Evangelism on Halloween

[Josiah]

What is your opinion?


On Sunday, a member of my parish had ordered a huge box of gospel tracts for kids (must have had a thousand). He was giving out stacks to any who were willing to give them out on Halloween along with the candy. Some took them, some didn't. I don't think our pastor did or said anything about it. And the person didn't "push" them in any sense or way, he was just offering stacks to those who desired them. I think he left them at the church so they'll be available next Sunday, too.

My beloved and I did not. Here was OUR "take" on all that. These are KIDS. Minors. IMO, they are under the religious authority of their parents ("Honor father and mothers"). And while I suspect all parents carefully go through the "stash" (mostly looking for candy they can steal from their kids) and could easily remove these tracts if they disapproved, nonetheless I feel that this is circumventing parents. Parents BRINGING their children to baptism, Sunday School, VBS, church - that's one thing, parents are exercising their God-ordained responsibility.

Just makes me a bit uncomfortable..... If I lived in Utah, how would I feel about my kids being given LDS tracts "behind my back"? Seems to ME, in the case of children, we should involve the parents - it's the parents who have authority/responsibility for them. But maybe I've being overly sensitive here.

But my beloved raised the issue of Gideons who offer Bibles at high schools? We have Gideons come to our church for a short couple minutes talk and I've supported them a bit. Well..... they are OFFERING the Bibles and these are high school kids, not little children..... I don't think they do this at elementary schools. it's "slippery" I admit but I'm pretty much okay with that.


What do YOU think? Is it okay.... maybe even good.... to put Christian evangelism tracks in the kid's "trick or treat" bags? Should I take a bunch of the tracts offered or .... not?



- Josiah



.

 

[faramir.pete]

I am in favour of anything that ensures that All Hallows Evening is not taken over by the tacky thing called Trick or Treating.

Lets remember that All Hallows Evening was put on this night to try to counteract the percieved evil of Samain in the heathen religions of the European tribes. So clearly the church historically felt it was better to evangelise than to tolerate.


Pete from Peterborough UK

 

[Albion]

What is your opinion?


On Sunday, a member of my parish had ordered a huge box of gospel tracts for kids (must have had a thousand). He was giving out stacks to any who were willing to give them out on Halloween along with the candy. Some took them, some didn't. I don't think our pastor did or said anything about it. And the person didn't "push" them in any sense or way, he was just offering stacks to those who desired them. I think he left them at the church so they'll be available next Sunday, too.

My beloved and I did not. Here was OUR "take" on all that. These are KIDS. Minors. IMO, they are under the religious authority of their parents ("Honor father and mothers"). And while I suspect all parents carefully go through the "stash" (mostly looking for candy they can steal from their kids) and could easily remove these tracts if they disapproved, nonetheless I feel that this is circumventing parents. Parents BRINGING their children to baptism, Sunday School, VBS, church - that's one thing, parents are exercising their God-ordained responsibility.

Just makes me a bit uncomfortable..... If I lived in Utah, how would I feel about my kids being given LDS tracts "behind my back"? Seems to ME, in the case of children, we should involve the parents - it's the parents who have authority/responsibility for them. But maybe I've being overly sensitive here.

But my beloved raised the issue of Gideons who offer Bibles at high schools? We have Gideons come to our church for a short couple minutes talk and I've supported them a bit. Well..... they are OFFERING the Bibles and these are high school kids, not little children..... I don't think they do this at elementary schools. it's "slippery" I admit but I'm pretty much okay with that.


What do YOU think? Is it okay.... maybe even good.... to put Christian evangelism tracks in the kid's "trick or treat" bags? Should I take a bunch of the tracts offered or .... not?

The Gideons go out of their way NOT to force their views on anyone, so I do not think the comparison is exactly apt. And the give-aways of the Gideons do not represent an intrusion into some other event. So, as for the tracts, distribute them on another day, door to door if necessary, whatever.

My view of the Halloween celebrating is that this is one of the few remaining joyous and innocent events that little kids look forward to in our increasingly dangerous world, and I am more than happy to play along, let them have fun for an hour or two, get some free sweets, and dress up in costume. Of course, anyone who feels otherwise can simply turn off the porch lights and exempt themselves.

 

[Lamb]

I never liked receiving any tracts in my Halloween bag. I had a church of my own and truthfully the people who passed those things out were Baptists who told you that you were going to hell unless you said the sinner's prayer right there and now with them (this was from my area where I lived, not saying all Baptists do this).

 

[Tigger]

I don't feel it is right to proselytize minors. Once I was in line at a fast food restaurant and my children were standing behind me. The gentleman behind them was trying to show them a track he had and explain what heaven was. Once I caught on to what he was doing I let him know I in no way appreciated him trying to teach my children his religious views and that he should have approached me first instead.

 

[NewCreation435]

What is your opinion?


On Sunday, a member of my parish had ordered a huge box of gospel tracts for kids (must have had a thousand). He was giving out stacks to any who were willing to give them out on Halloween along with the candy. Some took them, some didn't. I don't think our pastor did or said anything about it. And the person didn't "push" them in any sense or way, he was just offering stacks to those who desired them. I think he left them at the church so they'll be available next Sunday, too.

My beloved and I did not. Here was OUR "take" on all that. These are KIDS. Minors. IMO, they are under the religious authority of their parents ("Honor father and mothers"). And while I suspect all parents carefully go through the "stash" (mostly looking for candy they can steal from their kids) and could easily remove these tracts if they disapproved, nonetheless I feel that this is circumventing parents. Parents BRINGING their children to baptism, Sunday School, VBS, church - that's one thing, parents are exercising their God-ordained responsibility.

Just makes me a bit uncomfortable..... If I lived in Utah, how would I feel about my kids being given LDS tracts "behind my back"? Seems to ME, in the case of children, we should involve the parents - it's the parents who have authority/responsibility for them. But maybe I've being overly sensitive here.

But my beloved raised the issue of Gideons who offer Bibles at high schools? We have Gideons come to our church for a short couple minutes talk and I've supported them a bit. Well..... they are OFFERING the Bibles and these are high school kids, not little children..... I don't think they do this at elementary schools. it's "slippery" I admit but I'm pretty much okay with that.


What do YOU think? Is it okay.... maybe even good.... to put Christian evangelism tracks in the kid's "trick or treat" bags? Should I take a bunch of the tracts offered or .... not?



- Josiah



.

When our neighbor did this when I was little it just made me want to wrap his trees with toilet paper (what we use to refer to as wrapping a house). I think someone actually did one year. Don't be a jerk and give the kids some candy.