Should Churches Host Trunk or Treats?

Churches host trunk or treat. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why there, this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter account and you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com will be taking your calls for the next 25 minutes or so will hop on the phone right now at 833. The core question that came in from one of her listeners earlier this week, and which they told me that the owner had passed away there in a city passed away quietly in his bed at when he was asleep and just wondering, would there be anything to fear.

I know that greater is he that his family but sometimes I get afraid of that Canada stuff.

Can you please answer my question and give me some peace of mind. Thank you so much hi Sandra, thank you for giving us a call.

I imagine that it would be troubling to me, and if this is something that that concerns you that you know causes fear and you just purchase this house and you're trying to get comfortable there. But you're wondering you know is is there something spooky. Waiting for me around the corner.

Well let me just tell you no, I don't think that you have anything to fear.

You did quote from the words of the apostle John. And in that that is a reality right as believers in Jesus Christ, the spirit of Almighty God lives in us we have any anything or anyone to be afraid of God is, who is for us who can be against us, but then with with regard to just you know will somebody had had died in in that house. You know, is there going to be a ghost or something like that.

I don't think you have anything to fear. Fear there.

Either the Bible is is pretty clear that after someone dies in particular for believers.

You know that the this the soul of the believer is immediately in the presence of the Lord. For those who die apart from Christ. I think they go to a place of judgment, and so I don't think that you know you just have all these disembodied spirits that are floating around hunting houses and that kind of the day. I do think that there there can be in spiritual warfare and demonic activity, but I again I don't think that you particularly have anything to fear because you belong to the Lord Jesus. And so I think you can sleep easy, quick question for you know some people in certain situations will have a house or business anointed with oil though how people you march around praying, do you feel like there can be in a physical place. There can be anything that we need to be aware of or concerned about when it comes to demonic influence and that's a great question.

It's a great follow-up question Bill. I remember us in your believer type but I was kind of into that sort of thing and I had a little vial of oil that I would take with me everywhere and I would just anoint the doorpost of the church tradition that I was in at that time. That was a big thing that now looking back on that. I think okay what was I doing I was doing like some spiritual Ghostbusters stuff that was it. I don't think I I needed to do any of those things, but can there be, you know evil demonic activity at attached to a particular thing or place of heard of of that sort of thing before, but again, I would just I would just stressed that for the believer when when it comes to spiritual warfare.

The evil one. We know that he's been conquered that we can be bold, not because of anything in us inherently, but because of the spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ who lives in us and so that that doesn't mean we we we don't take those kinds of things seriously just means that we don't have to be in terror.

And so we should be comforted by that.

What did you anoint with oil. Do you like when the going in and out burgers you like the door or whatever I said about everything that I have it mean if it back if if this was then I probably would've anointed you by the end will run out of your anointing. Well, I think I went to about half of it before I realized okay I probably don't need to know that this is doing good enough to go for refills. Yet this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

We also take questions about how our Christian walk intersects with today's culture what's going on today's world. So feel free to give us a call on any topic theology related Christian doctrine. Here's a phone number it's 833-843-2673, which is 833. The core will emailed us this question.

Our church that we been going to for five years before we were converted. Host a Halloween trunk or treat as a Christian, how should I respond as I don't believe we should celebrate a man-made holiday associated with such an occasion. Yeah will will thank you for that email. You know for for years. I mentioned this church that I was a part of where I was anointing everything when I was at that church.

Still, every Fourth of July they would have a barbecue and because of his great big parade and in the in the town where we were and they would just hand out hotdogs and hamburgers.

You know, at the barbecues as people were were walking by.

They can get some food or a bottle of water was kind of a neat way to to serve the community.

It wasn't you know the church celebrating this this holiday as as some sort of act of worship or anything like that. It was just a fun way to come together as God's people, and to bless others encourage others and to and to let them know.

Hey, there's a church right here may people see you on Sunday morning I and I was I was really like that.

