Yes, you did read the title correctly!
Yesterday myself and two fellow student ministers (well, one was an Anglican Ordinand, which is the same thing) went down into Durham Market Square to give treats to anybody who was there. We chose a tin of Cadbury’s Heroes, thinking that would give plenty of choice, and set off.
The reason behind our mission was that yesterday was, of course, Halloween and as Christians we are not at all happy with the idea of ‘trick or treat’ because of the fear it can cause to the elderly and to those living alone. Instead of ‘trick or treat’ we thought we’d just do the treat bit.
Many people were quite happy to receive a treat from us and liked the reason we were doing it. One lady even came out of the pub to find out what we were up to and went back inside with a handful of chocolate.
Some people were on diets, or at least they said they were, and refused our offer. Others actually steered around us. Some just refused, not believing that we were simply handing out treats without any ulterior motive! When did society become so suspicious?
Refusing the free offer of chocolate is one thing and it actually caused some amusement to the three of us. What I find difficult is that people refuse the free offer God makes to us all. His Son, Jesus, died on the cross in our place and all we have to do to claim the forgiveness of sin and restoration to relationship with God that he brought us is to confess and repent of our sins and accept him as Saviour and Lord. It is an amazing free offer of grace from a God who loves us more than we can ever know or understand, yet some people refuse.
It doesn’t matter too much if people refuse a free chocolate treat, but to refuse God’s free offer of grace can have eternal consequences!
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