodom and Gomorrah but God didn’t want to destroy them because there were “120,000 persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left…” (Jonah 4:11).
Consider this: do you think anyone in Egypt turned from their Egyptian religion to the one true God of the Hebrews because they saw His power and might displayed over and over? Even Pharaoh asked Moses to pray to YHWH to remove the anguish of the land. Our God proved his existence and power over any of the Egyptian gods and I think that people in Egypt may have feared/revered YHWH. But, if Pharaoh had let the Hebrews go after the first plague then the people of Egypt would not have had the opportunity to make a decision about YHWH.
Now, did this mean that Pharaoh had no choice in the matter and hence overriding Pharaoh’s free will? Of course not: Pharaoh had a choice to harden his heart and God knew that he would do it: Pharaoh’s attitude toward God hardened is his own heart. The Power of the plagues would make Pharaoh plead for mercy and then make him mad that YHWH had answered his plea. For example; if a person of another religion started performing miracles would you change your faith? I wouldn’t: instead, I would find my heart hardened before considering that another god had anything to do with the miracles performed (perhaps rendered a coincidence in my mind). So, God’s own power intrinsically made Pharaoh’s heart hard.
1 Samuel 6:6 says, “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts…” It is clear that Samuel believed that the Egyptians and Pharaoh had a choice to harden their own hearts and did so willingly.
Also, I’d like to point out that even if I’m wrong (which is a possibility) and God actively hardened Pharaoh’s heart (and thus stripping him of his free will), it would not have been wrong for Him to do so: because He is God.
Where Does Meaning Come From?
Recently, I have felt the futility of life and it is somewhat depressing. No matter what we do, the end is the same. Death will come to every person regardless of whether you are wealthy or poor; obedient or strong-willed; wise or foolish; hard-working or lazy; good or evil; broken or healed. This thought makes me feel purposeless; but even if I had a purpose it would just be futile. I know that the life I live now affects my life-after-death but my day-to-day activities seem like a futile waste to age slowly toward my eventual end.
With this perspective, I read Solomon’s words so much differently:
Everything is meaningless…completely meaningless!
What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.
Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.
I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless!
What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.
Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny. (Ecclesiastes 1:1, 1:3-4, 1:8-9, 2:18-19, 3:9-13, 3:22, 6:10 NLT)
I take comfort in knowing that God knows what He is doing. I can enjoy my life (which he has given me) regardless of how short or how long it may be. The first purpose of my life is to live, because once I’m gone, there’s no coming back to finish the tasks God has set for me.
Provoked to Human Anger
I’ve heard this more regularly as I talk with people: “I know I have no right, but I’m angry at God…”
Those same people believe that if you pray for a paraplegic they can walk, but it’s their own faith (or lack thereof) that keeps them from doing it. No one wants to believe that God won’t do something if he has the power to. The logical conclusion is that if God is all-powerful and all loving, that he would do the things that help those he loves and would make their lives better.
Now, I want to be honest with people without hurting their feelings: It is perfectly okay to feel depressed; it’s okay to be tired; it’s okay to be frustrated or apathetic and I think it’s natural for humans to feel this way (and I often do). But anger toward God is simply misplaced frustration at a situation in which one believes God should fulfill their expectations and doesn’t. God has the power to snuff out your life at any time and it would be totally within his right to do so. He has the power to give, not give, and take away, and all are within His right – because He is God.
Consider what expectations you are wanting God to fulfill (and really think about it: be self-aware and listen to your own thoughts).
To me, it seems that people who feel this way may think they are entitled to something that God is not giving them. However, God’s omnipotence (being all-powerful) does not mean He must do all the things that he is able to do.
Maybe it’s because this feeling (being angry at God) escapes me, but I think it’s wrong to feel this way. I have had my own problems, and yet, the thought to blame God or to be angry at God has not ever crossed my mind. How can I be angry at God for man’s problem(s)? Because He’s chosen, by His divine right, not to intervene? As a human, as one of God’s creations, I have no right to be angry at Him. I have no claim to the blessings that I think I deserve (or the one’s I’ve received and He chooses to take away).
