30October2014 Halloween: Worth it?

 ...U.S. citizens should expect police reaction, including arrests, at any public Halloween-themed event.

The above excerpt was part of an alert sent out yesterday by the State Department to US citizens in the Middle East regarding Halloween:
Yep, you read that right. Arrested! 

Ever had one of those conversations, sometimes heated, with well meaning brothers or sisters who referred to October 31 as the 'devil's holiday" and emphatically stated the Church should avoid it like the plague. 

Then there's the other side of the coin.  Some Churches host those huge, pull out all the stops, blow the budget events called "Trunk or Treat," "Fall Festival" or a personal favorite "Hallelujah Party."  Or others that stay home and slip Gospel tracts in with the Skittles and Snickers for their little neighbors.  

Halloween is one of those topics, divisive topics, we just love to sink our teeth in.  We love to use as ammo when we're beating each other over the head.  There are so many others.  Worship style, alcohol consumption,  divorce, the list is pretty extensive.  And on each of these we are certain WE ARE RIGHT or better yet, THEY ARE COMPLETELY WRONG. Social media has exacerbated this issue.  You've witnessed it.  It nears a holiday season and your Facebook buddy goes on a three-day rant regarding the sacrilege of Santa or the blasphemy of the Easter bunny.  Meanwhile other friends (the ones that just hung stockings from the mantle or maybe just finished dying eggs) are highly offended and the flaming war of words ensues.  This is among Christians!  It takes so little for us to be divided.  The trivial becomes life or death.  That is until life or death really becomes life or death...or imprisonment.  

Back to the US Embassy's email.  It got me thinking about the value we place on things.  Is Halloween or the Tooth Fairy something I value so much that I'm willing to face legal penalty or persecution for? We can, and do, beat the tar out of each other about silly things but are they worth it?  On a daily basis the Body of Christ is being persecuted beyond measure.  People are actually dying because of the stand that are taking for their faith.  From the underground believers in East Asia to our decimated ranks in Iraq.  It seems we have more important things to discuss than goblins and gummy bears...