When Faith Meets Culture

"But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light." - Ephesians 5:13
As I sit here this morning listening to the rain fall, a thought is running through my mind. We as Christians are so devoted to our church life and faithful in our worship. But we also celebrate a "holiday" that has changed over the years. It has become a holiday of ghosts and goblins and satanic origin.
The gentle patter of rain against the window seems to echo a deeper question in my heart: How do we live as people of the light while navigating a world that often celebrates darkness? This morning, I'm reminded that our faith isn't just about Sunday mornings or Wednesday night Bible studies—it's about every choice we make, every tradition we embrace, every moment we decide what deserves our time and attention.
Paul reminds us in Ephesians to "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Yet here we find ourselves, often without much thought, participating in celebrations that seem to glorify the very things our Savior conquered on the cross. The rain outside washes the earth clean, and I wonder: shouldn't our lives reflect that same cleansing work Christ has done in us?
This doesn't mean we must live in fear or judgment of others, but rather with intentionality. When we gather faithfully for worship, we're declaring allegiance to the Kingdom of Light. Shouldn't that same allegiance guide us through October 31st and every other day?
Perhaps the real question isn't whether we participate in certain holidays, but whether we're living each day with the awareness that we belong to Him who called us "out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).
Lord, help me to live with such consistency that my light shines brightly in every season, every tradition, every moment. Give me wisdom to know when to engage and when to step away, always seeking to honor You. Amen.
Take a moment today to consider: In what ways might God be calling you to let His light shine more brightly in the choices you make?