For your encouragement I share the following hypothetical conversation.
Friend: “Hey Jim, Halloween is an evil holiday. Why do you celebrate it?”
Me: “I don’t celebrate Halloween.”
Friend: “But you had a party on Halloween.”
Me: “Yes, we had a community party.”
Friend: “Come on, Jim. If you have a community party on Halloween, then you are celebrating Halloween.”
Me: “No. Not at all. Let me explain. Whether I recognized Halloween or not, every October 31st about 200 of my neighbors will come by my house, uninvited, and ask for free candy.”
Friend: “Ok?”
Me: “I suppose I could be like the old guy shouting, ‘Get off my lawn. Halloween is evil.’ But I’m not sure this actually points them to Christ in any meaningful way.”
Friend: “Probably not.”
Me: “Or I could give them one of those gospel tracks on the wickedness of Halloween, and even toss some candy in. But again, I’m not sure this would bring any real glory to the Lord.”
Friend: “But at least you would be taking a stand against sin.”
Me: “But what if we did this instead? What if we created a reason for people to slow down, for us to learn who they are and build friendships? What if, as their children played in the jump house or made their craft, we learned their names and concerns, maybe even their spiritual condition? And what if, even if we share the complete gospel message with only a few, we established relationships which allowed ministry to them over days and months ahead? Finally, what if we became trusted friends so that, when “life happens,” we’re their 911 call?”
Friend: “I don’t know, Jim. There are no guarantees.”
Me: “There is one. If I let them pass with little to nothing, I am guaranteed to miss any opportunity to be Christ’s ambassador in their lives.”
Friend: “So, you’re not celebrating Halloween?”
Me: “No, we’re snatching it from the enemy to befriend people we’d likely never know otherwise. It’s one way the gospel flows.”
The lesson: When people pass through your life, don’t assume it’s by accident. Slow their passing long enough to discern what purpose the Lord has for your intersection with them.