PASTORAL PONDERINGS

October 2006

by Pastor James Berger

 

      Although I am fond of Candy Corn as well as the little Hershey Chocolate Special bars that I try to snitch from my daughter's bags, (I usually fail), I do not care for Halloween. I'm not saying that the kids can't dress up and try to get their loot. But, be careful what they believe as they do so.

      Halloween dates from before the coming of Christianity into Europe.  Samhain, as it was known in Celtic countries was a day when the dead and evil spirits returned to haunt those still living. Summer died and winter and death were coming. Many of the traditions of the holiday, Jack-O'-Lanterns as well as many costumes come from the attempt to frighten away such spirits.

      When Christianity came into their world it intentionally set forth to change the reason for that day and create a new focus for converts. While the pagans lived in dread of death, Christians celebrated the life they had in their risen Lord Jesus. While their neighbors dreaded their dead, the Christians celebrated their living. In 835  AD Pope Gregory IV declared that while non-believers lived in fear of October 31, Christians would celebrate that night as All Hallowed Eve and on November 1 would rejoice in All Saints Day. It would become a day when we were to remember the words of Isaiah 26:19, "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy.

Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead." We would remember the words of the Apostle, Romans 8:38 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 MK 12:24-27Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26Now about the dead rising-have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

      In the year since last All Saints Bill Alvarez, Isabella Hollingsead, Pastor Forrest Spriggs, Corrina Bartkowiak, Mary Twombly, Eivor Swain, Joyce Smith, and Richard Reinhart have left our fellowship as well as a hole in many of our hearts. I have shared in the death of others and many of your have dwelt

 in the house of sorrow for family and friends. But remember 1Th 4:13 "Brothers (and sisters), we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." We don't want you to live in fear. Those who die in Christ do not live a shadowy, ghostly existence. They appear to us to fall into the sleep of death, but to them it was waking to the presence of God. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. They wait for us to one day hold us in the arms of love that does not end. They have put away all sickness and sorrow. Those who are with Christ are truly alive in a way we will not fully understand until we join with them in heaven and prepare for the day of resurrection.

      Do not be deceived by those who tell you other stories about the dead. The dead in Christ remain alive; we will see them again. Until then, we live in hope and trust, knowing we will have times of sorrow and pain; but knowing that this is not the last word. That word is given to us in the last chapter of Revelation, Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 20He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen, Come Lord Jesus."