Well, it’s that time again, so permit me to open up The Great Halloween Debate with this……
My work colleague sat me down the other day and said he had a very important question to ask me. (No, not THAT one, Thomas! The guy’s married. Not that that seems to stop them these days…….). He said it was a very sensitive question and he hoped I didn’t take it the wrong way and he really didn’t want to upset me but I was the best person to ask about this……….. After I encouraged him to “just say it, for goodness sakes” he did.
“Would you be offended if I went to a Halloween party dressed as Jesus?”.
Now, you make think I need prayer after I tell you that my first response was to laugh. It seemed so sweet that he even cared to ask. It’s not my Halloween party, I won’t be there and so I will never see the potentially offending costume. So, I guess what he was asking was if ANYONE was likely to be offended by his choice or would I think any the less of him if I found out. Was he likely to get into trouble over this? As part of his defence, he emphasised that his 6 foot tall frame and big black beard played a big part in his decision, having worked his way through the usual hairy cast of characters in previous years. Jesus was his last resort.
Even beyond my gut reaction, I’m still having a hard time being offended by the idea. Maybe I’m glad this atheist guy knows enough about Jesus at least to chose the costume. Having said that, it would depend on what he did with it. I suggested turning water into wine might go down well at the party. But carrying any kind of cross would be deeply offensive, so there is a line somewhere.
So, I throw the question out to you, my fellow bloggers. Should we be offended if someone goes to a Halloween party dressed as Jesus?
Philomena
Probably doesn't matter if we are offended or not. It is just about whether He is offended.
In our "I'm a victim" society, I think Christians get a bit caught up in how we are 'persecuted' by non-believers. To think back to earlier times, I imagine our brothers and sisters gone before would paraphrase Mr. Dundee: "That's not persecution; THAT's persecution!!"
Meaning, real persecution was horrible, brutal stuff. But people who don't know the gospel being offensive, rude, or insensitive should be expected. Complaining about this seems natural (we're all whiners at heart, aren't we?) but petty. Being so easily offended--not about the costume, but all these anti-Christian, anti-religion things in the world today--makes light of the hope of glory we have. These are momenary, light afflictions.
Plus, when you sign up for (or are drafted by) Team Jesus, you are pretty much signing on for such slights. But you are simultaneously filled with the Spirit, bringing love for those "who know not what they do" in mocking the Lord. Taking offense to mockings wasn't His response, and by His gentle response, He convinced at least one (the soldier) of who He was.
With His love, we must remember:
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
So, I think we ought to be patient with these misguided souls and not take into account a wrong suffered.
"No, I won't be offended--but is your decision wise?"
Posted by: Thomas More | October 30, 2007 at 02:42 PM