(A little time spent indisposed while dealing with a minor medical problem kept this entry from going out on the proper date. It's late, but I wanted to address the subject anyway. TL)
When we look past the cute costumes (some of them at least) and the creative pumpkins and the incredible edible chocolate, we have to admit that Halloween is just a lie. Costumes and masks, the threat of tricks if we don't get treats, and games of skill designed to take very little skill make Halloween a time when we throw reality out the window. We have a great time in pretending, but we know that it is all just a lie.
Sad to say we carry that into our churches. To say someone has lied or to call them a liar to their face is a rather harsh way to say that we disagree with the veracity of their statements. Society frowns upon such blunt statements of disagreement. The recent episode which got a member of Congress censored because he said, "You lie!" in the middle of a presidential address is a prime example. We can disagree with how someone is handling facts or making up facts, but the use of the term "lie" or any of its derivatives is not acceptable in polite company.
Jesus didn't use the word lie very often. His favorite word for such occasions where words and actions contrasted was hypocrite. The intent was the same and his listeners had the same response that modern society has to the word lie. Being told that your lifestyle does not reflect your words does not make for pleasant conversation. Yet Jesus never hesitated when the situation called for the unpleasant task of stating the truth.
In our churches we allow power plays to take place based upon lies and half truths, lies that just sound better. We tolerate it from church leaders because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. We accept it from our ministry staffs because we believe the work of finding another pastor or staff member whom we can trust is not worth the effort of stirring up a confrontation. We allow the hypocrites to destroy the Body of Christ because we believe that any action we take will cause even more serious damage. There is little damage that can be done to the Body of Christ that is more severe than the toleration of lies.
In recent months I have seen this in action as pastors twist history to give themselves a better resume. I have seen it among members who redefine the playing field through deception to keep themselves in power. I have seen it among committee leaders who make decisions based ostensibly upon doing the will of God when it is apparent to everyone that the decisions reflect a self-centered and self-supporting agenda.
We do not expect truth to rule the world when the lord of the world is the father of lies. Within the Body of Christ, however, we should and must expect better. Standing up for the truth got Jesus crucified. Standing up for the truth is never a healthy thing for the individual to do in the eyes of the world. Yet when we bring the deceit of Halloween into the patterns of church life, then we have handed the Body of Christ over to the father of lies. God's judgment will not be pretty.
