You remember The Princess Bride and Buttercup’s quest for “true love” with Wesley – and you well remember the scene with the priest proclaiming, “…and wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva… So tweasure your wuv…” True love – isn’t that what we all want to find? From the time little girls hear their first princess story, they long for the day they will find their true love. Even guys (who would never admit it) long for true love. But have you ever stopped to think about why we call it “true” love – why not just “love?” It’s obviously because there are a lot of things that go by the name “love” that in fact are not.

The Question A popular song released back in the early 90’s asked: “What is love?” That’s a really good question. What is love? And what is true love? And is there even really such a thing? Our culture seems to be constantly trying to convince us that there is – Hollywood makes millions selling movies that apparently model “true love.” The Billboard charts are filled with songs about love (of course country music makes its millions singing about how some poor guy has lost his love). Books, magazines, advertisements, commercials – they all seem to tell us that we can find “true love.” But true love as the world defines it is an illusion. This is because the world’s concept of love is rooted in selfishness – it’s all about me and what I can get out of someone else. In John 13:1-17 we are given a lesson from the Master Teacher which reveals that true love is the polar opposite of the world’s definition of love. What our Lord Jesus wants His disciples to see in this passage is that we, as His followers must not only understand what love is – we must practice it – and in doing so, we will be blessed beyond measure!

The Example In John 13 we find Jesus in the Upper Room with His disciples on Thursday evening, preparing to eat the Passover meal. But before the meal begins, Jesus does something absolutely remarkable. We’re told in vv. 1-3 that Jesus, knowing that His hour had come, that He had loved His own for the full extent of His time with them, that the plot to take His life, ultimately orchestrated by Satan and willingly ascribed to by Judas Iscariot was already in motion, that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God, leaving the glory of heaven, and was now ready to return to the right hand of God, did not demand that His disciples fall down at His feet immediately. Instead, He “got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” This is incredible! In 1st Century Jewish culture, to wash someone’s feet was the job reserved for the lowliest slave – never did a Jew (not even a Jewish slave) wash another person’s feet! And yet here we see the Son of God taking on the garb and posture and action of a  lowly slave to wash the dirty feet of His disciples! Jesus, who had come from the heights of glory and would be returning there shortly, was descending to the lowest depths of service in this humble act. Notice that He states in v. 11, “and you are clean, but not all of you” – and John adds for us the fact that Jesus knew that one of them would betray Him. Now, if we thought that this act of humble love performed by Jesus could not be any more stunning, we are reminded of the fact here that Judas was among those whose feet Jesus washed! Can you imagine that! Jesus knew that this man was about to betray Him to death, and yet He washes his stinky, sweaty, dirty feet!

The Lesson Beyond the theological nuances of this sacrificial act, Jesus teaches a very practical lesson to His disciples. He takes His garments and reclines once again at the table and asks them if they understand what He has just done. He agrees with their calling Him teacher and Lord – they are right in this – He is their Teacher and He is their Lord. Now, if that’s true, and He has washed their feet, they ought to do the same to one another. He gave them an example, and the example was that no one who is under the authority of another can justify his refusal to do something that his master has been willing to do. Now, some have tried to turn this act of foot washing into another ordinance of the church – there is baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and foot washing. But this misses the point of what Jesus is teaching us here. His example of foot washing was just that – an example. And what was it an example of? True love! True love means humbly serving others – it means dying to self and sacrificing for the good of someone else – even someone who is your enemy, like Judas was His. It means that you are no longer selfish, but self-less – that you’re not interested in what you can take, but what you can give.

The Blessing Notice what Jesus says in v. 17: when you do this you’re blessed! Now how about that, Hollywood? When you stop thinking about what you can get out of someone else and start thinking about how you can serve them instead, you are blessed! Another way of translating the word “blessed” here is “happy.” People want love because they ultimately want to be happy, and Jesus says, start applying yourself to true love and you will be happy! V. 17 gives us the principle of obedience for life – if you know what is right, and you do what is right, you will be blessed (happy). In other words, if you know what’s right, and you do what’s right you will feel right. But you see, we sinners have it all backwards – we start with our feelings – we want to feel happy now because our focus is on ourselves and not on God, so even though we know what’s right, we do what’s wrong and then we wind up feeling bad! Oh, that we would apply ourselves to true love! But why don’t we? Perhaps because it’s hard; perhaps because it’s humbling. The fact of the matter is that it’s impossible without Christ. You see, the world can’t love because the world has never known true love –the love that was demonstrated ultimately at the cross. If foot washing was enough to make the disciples’ jaws drop, in just a few hours Jesus would humble Himself even to the point of death on the cross. And in doing so, He would take upon Himself the wrath of God for the sin of all those who would trust in Him. When we get our eyes on Jesus Christ, and on His perfect sacrifice of love for us on the cross, we begin to exemplify that love in our lives. And when we do, we find the satisfaction that we’ve always longed for.