I think there's nothing wrong with that kind of thing you know, what were you talking about a trunk or treat on Halloween night, I was sort of seat that just about the same as as a way to make this is kind of a cool way to bring the people in the church together, maybe to serve the community to let people know that there's a church here to invite them to church even I think that that's I think that's a wonderful thing yet. I think that there's nothing wrong with that. I think this is in my mind also need to gets into the bigger question, and I know this is right around the corner of just you know participating in Halloween as as a family, or even as Christians is that something that we can do or should we just steer clear hundred percent because of the ghouls and the goblins and I think that's a matter of personal conscience. I don't think that I don't think that you can or ought to bind other people's consciences on that issue now. If it's if it's this sort of spiritual worship of people are engaging in pagan rituals that can, then I would say Willie others is there's an issue there for just taking a walk with your family and getting some candy. I don't think it's that big of a deal. I oftentimes will go to first Corinthians chapter 8 in verse four where Paul says therefore as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence and that there is no God but one. For, although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords yet for us there is one God the father from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

However, Paul said not all possess this knowledge but some through former association with idols eat food as really offered to an idol and their conscience. Being weak is defiled and so this is one of those passages of Scripture were the apostle Paul talks about loving one another within the body of Christ not causing each other to stumble by the things that we do and for some people participating in in hollowing what might defiled their conscience because they think of the ghouls and that the goblins and that kind of thing.

I just I think I could participate in that. I don't want to.

Well don't you shouldn't, especially if it if it goes against your conscience, but we also know that the ghouls and the goblet that the know just like bosses with regard to the idols, their enforcement insight there nothing that they don't have any real power. We worship the one true and living God and for Christians who are free in their conscience and their able to.

You don't do this and it's not some in a weird thing for them.

It justifies a set a way of may be blessing the community or just being out and about and that's perfectly fine. And so I thank you for that question. Looks like we have some some other questions in line with that on the on the call screen and so I'm sure we'll hear more. Let's not go to that question right now, Isaiah from St. Louis, Missouri. Isaiah what your question for Israel, and so all we celebrate and believe only a light trick-or-treat all that away to the celebrate life, probably knowing you really should be gauged yeah like this it is it the church's way of just I don't know trying to trying to have a gentler, softer, more Christianized form of the trick-or-treating is it a compromise, not II wouldn't say so eyes at me. I but again I'm speaking personally night and I just said based on first Corinthians 8 I think this is this is something where Christians may differ infer for a believer who says I I just can't participate in this and I don't want to I don't do that. I want to dress up and walk around and I just I just doesn't make me feel right else it will will don't do it you know Paul says whatever is not from faith is sin. And so you know I would never, I would never say you need to do this, absolutely not, because were not talking about an issue that's outlined in Scripture were talking about this sort of cultural celebration and and whether or not it's okay for Christians to participate in it now.

Are there ways in which would be not okay to participate.

Note say yeah I fit with it leads to debauchery and these other things then then that's wrong and we we avoid that we flee from that.

But if it's, you know, taking a walk in the neighborhood and going with your kids.

I have four little kids and getting candy and I just don't see that we've always thought of it just in in terms of getting to know our neighbors a little bit more. Also, you know that the hefty candy tax that we on our children will leave them with the Tootsie Roll's and I get the Reese's peanut have some negative stuff and so there's some good writing come out of this. You know, I just click yet no man Twix all the way but so so I I would just say it. This is a conscience issue and if if it's something in in your church. It's happening.

It bothers your outfit.

Have an honest conversation. Isaiah with your pastor and and I don't think there's anything wrong with churches hosting that you know the harvest Festival or the trunk or treat kind of a thing as a way, as I said, just to be and in the community and to even invite people to church. I think that's it. I think that's a good thing and so but I know not everyone agrees. And that's where we can be charitable with each other. Isaiah thanks for for physical thanks Isaiah great question and really all holidays can lead to a bridge between the church and the community. Whether were talking about Easter, Mother's Day. There's lots of opportunities for churches to say how can we creatively invite people to come to our church come on our property and get more comfortable with the idea of church pastor. Check this out will and that that there there's debate about this right like, well, we have the lonely quote" holy day that we have as Christians is the Lord's day, the day when Jesus rose again from the dead, which we celebrate every Sunday when we gather together you don't have in the New Testament. These these these rules. These laws giving us these these days of holy worship for us to celebrate.

