We are all familiar with that experience when special occasions seem to be nowhere in sight for a long time, and then, like buses, three turn up at once, all for the same date. Well, there’s a date clash at the end of October which presents itself to me every year. The last day of October (31st) is both “Halloween” and “Reformation Day.” My guess is that most of you will have a reasonable understanding about Halloween, but “Reformation Day” may have passed many of you by. It’s the day particularly marked by the Lutheran Church, but by Protestant Churches in general (including the Church of England), in celebration of Martin Luther’s challenge to the errors of the 16th century Roman Catholic Church. Luther is said to have nailed a document bearing his “95 theses” to the door of Wittenberg church on 31st October 1517 – a move which ultimately proved to be the catalyst for the Reformation. Luther wasn’t trying to split the church; he wanted to reform it – to rid the church of unbiblical ideas and practices and help ordinary people have more joy and confidence in the good news of Jesus and greater access to the Bible. The split (or “schism”) that followed came only because the church obstinately refused to reform itself – instead of adopting Luther’s ideas, the Pope and many senior leaders rejected them. Even King Henry VIII wrote a paper against Luther. He was rewarded by the Pope with the title “Defender of the Faith.”
The impact of Luther’s work cannot be overstated. His teaching literally changed the world and shapes much of the way that western societies think and function today. So, given the choice of the two celebrations every year, will I choose Halloween or Reformation Day? You won’t be surprised to read that I choose Reformation Day every year. As someone who, like Luther, wants people to understand the life-giving message of the Bible, I naturally want to celebrate anything that helps promote it and I steer clear of anything that runs against it.
In Psalm 119, we read, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” By giving the Bible to the people, Luther, his contemporaries and followers shone the light of heaven into some of the darkness that was being perpetuated by the church of their day. One of the great cries of the Reformation (slightly ironically in Latin!) was “Post Tenebras, Lux!” (“After Darkness, Light!”) I’m sure you will agree that we do need light in our dark world.
Curiously, as I write this, I cannot help but notice that some of the modern-day Halloween festivities have the same roots – in showing the victory of light over darkness. Luther himself said, “The best way to drive out the Devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.” As little children (weak and fragile) don costumes which represent the powers of darkness and death, so we can laugh and take comfort, remembering that these supposedly terrifying things are themselves weak and fragile – they have been overcome by Christ Jesus who conquered the grave and now lives to bring life and light to all who turn to him in faith. Therefore, whether you usually celebrate Halloween or Reformation Day, this year, laugh with me that death is defeated and that we have hope!
In these darker months, may you know the light of the gospel of Christ.
Photo by Lucas Andrade on Unsplash
Check out this short video on Halloween from Speak Life’s Glen Scrivener.