After a short lull in festivities following Halloween, the next major event on everyone’s mind is Christmas. The retailers have been ready for weeks already, but now the typical American is thinking of decorations and Christmas music, and of course, this year, Star Wars. “But what about Thanksgiving?” you ask. Well, we still look forward to it as well, but for most, Thanksgiving has long taken on the same status as Memorial Day: a day off with family (oh, yeah, and yummy food…and football). But the real meaning behind the holiday is all but forgotten, being evidenced by the fact that many now refer to it not as ‘Thanksgiving’ but ‘Turkey Day.’

You may remember the great story of the first Thanksgiving you learned in elementary school about Squanto and the Pilgrims, but it wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that president Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday, calling on the nation to entreat God for His divine care to a hurting nation. From that first Thanksgiving celebration to its official recognition, Thanksgiving has been ingrained into the fabric of our country long before it itself had been recognized as such. In the early days, it was certainly called ‘Thanksgiving’ because it was a way for people to come together in order to thank God for His innumerable blessings. The Pilgrims well knew God’s providential care in their lives, and despite horrific difficulty and loss, they turned their hearts toward God with gratitude.

While Thanksgiving may be nothing more than another festivity on the calendar for most today, to Christians, it should be much more than that, for thanksgiving is at the very heart of our worship. In fact, the Bible reveals that a lack of thankfulness is at the heart of all who reject the one, true God who has revealed Himself to them (Rom. 1:21). Repeatedly, Scripture calls us to be thankful. Take Colossians 3:15-17, for example:

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

That’s a lot of thankfulness in just a few verses! Obviously gratitude is something that is vital to the Christian life. And while we are typically prone to be thankful only when times are good and we have an abundance, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It is God’s will that we be thankful at all times in all circumstances – the good, the bad, even the ugly! But just like anything God commands, He also supplies. Thankfulness flows out a of a heart that is filled by the Spirit of God, who produces within us the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful, gentleness, and self control (Gal 5:22-23a).

So how can we cultivate thankfulness? Well, the context of Colossians 3:15-17 is the believer’s response to his union with Christ. It is about what we are to do since Christ died for us. We are to put off old, sinful habits and put on new, godly ones in their place, and one of the glaring characteristics of the flesh is the propensity to grumble and complain. But the Christian is not only commanded to put off this tendency (Phil. 2:14), and commanded to replace it with thankfulness (as we have noted above), and even given the empowerment to do so through the Holy Spirit, he has been given the greatest motivation possible. When we think for just one moment about what we deserve for our sin against a holy, righteous God (see Rom. 6:23), and then think about what God has done for us in sending His Son to die in our place, instead of us – taking on all our guilt and shame and paying for it in full at the cross and then crediting to us His own perfect righteousness so that God can declare us not only innocent, but justified in His sight, what other response can we possibly have but thankfulness?! This is the very reason God commands us to “be thankful in all circumstances,” because no matter how difficult those circumstances may be, we are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20)! And when we turn our minds away from our difficulties and just for a moment force ourselves to think about the many blessings God has given us, we should be overwhelmed.

Perhaps this Thanksgiving could be a time for you and your family to refocus your attention on God’s goodness to you in sending His Son and providing all your needs. Some years ago our family endeavored to make Thanksgiving such a time, and so we began a family tradition we call ‘The Journal of Thanks.’ It is very simple, really. We have a typical journal that is reserved for one day of the year, and we spend some time going around the table, allowing each member of the family to state what he or she is thankful for over the course of the year. Mommy is the scribe, and this is helpful because we can read her handwriting and that makes it possible for us to spend some time reading the entries from the previous years. We’ve amassed several years now, and it is always amazing to read back through that journal and be reminded of the way our God has providentially watched over us and provided for us in our journey of life. Whether or not you have a similar tradition, I pray you will take time this Thanksgiving to rise above the smell of the turkey, the roar of the football game, and the stories of Uncle Bob, and give genuine thanks to God for all His blessings, especially for “His inexpressible gift” (2 Cor. 9:15)!

If you haven’t noticed, Halloween is getting more and more popular these days. The National Retail Federation projects that Americans will spend over $6.9 billion dollars on costumes, decorations, and candy this year. There has been a steady increase in Halloween participation and spending over the past several years, so much so that some have asked if it is “the new Christmas!” Every year Christians (especially those with kids in the home) face the dilemma of what to do about Halloween, and the fact that it has taken on the status of a virtual national holiday does not make it any easier.