Now you have that under the old covenant, didn't you on these festivals that were celebrated as a part of Israel's worship, but under the new covenant.

You don't really see that and so people say, well, I'd than you know I don't I don't want to guide the whole idea of things like celebrating Christmas. Let's say or import Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. I just don't see that so I don't I do know that we can do enough in my mind we quit.

We should bind people's consciences on these issues. But as you say it's really interesting because there are so many people in our communities that are open to going to church on those days and then I found you, you invite somebody to your churches Easter service or your churches Christmas service for Christmas Eve service to that that sort of thing people are open to going in and what a neat opportunity for them to be able to hear about the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A minute just seems to me like a neat entry way for people to come in here these core truths about the gospel that we love and and I just encourage people like it. If your church is preaching Christ and preaching the incarnation, the resurrection, hey and and people are more open to potentially coming to church on you and we talk about it sometime sort of jokingly other people to just go on Christmas and Easter but but if the if they're going to go in and there to hear the gospel take advantage of that opportunity. I think I heard some statistic were 75% of people said that if they were invited to a Christmas service by someone they knew they would attend so and and yet so many people never get invited right behind her like oh gosh, I don't know if and Young would be the wrong thing. Here's here's another piece of advice. Don't just wait until Christmas or Easter to invite you yet.

Maybe that's another thing to just let you know we gather together every week so yeah good point. This is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez and we have our phone lines open right now for another 10 minutes or so. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life theology or doctrine, give us a call right now, here's the number it's 833, the court make a note of that 833.

The court now if you look at the calendar, the anniversary of the Reformation. The process Reformation is coming up and tying in with that we actually have a great core resource dealing with something that was really key to Martin Luther and the Reformation, yeah, absolutely.

In fact, Luther Martin Luther said that as he was studying the book of Romans. It was as if the gates of paradise were opened to him and so maybe you'll have that experience as well. As you study the book of Romans and and were excited to share this offer with you.

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Romans has had a big impact on a lot of people's lives and including my own and and certainly as we were just saying their Martin Luther's life on so this is a wonderful in-depth study and it's available as a physical study or you can get it as a PDF download. There are leaders guides available for all of our studies as well. So head over to core Christianity.com/offers to get your copy of our Bible study on the book of Romans for gift of $20 or more.

Just go to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers or you can call us for that offer or any one of our office offers at 833-843-2670 3833, the court must go to Kim in Marshall, Texas Kim what your question for pastor. Israel thank you so much for your ministry about the topic and the Bible say today is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

So Halloween is a day that day, October 31 is the day that God has me so I'm not willing to surrender a single one over my enemy and is as a Christian and I can give that track and be a positive influence and I don't have a problem with candy. I do have a problem with demonic worship thing, but I don't see a problem with trunk or treat on them and that the church is getting involved because why should we give over anything that enemy we shouldn't give anything to the enemy and I think that I agree with you as far as that's concerned.

Then, thank you also for for your encouragement Kim and so your ear right every day really belongs to the Lord and in all that we do. Whether it's trunk or treat her or not you know we should give glory to the Lord and if we can't give glory to the Lord whatever it is that were doing well. Then we just shouldn't do it. II again. Emily mentioned Paul's comments in first Corinthians chapter 8. How about Romans chapter 14, he says. As for the one who is weak in faith welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

One person believes he made it need anything while he that while the weak person eats only vegetables.

It's probably wise week I think. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who disdains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God is welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another. It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld with the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day is better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. I think you speaking to this idea that were talking about here now and so we don't want to yield anything to to the evil one were not were not surrendering any days to the evil one were saying all day should be devoted to the Lord and especially the Lord's day.

