Those Goblins Need Jesus Too

This is a post from a number of years ago that I thought had good relevance for today. Looking forward to reaching into our communities tonight!

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Today is Halloween.  This is one of those days that bring up so many different thoughts and emotions.  I grieve that evil is celebrated and at the same time taken so lightly.  Evil originates from rebellion and pride against my Lord and Savior and it grieves my heart. However it is treated so lightly at times that even those that follow Christ can easily get caught up into the trappings and supposed “fun” of Halloween.

My thoughts also go a different direction on Halloween to all those children (goblins) that come to my door that need Jesus.  We have been given the light and the Gospel that counters evil and doesn’t have to be afraid of evil.  Read Matt 9:11-13, 36-37 with Halloween in mind and the kids and families that will be walking around.

Matt 9:11-13, 36-37         And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”  36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

I firmly believe tonight is a night of opportunity!  Many of those kids that come to the door are like those tax collectors, sinners, and sick that Jesus was teaching His disciples to care deeply about.  Will we take the time to care about them?  The world is coming to our door!  How will we use a night Satan intends for evil for the Kingdom?  How will we work to reap a harvest?  One way of doing this is to be at our doors as lights to every goblin that comes up our walk. A number of other events might be appealing, but there is no other night that your neighbors come to your door and that we have the same opportunity to build our relationships in our neighborhoods. These are our own “Jerusalems” and the place we are to start our outreach. At Village, we provide tracts to families and encourage them to give them out with their candy.  What a great opportunity to get the Gospel into homes!  It doesn’t have to be intimidating!  Just keep a few things in mind to be a great witness.  None of them are hard, but they make a huge difference.

1. Mission rather than Interruption – View each knock and ring of the doorbell as your mission rather than an interruption.  If we see each child as an interruption, we will be rushed and grouchy at the door.  If we see each one as a divine appointment, we are in the right state of mind to do work for the Kingdom.
2. Smile and Engage – Smile and greet each child warmly.  Kids can sense a mile away if you are hating this or enjoying them.  Comment on their costumes and compliment them.  I have seen this simple engagement get the kids excited about reading what is on that piece of paper I put in their sack!
3. Say hello to parents – Most kids have parents waiting for them at the sidewalk.  Take the opportunity to wave and say hello.  A warm, “Have a good night,” at the end makes a huge difference with these parents.  You can say, “We’re the Johnsons (insert your last name here, otherwise it’s a little weird!), glad you could stop by.” Little things like this have allowed me further conversations with some of our neighbors in the weeks that follow and at Christmas when we are putting up lights.  Can you have good relationships with your neighbors without doing this?  Absolutely,  however, why not take advantage of an opportunity where they are seeking you out? This also applies to taking your kiddos out trick or treating. It’s a great opportunity to engage with words like, “Thank you for helping to make tonight fun for our kids.” or “We love ___________ about your house.”  And teaching the kids to give an enthusiastic “Thank you” will go far! Make connections. Don’t be “that” (negative) house in your neighborhood, but be “THAT” (wow to the positive) house.
4. Good tracts.  Make sure you have read your tracts and checked them out when purchasing.  They not only need to catch the kids interest, but they must share the need for Jesus Christ as the answer for our sin, that He died on the cross and rose again, and that we must believe on Him for eternal life.  Also, know what to say when they ask what this is.  A great answer is something like, “This is the most important news (or story) that I have ever heard and I wanted to share it with you,” or “This is a story about a man named Jesus that I know.”  Every year I have kids that bring friends back to get more of those “stories” I gave out.  We also get several different tracts so that each child in a group gets a different one and a home will get a variety of tracts that share the Gospel in different ways.
5. Good candy!  Don’t skimp on the candy if you are sharing the gospel just like we shouldn’t skimp on a tip in a restaurant as believers (servers know who the Christians are!)  If you have small candy that comes in many of the grab bags at Costco, give several. We have a variety of kinds and I often use it as conversation to ask what they like.  Our God is a generous God and He wants us to show His generosity to others.
6. Pray, pray pray.  Pray before the goblins/kids start coming.  Pray that they will be receptive to the Gospel and the tract will make a difference.  Also pray that Satan’s influence on this night would be countered by the light of the Gospel.  Pray for their safety as they leave.  Make no mistake, spiritual warfare is happening tonight.

Eph 6:12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Have any more great ideas for reaching our neighborhoods especially tonight?  Post them in the comments below!

Let’s be witnesses of the light tonight.  Those goblins need Jesus too!