Today is Halloween. Not unlike most, I have had my share of Halloween revelry over the years. Friday night, as a matter of fact, the other Americans and several local Asian friends will have our own Halloween party. Always fun to see the utter confusion of the local people when a small group of foreigners are walking around this city in random costumes.
Today, however, my mind goes back to a faithful day in the sleepy college town of Wittenberg, Germany on this date exactly 496 years ago to the day. If you are a Christian, this day was one of the most important in history for you.
By the 1500s, the church had woefully lost its way. Over the course of a few generations, the official world-wide church (based out of Rome) had all but lost the simple message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It had been replaced with a meritorious based, “salvation by works” doctrine.
What would you do if you honestly felt your family and friends were being led literally into HELL as a result of false teaching? How about your entire nation or the known world? Would you literally risk your life to help them out, to counter the wickedness, to point the world to the truth?
This was the case in the year 1517.
Enter into the picture a professor of religion (and monk) by the name of Martin Luther. He had become a Christian and began to take seriously the teachings of the Bible. He compared the teaching of the actual Bible to the belief system being taught by the church. As a result, Luther became convinced that his German countrymen (and the known world) were literally being led to hell by the licentiousness, greed, and false teaching OF THE CHURCH.
Though he was a young, non-tenured professor at a low-level university, Luther knew he must act. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther tacked his “95 Theses” on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This seemingly benign act of challenging the belief system of the known church in a small corner of rural Germany literally changed the world in innumerable ways.
Most importantly, the true message of the Gospel of Christ Jesus was maintained. It was a real life and death issue for millions upon millions of people.
It was also a literal act of life and death for Martin Luther. As a result of this simple little act of challenging the established church of the time, Luther was labeled a treasonous heretic. Soon after this date, an official “price” was put on Luther’s head. For the final 27 years of Martin Luther’s life, it was not only legal for ANYONE to kill him at will; it was encouraged by the promise of a financial reward.
I cannot imagine the level of stress this would cause a person. I cannot imagine the level of faith it would take for someone to make this level of a stand with this level of consequence. However, I am eternally grateful Martin Luther did make this stand. As a result, here I stand, along with the remainder of the world-wide Christian church.
This morning, when reading about Martin Luther, I was reminded of Hebrews 12:1-2.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
One of the many aspects of being a Christian which ignites my soul is this wonderful community of Christians around the world I am a part of. We form a massive family of God which is actually CLOSER than flesh and bone. Not only this, part of our family is comprised of members who have lived and died well before we were introduced onto the scene.
“So great a cloud of witnesses” which surrounds me, both living and dead, both in Asia and around the world, both within my physical family and without, is a wonderful comfort AND one of my greatest inspirations in all of life for me.
Today, on October 31, 2013, I am grateful beyond words for the obedience and life of my brother, Martin Luther, which took a wonderfully sacrificial turn on this day 496 years ago.
(You might have noticed, I have been working on a new look for this website. I would love any HONEST FEEDBACK you have on it!)
Thank you for this post! I am a history lover- teacher- unquenchable hunger to learn more and touch and experience where, when, what, how and why of history and God’s fingerprint therein… thank you for celebrating Luther!
Two… i have noticed the make-over work… it looks very good. Clean, organized, good pictures, straight lines…
Happy Hallow’s Eve.
Hey Tammie, so glad you enjoyed it. Honestly, it is such a departure from my normal post that I wondered if anyone would like it at all. Glad to know at least someone liked it.
Yeah, Luther is my historical hero.
Have a great day and “holiday”!
Thanks, John for this great reminder about what October 31st really should be remembered for! Wish the body of believers in mass would celebrate this significant event in church history. (I know many churches do, but it’s not the norm.) As a homeschool Mom, we just finished covering some of this period of history and I am so grateful that my girls can begin to appreciate Luther at their age!
I agree, Stacy. I have loved, as an adult, learning all about our Christian heritage. Both interesting and edifying.
Have a great day!
Wow, I’ve learnt something new today. I actually thought it had some connection to Halloween apart from the date.
Noticed the changes in the blog. I love it. Brought with it this feeling I usually have when I’m starting to read a new book, just that I can’t sniff it.
I hope you are well.
Tatuu, great. . .so glad you like the new look!
Do you guys do Halloween or is this just a strange little American thing?
Thanks to Americans, Halloween has been integrated into our culture but it’s not a big thing here. Most of the time it goes unnoticed unless someone visits some parts of the city. Personally, I have never celebrated Halloween.
I will teach church reformation history this winter in ACCCN. Hope more Christians know how Martin Luther used by God and how history has changed by what Luther stood for near 500 years ago.
I agree, Brother Zou. I would love to see the notes to your class if you think to email them to me.
Great article, friend and sharp-looking website… 🙂
Thanks Vicky. . . hope you are having a great day!