When we gather together to worship God with with his people and so Kim may may God bless you as you do that as you devote yourself to the Lord as you seek to honor him with every day that he's given to you. Thank you. Your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez a lot of calls about the Halloween issue today depots on the line from Bo debt Minnesota diva what your question new pastor at our church on Sunday, encouraging you dress up and cost you for church and I'm all about telling the let out but I just don't always stepping that boundary to the sanctuary. You know, so I just want your opinion on what you think be happy to share with you my my personal opinion sister Eunice that usually when people say well you know what to wear to trusted what what to wear to church.

What address how to dress to church.

It states typically you know there were tired. I want to see edge I weren't tired of this is this is different. This is do I wear the monkey suit for the dress up as you know, my favorite character from a cartoon that kind of think personally and I'm the pastor of a local church were not doing any help.

I mean this is the Lord's day were gathering together to worship Jesus Christ in in my sermon.

I plan to reflect a little bit on on the Protestant Reformation, which many people believe was was kicked off in 1570 on October 31 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on on the church in in Wittenberg, Germany on the door of the church, Wittenberg, Germany, and so I think there's a lot of other things that we could we could focus on. Frankly, the reason I would. I would just think that just say no to do that like we would never do that is is because I mean I think it would be a huge distraction and work were gathering together as believers not to not to play games and to focus on ourselves and to and to draw attention to ourselves, which I feel like that's precisely what what a Halloween costume in the church service would do were gathering together to fix our eyes on the true and the living God through through the gifts that he's given to us through his Word through the ordinances that Jesus left for us. That should be our focus and so that's that's how I see this we wouldn't do that I would do that and in the church that I pastor and so I thank you for for calling and that God bless you. Happy medium. Could you have your elders dress up like of the martyrs yeah admit like figures from church history is no help was all Bobby Justin Martyr okay with. Oh gosh, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Tony and Auburn Nebraska Tony what your question, thanks for taking my call. God like? I work on Sunday is okay to worship other days a well I mean in one sense you need. Think about what the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 12 beginning in verse one I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship and one since we could say on the basis of what we find in the New Testament that every day. Your offering yourself to the Lord, seeking to draw near to him not presenting your your body that is your your whole person to God as a living sacrifice, and when Paul says this is your spiritual worship. And so, so, I would want to say you know you ask and I worship other days of we go say I would say well yeah insofar as every day were presenting ourselves to the Lord. And this is in in one sense an act of worship.

Then then yes. But is there something significant and distinct Tony about church on Sunday, an end to that. I would also say yes that the Lord's day the first day of the week was the day on which Jesus Christ rose from the grave and since the earliest days of the apostles, Christians have been gathering on that day to commemorate his victory over sin and death and we are called in places like Hebrews chapter 10 are not to forsake that assembly to gather with believers to be under the ministry of the word to hear the gospel proclaimed that not just not just for for those reasons but also because we need Christian community.

We need brothers and sisters in our lives who can encourage us in our walk with the Lord.

We live in a world right it's this try to feed us all sorts of information to media through social media I were being were being trained. If you will buy these things. We need to retrain ourselves, our minds and our hearts through being under the word and and with believers as I think that's really important that you said you work on Sundays and I know I know that you're not the only one know that a lot of people this is this is it a big challenge and I know that there are some churches that gather together on Saturday evenings. I was part of a church plant for some time that they they met on Saturday evenings. I was late trying to get into fellowship somehow but I would even go as far to say that there's there's nothing wrong with with talking to your work. If it's possible and saying hey.

One thing about me is I'm I'm a Christian, and we really value getting together on Sundays and that God commands us to gather with his people and so I I would like to see if it's possible for me to to get this time off so that I can get together with with my church family with the family of God and and Tony, let me just pray for you right now. To that end, Lord, would you please be with Tony. Give him wisdom. I pray that you would open the doors for him to be able to worship you on Sunday with other believers and that his work would be gracious. Would you be with him what you bless him. Would you be with us all. Lord Jesus name, amen. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together