Halloween or Reformation Day?
Most Americans know October 31 as Halloween. But some of us celebrate October 31 as Reformation Day. Here is a Reformation Day Q&A with the Rev. Robert E. Smith of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Learn about Reformation Day or more about Luther and Project Wittenberg.
Q: Reformation Day is Wednesday, October 31. On this day in 1517 in the German town of Wittenberg, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the Castle Church door. Was it because of his belief that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone?
A: I’m afraid not. Luther posted the 95 Theses because he thought salvation was by works! He thought that indulgences let people off the hook too easily and that people had to be truly sorry for their sins to earn forgiveness. In short, he out-Romed the pope! Under the pressure of controversy, Luther was to reexamine everything by the Scripture and soon rediscover the gospel and other precious truths. It didn’t hurt that at this specific time he was also lecturing on Romans.
Q: In Luther, a 2003 movie that would be good to rent this week, Martin Luther stands before church authorities and proclaims, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason and not by popes and councils who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.” Did he really say this?
A: The statement in the second sentence is from much later, when Luther had already been excommunicated and was testifying at the Diet of Worms before the Emperor as to his faith. There is also a bit of doubt as to whether or not he said, “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God, Amen.” Of course, we say at Concordia that even if he didn’t say it, he should have.