Why Halloween Makes Me Want to Join a Different Club

Driving through the south this past weekend, I was stopped at a red light perusing the visual landscape. Glancing up, I noticed a large billboard for a new church, featuring a catchy logo.

It was called “House of Judgment.”

Though possibly accurate, this did not strike me as a very good name for a church. Certainly not one meant to welcome pagan drivers stuck in traffic to drop in on a Sunday morning for worship and coffee. It was hard to see how anyone could think that name was a good idea.

For a brief moment, though, I was just a little bit satisfied. Finally, truth in advertising! Anyone who walks in the doors of that place knows that they’re going to be judged. I thought it was great that they just got it out there on the table. No surprises.

As I read on, though, I realized that it wasn’t a church after all. It was one of those Halloween haunted house things, sponsored by a local church. Yes, apparently people actually pay money to be judged. I think the way it works is that the youth group acts out frightening scenes such as wayward souls following false prophets, or drug addicts using crystal meth, or teens having abortions to scare people away from hell and straight into heaven. Like a fall community service project.

My moment of satisfaction quickly turned to disgust. I even felt a little sick to my stomach.

Because I’m a Christian.

I absolutely hate it that I’m in the same club with these people. In the words of a theologically liberal friend, “If there’s one thing I simply can’t tolerate, it’s intolerance.” I so get that now. I wish these spookers would use some other word for themselves besides Christian, because for the life of me I can’t see how the house of horrors has anything to do with following in the footsteps of Jesus.

Before zooming away from the red light, I had a little fantasy about standing on that corner with my own placard that says, “Save yourself the admission fee to the house of horrors and just show up on Sunday morning to get judged FOR FREE!”

Sometimes I have these naughty thoughts.

Even though I don’t want to be in the same club as these folks, I know I’m called to bear with them in love. Yes, that would be the same love I want them to extend to others. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? If I really could love them well? It would be like that commercial where someone does a nice thoughtful thing for a stranger, who then passes on the kindness.

Who knows, I might even inspire a whole new billboard.

Next October, keep your eyes open for “House of Grace.”

Margot Starbuck is a writer and speaker living in Durham, NC. Her book, The Girl in the Orange Dress, will be released by InterVarsity Press in June 2009. Learn more at www.MargotStarbuck.com.