Opinions of Halloween are found along a wide spectrum among Christians, from those who see it as nothing but a purely pagan celebration of evil in which the Christian has no business participating, to those who view it as an Americanized holiday for fun and candy – as innocent as apple pie. These opposing opinions become more polarized when pastors and bloggers take it upon themselves to address the subject dogmatically and declare it either “clean” or “unclean” for believers. The default for many Christians is to stay home, turn out the lights and pretend that nothing is going on outside. Many churches hold some sort of “Harvest Festival,” seeking to provide a Christian alternative. Others hold a “Trunk or Treat” which is basically the same thing without the fuzzy title. So what are we to make of Halloween? Should we participate or not participate? Should we ignore it or find some alternative? And how do we shepherd our children in regard to it when it seems that everyone at school (even the Christian school) is going trick-or-treating this Saturday? Well, the issue is complicated, just like all of life is complicated because of sin, and God calls us to think. It is not an option to bury our heads in the sand when it comes to Halloween.

A brief survey of the origins of Halloween will certainly cause any Christian to cringe. Its beginnings were far from holy, and some of the practices carried on today are indeed rooted in pagan rites (but then again, so are some of the practices of our modern Christmas holiday). Most of the confusion over all our modern holidays has come as a result of Roman Catholicism’s Christianizing of pagan celebrations in a vain attempt to redeem them, and Halloween is probably the most convoluted of all because it does not have any direct Christian affiliation (as with Christ’s resurrection at Easter). This is not to mention the profuse mysticism and perpetual false teachings of the Catholic Church that only serve muddy the waters even further. The fact of the matter is that in our 21st century American culture, materialism has trumped all vestiges of pagan roots and Catholic redefinition, so that the average American doesn’t even know (or care) about all of that history. We live for the moment, for the thrill, for the fun. Let’s be honest, any excuse to have a ten-foot-tall blow-up monster in your front yard and to fulfill your inner longing to dress up like Batman without people thinking you’re a complete weirdo is pretty cool! And don’t forget about the candy!!! So in reality, much of what our culture does at Halloween (or Christmas or Easter, for that matter) has virtually no meaning at all.

With all of this in mind, the question of whether or not a Christian should participate in Halloween to whatever degree comes down to an issue of conscience (see Romans 14:1-12). The real question is how are you going to participate or not participate, and how you will communicate your convictions to your children. Here are some guidelines that may serve to help you in making these decisions. For those who choose not to participate, you need to explain to your children the reasons why in a thorough, understandable way, pointing them to Scripture. You also need to help them understand that while Christians are commanded to make wise, discerning judgments, we must always beware of the danger of falling into judgmentalism in regard to other Christian families who choose to participate.

For those who choose to participate in some sort of alternative, you will need to give your children the same lesson about the difference between judgment and judgmentalism. If you choose to participate in the standard trick-or-treating holiday, you need to explain to your children the danger of rejoicing in evil. It is never wise for Christians to celebrate death or evil either with decorations or costumes. There are plenty of good, wholesome options for costumes that do not glorify horror or death, and you can save decorating for Christmas. You also need to point your children to Scripture in this regard, showing them why there is a distinction in the way your family will participate in Halloween and the way other families choose to do so. Obviously you’ll need to give your children boundaries and warn them of the practical dangers associated with trick-or-treating. If they are small, it is always best to accompany them.

Regardless of how Christians choose to participate in or abstain from the festivities of Halloween, we are often so caught up in the dilemma that we forget about the awesome opportunity this day affords for evangelism. I believe it is providentially ironic that October 31st is also Reformation Day. On this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenburg, Germany, sparking the Protestant Reformation, recovering the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ which had been sorrowfully perverted by the Roman Catholic Church for centuries. Why not redeem this day for the gospel in the spirit of the Reformation? It does not take long to recognize the golden opportunity we have to place a gospel tract in the bag of every trick-or-treater who comes to our door or participate in some sort of tract-giving evangelistic event. Christians who do not wish to participate in Halloween could make it a ministry night involving the entire family. All you need to do is secure some good, gospel tracts (check out www.livingwaters.com for some great, affordable options or ask your church if they provide them), buy some candy (hey, don’t be a killjoy!), and have a fun family night interacting in a kind, loving way to the world at your doorstep while giving them the gospel. As a friend recently reminded me, it is the only time of year you can do this and even get a “Thank you” in response every time! If you choose to participate in Halloween, you could take tracts  with you and give them to people as your own “Thank you” for the candy you receive and even pass them out to other trick-or-treaters along the way. I would even go so far as to encourage churches to ditch the “Harvest Festival” or the “Trunk or Treat” and simply hit the town, posting teams of people in strategic places to hand out gospel tracts. Our church has done this for a number of years with great success, distributing literally thousands of tracts each year. Whatever you do, think through how you can redeem October 31st for the gospel!