If anyone has a right to be angry, it’s God. While man is disobedient, rejecting, stubborn, hateful, strong-willed; He remains loving, merciful, kind, good, righteous, just and holy. The Bible says all of His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30). How can we, mere humans, argue with His perfect way?
The bottom line? Being angry at God is unwillingness to accept His perfect will.
Be encouraged. Christ said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefor; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)
He says. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
He knew we would have troubles in this life and “…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Baptized: to be or not to be
I want to preface this particular entry by saying, this is my OPINION. I know others will have a different view: I will try to back mine up with scripture.
Should I be baptized?
A whole bunch of people in the Bible were baptized. Imagine baptizing 3,000 people upon their confession of faith (Acts 2:41). Or, baptizing a whole city (Acts 18:8). It is clear that the disciples thought it was important enough to do and there are many scriptures supporting the act of baptism and plenty of examples people being baptized.
Some would argue that baptism is required for salvation. Peter tells a crowd “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Acts 2:38). And Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16).
Personally, I think that the act of baptism was always coupled with one’s conversion as it was a symbol of their commitment to their new faith. Notice that Jesus said “but whoever does not believe will be condemned…” It is not the act of baptism that saves you but the act of belief. If you do not believe but are baptized, what good is that?
Scripture says that wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). But if you confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10). It also says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).
So, if you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you are a Christian. At this point you might be asking yourself, “Well, if it’s not required, why should I do it?”
Firstly, as stated above, Jesus said we should and I think that’s the most compelling reason of all.
Secondly, being baptized is a symbol, to you, your family and God, of your commitment or conversion to the faith (kind of like a wedding ring is a symbol of your marriage. You’re still married, regardless of whether you wear the symbolic ring or not). I always suggest that new converts get baptized.
Should my children be baptized?
I have a personal qualm with baptizing infants or young children. Singing “Jesus loves me this I know” is not a confession of faith. When the subject comes up, we talk about commitment and what commitment means (“when you say you’re going to do something, you do it even if you don’t want to or gets difficult”). We talk about how baptism symbolizes a life-long commitment to Jesus (saying you want to be a Christian forever). Ultimately, you will have to decide when your child is ready to be baptized. Would you rush your child into marriage (also a life-long commitment)?
However, Jesus did say, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” So, if your kid is asking about baptism and thinks that they can keep their commitment to Jesus, then I can’t see a reason not to.
If you’ve decided to let your child be baptized, please please tell them what to expect. You can’t imagine how many parents send their kid up to be baptized and then the kid acts as if the pastor is trying to drown them!
What kind of baptism is right?
There are a few different forms of baptism:
1. Baptism by immersion: this is when a person if fully submersed in water upon their confession of faith.
2. Baptism by sprinkling: this is when the minister is sprinkles water on the person and is often used in
infant baptisms.
3. Baptism by pouring: this is when the minister pours water on the person and is also used in infant
baptisms.
I believe that the proper way to baptize someone is by immersion. The Greek word for ‘baptized’ in Mark 16:16 is ‘baptizo’ which means “to immerse, to submerge”. Also, there are a couple scriptures that liken baptism to being buried with Christ and raised with him (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12) which make me think immersion.
Additionally, we see this story in Acts 8 where Philip is preaching to a eunuch and the eunuch converts. “As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). I am sort of wondering, “If all Philip had to do was sprinkle or pour water on the eunuch, why didn’t they just baptize him with the eunuch’s drinking water?” This really points to immersion as the way Philip baptized the eunuch.
However, I do think that there are exceptions and that the different forms of baptism are simply the minister’s preference.
Violence, Children, and Jesus
No one want’s violent acts to be committed but it seems so much worse when those acts are committed against children. Children are innocent. Even inmates know this to be true. So, what about their justice? Does God care about children? Of course he does. And I believe that those who commit these evil crimes will see God’s vengeance.