Found this article through a comment you made on The Gospel Coalition’s ‘9 Things about Halloween and Reformation Day’. Interesting and helpful to me as a life-long Baptist who recently retired from my position as secretary in a Lutheran church office. While Martin Luther is talked about in a positive way in my own church, I sure learned a lot more about him and Reformation Day (and Advent and Lent, for that matter) from my Lutheran friends. Thank you.
Jeanie, thanks for reading and commenting. I had a similar experience. Upon learning about church history, my appreciation of our faith grew exponentially.
I must admit, I had to look up and read those 95 Theses as I only could recall the gist of what Luther purposed when he posted them. I’m challenged by his conviction, courage and the consequences of his actions. Makes me wonder… although only 500 years in our past, have we succumbed to false teaching again? What would be the Theses nailed to the church doors today? Guess you can be satisfied that although this is a departure from your normal types of posts, it’s a still a provocative one as one’s left (at least me) with even more questions about which to ponder and pray. Grace & peace, John…
Thanks Alexis. I have actually thought the same things. I’m sure it would center upon the same centrality of the Gospel message. The only major difference is that back there, there was only one primary voice for the church. Now there is a plurality.
Thanks for adding in here!
John, wonderful post today on Luther! Whether you’re writing about spending the night in the Dekalb County drunk tank, or the Protestant Reformation, I always love reading your blog! I can’t believe I just publicly admitted that!
Thanks Bryan. . . I’m going to hold you to this statement!
First, I would like to thank you for giving us a voice here (I do have my own blog, but I am not very well-spoken – apart from the casual readings I get as a result of comments on others’ blogs ;P it’s only few humoring friends who read me).
I feel challenged to be a Luther. I here challenge you to be a Luther!
Alexis was wondering in her comment above whether we have “succumbed to false teaching again”. And “what would be the Theses nailed to the church doors today?”
It would take courage to speak/write them, would it not? Sola Scriptura (by Bible alone), sola fide (by faith alone), sola gratia (by grace alone), solus Christus (by Christ alone). ALONE.
Luther didn’t apologize before posting the theses, though he imagined there were many Christians who obeyed the false teachings of their church with a pure sincere heart.
I feel like apologizing before posting this, but I am sure the honest believer checks his creed with the Bible, comparing verses while praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
1. Most Christians today worship on Sunday while there is no evidence in the Bible that Sunday was supposed to replace the holy day of rest of the 4th commandment, that is, Saturday. Any Bible seeker is bound to find this out, like I have. (Search all verses that feature “Sabbath”).
2. There is no life after death. The Bible says death is just the absence of life, the dead know nothing at all, it is as if they were sleeping, waiting for the Lord to resurrect them at the end of times (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Going to heaven right after dying? There is no Bible verse to support that view, but the opposite. (Acts 2:29, 34; Hebrew 11:39, 40 etc).
3. There is no everlasting hell. The Bible says the result of never giving up on sin will be eternal death, eternal disappearance, not eternal torment in fire for just 80, 90 years of sinful life. Surely the devil would do that, but not our loving Maker.
(Hey, you will say, what about Revelation 14:11 “And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.” As you know, there is no theology in one verse only, the Bible never contradicts itself. Read Exodus 21:6 “Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever. And we have another FOREVER phrase in Psalms 21:4 “He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.”
David is dead (Acts 2:29) and there is no servant serving his master forever and ever. Another very clear reference to eternal consequences of one’s choice is Judas 1:7 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah,…, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” There is no forever burning city of Sodom in the Middle East or anywhere).
4. God is our Redeemer as He is love, and, at the same time, He is our Judge, as he is just, too. Upon His second coming, He will bring His reward (Revelation 22:12). This points to Him previously deciding who’s on His side and who’s on the Deceiver’s, so His judgment takes place before His return (Hebrews 8:1-2, Revelation 14:7 etc).
5. The devil and his angels are intelligent, superior creatures that oppose God and deceive humans, perfectly covered by the general belief they do not actually exist. (1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:9-12)
You may feel that your faith is not based on, say, whether we go to heaven or not after dying. You are, to be sure, free to feel and say that. God respects our freedom of thought and choice.
Unfortunately, this is how we “succumb to false teachings” that soon enough open the door for erroneous beliefs, like talking to your loved dead ones. If, in reality, our loved dead ones know nothing and sleep (as God says in His Word), who are we talking to?? The devil and his angels are only a knock away and they mean d e s t r u c t i o n.
Thank you for reading! My only hope is that we go back to Sola Scriptura and live a meaningful life. It is not easy, but it’s safe to be on His side.
Thanks for taking the time to think through this post!
Have a great week, Iulia!
Strong post! Love the blog face lift…Bold.Crisp.Manly.
Thanks Ashley. . .hope you had a great Halloween!