I am not a big fan of Halloween, but I am a big fan of history. And tomorrow marks the 509th anniversary of the one of the most significant events in world history. It was on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. He didn't really mean to start a Reformation, but was only trying to state his objections to some of the church doctrine and practices that had perverted the teachings of the Bible, namely the selling of "indulgences."
In so many ways, Luther's act changed the world, though it was hardly his intent. As one writer said it, "He thought he was starting a theological debate. Instead, he ignited a revolution."
Luther sought to spark a discussion about certain religious teachings and practices of the Roman Church, of which he was a part and from which he never intended to break. When he nailed his thoughts and complaints on the church door it was probably akin to posting an article on social media today. He expected some arguments from his opposition and perhaps some lively debate, but he had no idea the fire it would ignite.
Luther had first joined an Augustinian monastery when he was 21 years old, disappointing his father who wanted him to study to be a lawyer. His days as a monk were long, and filled with prayer and singing, meditation and study, and religious activity on every side. As one biographer wrote, he joined the monastery to save his soul. But even with all the religious duty and daily sacraments, he still struggled to find forgiveness for his sins and to fill his sense of emptiness inside.
That's when, in studying the Scriptures, he came to understand that he was striving in all the wrong directions and had been missing the basic tenet of New Testament Christianity; namely that salvation comes by grace through faith alone. He had been trying to work his way to God and find justification by keeping the law, but came to understand that the gospel rested not on what he did, but what Christ had done for him.
Having come to personal faith in Jesus, Luther began to also see many of the other questionable doctrines he had been taught in the church, and soon began to follow his Master's steps by turning over a few tables, at least figuratively speaking. His "protests," and the theological arguments that they produced over the next several years, almost cost him his life. But they also sparked what we now know as the Protestant Reformation, and a liberation of those in bondage to religion.
It's been more than five centuries since that fateful day before All Saints Day--or, "All Hallow's Eve," as it would come to be known (and eventually, Hallow'een). That was certainly a pivotal point in history, as the church was pushed from its corrupt days of the Dark Ages to a period when the Scriptures would be put into the hands of the common man, which of course changed everything.
The reality is, most of the truths that Luther taught--and many of those 95 theses he posted on that Wittenburg door--are almost old hat to us today. We assume things like faith and grace and the authority of Scripture and the centrality of Christ, and well we should, since they are grounded in the word of God. But we must not forget the importance of the simple gospel and those who stood with great courage, refusing to allow it to be compromised.
The trouble is, most of us have a need for more reforming because of our tendency to recycle our religion. Like the church in Luther's time in the 16th century--or like the Pharisees of Biblical times, or those living in the days of the minor prophets--we gravitate toward surface-level religiosity and extra-biblical legalism that neglects faith, negates grace, and cancels out the cross.
We must resist our inclination for man-made religion and going-through-the-motions ritual, no matter how popular the routines and rituals may be. That may require us to go against the grain, like Luther, as we strip away the layers of church-ianity and focus instead on a gospel-driven relationship with Jesus Christ. In that light, the Reformation is still on-going, in all of our lives, as we are being reformed, and daily transformed, by Christ.
So, Happy Reformation Day to each of you. May you know the freedom that is yours in Christ, and may your world be changed because of the difference He makes in your life. I'm praying for you, and look forward to seeing you this Sunday.
--Pastor Ken
