"Trick or treat," a pack of multi-costumed and masked children yell up at you from your front porch; the little extortionists greedily holding out their sacks for the loot they are sweetly demanding, or else. I didn't bother writing anything about Halloween last year, but I feel compelled to write a little something this year. You know, I still marvel about the power that this wicked holy day wields over sensible adults. Adults who not only excitedly don costumes of their own in order to hide their hypocrisy, but I marvel that they also encourage their children to do the same, all in the name of - - fun? Yes, for some strange reason, every day before and after October 31st, good people strive to teach their children that bullying is wrong, and that they should not harm anyone, or steal form people; except for one day a year when it's suddenly okay to toss all of that morality stuff out the window in favor of candy.
Really? Candy? Why? These days candy is extremely easy to come by, so would someone please tell me what is so great about Halloween that it can lure law abiding citizens into teaching their children that masking their true identities behind costumes for the purpose of receiving treats via a veiled threat of harm (if the appropriate offering isn't given) is - - FUN!? Honestly, if this sort of thing happened on any other night, I assure you dear reader, that the police, and/or the paddy wagon would be called, right? To put it bluntly, extortion, no matter what form it takes, or when and by whom it is committed, is still extortion, and it's wrong! Call me a spoil sport, or a party-pooper if you will, I don't mind, but you can't call me a hypocrite, not on this issue anyway.
Are You Of This World?
I am usually asked, "What's wrong with dressing up in a silly costume for one night and saying a harmless phrase to get candy? It's all in good fun, right?" These are the sort of justifications many well meaning, but clueless and unthinking people use every year to get out of doing what is right. Their consciences are becoming more and more callused.
" 'Trick or Treat' - Teaching children the basics of extortion since 1927."
Seriously, I encourage those of you who call yourselves Christians to get sincere about your faithfulness to the Lord, and do some research into the origins of this holy day, and try very hard to be honest with yourself. Or are you scared of what you will find? Are you frightened that once you know the truth, then you too will have to make a choice for righteousness? Well, the choice is yours to make dear reader; I exhort (not extort) you to chose wisely!