Let’s take a look at the book of Jonah: Nineveh was an evil city that displeased the LORD. God was going to destroy this city just like Sodom and Gomorrah. So, God told Jonah to go and preach to the people Nineveh and tell them what was right and wrong. He didn’t want to do it because he was prejudice.
Instead of obeying, Jonah runs from God and then gets swallowed by a big fish and finally agrees to preach to Nineveh. When the people of Nineveh heard God’s message they turned from their ways and followed the LORD. The Bible says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring the destruction he had threatened.” (Jonah 3:10 NIV1984)
Well, this really makes Jonah mad because he thinks that Nineveh deserves destruction despite their conversion. He goes out of the city to watch the city’s inevitable elimination but it never comes. He tells God that he’s angry and God tells him “… Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:11 NIV1984) This is God’s reason for not destroying the city.
Now, which people do we know that cannot tell their right hand from their left? Young Children. This was a great big city that had 120,000 children! God cares about these children and does not want to destroy the city because of them.
Also, Jesus talked about children quite often and how we should be like them. He also said, “…if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6 NIV1984)
Ouch.
We know that God has angels looking after them and see the Father continually; “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)
God also commanded the people not to take advantage of children. He hears they’re cry… “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.” (Exodus 22:22-23 NIV1984)
And He will crush their oppressor! “He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.” (Psalm 72:4 NIV1984)
Halloween: A little fact, a little not
All Hallows Day was once celebrated by ancient Celtics. It was the celebration of the end of the harvest season (which, I’m sure, was extremely hard work) and stocking up for the winter. It was called Samhain. However, they believed that on the evening between the October 31st and November 1st, dead souls would rise up and destroy any of the crops that had not been harvested or inhabit unsuspecting bodies. So, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to scare away the ghosts/spirits.
In the eight century, Pope Gregory III wanted to institute a day in which saints and martyrs were celebrated. He chose November 1st as “All Saints Day” and November 2nd as “The Day of the Dead” (convenient right?).
By this time, it was widely believed among Catholics that the dead did not go to heaven or hell but were stuck in a “purgatory” or “limbo” and they’re salvation was not secured. Additionally, it was believed that prayer could influence God’s decision on the eternal outcome of those souls. Participators of the November Holidays would go door-to-door to request cakes/treats in exchange for praying for the household’s dead relatives.
So, should we participate? It is clear that God does not like the occult (Exodus 22:18, Deuteronomy 18:10-12); nor do I agree with old Catholic traditions. However, Halloween is now an American cultural tradition. I would strongly discourage dressing up as ghosts, witches, demons etc. as it directly emulates the thing that God says is detestable: but I would allow my children to participate dressed as a princess or Spiderman. Additionally, I discourage children from walking door-to-door to collect candy from strangers (why do we tell them not to take candy from strangers all year round and then encourage it in the name of festivities) and in the dark, nonetheless! There are a lot of family-friendly church programs/alternatives for Halloween that are enjoyable for kids (and the kids still get candy).
As for Jack-O-Lanterns: This comes from an old story where a man named Jack tricked the devil into climbing a tree. While the devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross into the tree which made it impossible for the devil to come down. Jack destroyed the cross he’d carved after the devil promised that Jack would not go to hell. Instead, Jack wandered the earth with nothing but a candle in a turnip to light his paths (and hence, the devil tricked Jack just as Jack tricked him). When the tradition was brought to America, the turnip was exchanged for pumpkins.
Personally, I loved carving pumpkins during this season. We never carved them on Halloween nor did I know anything about Jack and his turnip. I think, if you want to participate in the holiday, why not. If you don’t, then don’t. I don’t think you’re sinning if you do and wont judge you if you have personal convictions about it.
Sources:
CARM.org
History.com
Noteworthy Humdrums 