Costumes and candy, Oct. 31 st is most often celebrated as Halloween. In the church, however, this day is remembered as Reformation Day. On Oct. 31, 1517, an Augustinian Monk named Martin Luther nailed Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. The hammer-strokes, it has been said, were heard throughout the world.

The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences is the full name of the writing, an academic name for an academic document. The Theses were posted for discussion and debate among theologians, but they were quickly translated from Latin into German, the common language. Through the new invention of the printing press the Ninety-Five Theses and Luther's other writings spread like wildfire through Germany and beyond.

The Theses challenged the practice of hawking indulgences, certificates which promised release from the pains of purgatory. These certificates were funding construction of St. Peter's cathedral in Rome. Indulgences were also a corner-stone of medieval Roman Catholic theology. Luther would argue that the merits of Jesus' death alone, won our salvation. Indulgences obscured the comfort of the Gospel.

Soon Dr. Luther found himself at the front of a theological battle that would later be called the Reformation. Reflecting on these early events, Luther would say, "It was without any intention, purpose, or will of mine that I fell, quite unexpectedly, into this wrangling and contention." But in the midst of wrangling and contention indeed he was.

Sales of indulgences declined which drew the attention of Rome. In the years that followed Luther was debated, officially interviewed, rebuked by the pope, called to repent and, in the first week of 1521, excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.

He would continue to teach and write, always holding out Jesus as the beginning and end of all teaching. "The cross alone is our theology," he would say. Hundreds of churches, theologians, princes, and thousands of Christians rejoiced in the truth of the Scriptures which Luther brought back to light. In fact, Lutheran Churches to this day continue to cling to the simple teaching of the Scripture Alone which Luther extolled. These churches will celebrate Oct. 31 as Reformation Day, thanking God for the truth of Scripture taught faithfully by Dr. Martin Luther.

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller is pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Aurora, CO.
www.hope-aurora.org

Links:
The Ninety-Five Theses: www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/web/ninetyfive.html
What Lutherans Believe: www.hope-aurora.org/pages/Beliefs
More on Martin Luther: www.hope-aurora.org/pages/Luther