We celebrate Halloween on October 31st. Yet, as Lutherans, it is on this same day that we celebrate the Reformation. The reason we celebrate the Reformation on that day is simple: on October 31st, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. So, who was Luther?
Luther was born on Nov. 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany.
As an Augustinian monk, Luther fasted, prayed, and both attended and led Mass. Despite this holy life, he was in constant doubt of his salvation. Luther began concentrating his studies on the Bible rather than the Church Fathers. In 1514, while studying Paul’s letter to the Romans in his tower room in Wittenberg, he finally saw the pure Gospel. He realized that sinners are saved not through good works but by the gift of God through faith. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
This realization sparked a concern that the church’s practice of selling certificates of forgiveness (called indulgences) would lead to the loss of true contrition for sins. If people could receive a pardon for all sins, they might spend the rest of their lives unconcerned about the status of their souls. Luther felt he must protect his flock from this dangerous practice. Therefore, on Oct. 31, 1517, Luther posted his 95 Theses on the Castle Church doors, seeking a scholarly debate on the sale of indulgences. This led to a series of written materials and debates on the church practices of the time, the final culmination of which resulted in Luther being called before Emperor Charles V at a meeting in Worms, Germany, where Luther was asked to recant his writings. His bold refusal to recant at Worms solidified the movement that began in Wittenberg, giving us a profound reason to celebrate every October 31st.
