Happy Halloween and/or Reformation?

It's one of my favorite times of the year - Halloween and Reformation. The weather is cool and all kinds of fun is at hand.

Remember where Halloween comes from? 

It is the Eve of All Saints Day, November 1st. The church celebrated a day to remember those “saints” (believers) who died in the Christian faith. Hallowe’en means saints (hallowe) ‘en means eve. That’s why it is also called All Hallow’s Eve. Halloween has a long history.

Did you know that it was a tradition from about the third century? The church celebrated the lives of those believers who were killed because they believed in Jesus. Many Christians are persecuted and

killed today because they believe. That’s been in the news a lot lately.

If you believe that Jesus is the one true God who died for your sins, then you are a saint. Therefore, we have saints in heaven and saints on earth. Together, they make up the one holy Christian and Apostolic Church.

October 31^st – Reformation Day

All Saints’ Eve (Halloween) and All Saints’ Day have a special place in the Christian Church because of the Reformation. It was on October 31^st, Halloween, that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the church at Wittenberg, Germany. He chose to challenge the corruption in the official church about the notion that salvation in Christ could be bought with money or works. All Saints are saved by Grace, through Faith, revealed by God’s Word in Christ. It is the work of Christ, not man that saves.

On October 31, 1517 the Church of Christ began to return to the authority of Scripture alone over the traditions of man. Luther’s point was to return to salvation by Faith in Christ alone over the works of people as prescribed by humans. Reformation Day is when the Church returned to the biblical teaching of salvation by Grace alone, rather than one’s attempt to do good things to pay for entrance into heaven. The Church returned to reliance upon Christ alone and not upon self.

October 29th - So have a good time on Halloween. Enjoy your treats and getting dressed up. Enjoy our movie night and the food. Just don’t forget that Halloween is really about Scripture Alone, Faith Alone,  Grace Alone, and Christ Alone. (Latin, Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia and Solus Christus.)