No, I am not referring to that bastion of Pagan celebration we call "Halloween"! I am referring to the real holiday celebration that should take place annually, on that date (and even more so tomorrow), but generally doesn't. Instead of dressing up like witches, ghosts, and goblins, we should reverently celebrate something that might be called, "Happy Reformation Day"!!!
On October 31st, in the year 1517 (500 years ago, tomorrow), history tells us that a 33 year old monk, named Martin Luther, reputedly nailed a list of 95 objections to the common practices of the Catholic Church, known as his "95 Theses", to the church door, in Wittenberg, Germany. Thus began what is today referred to as the, "Protestant Reformation".
Among his "95 Theses" was the concept that salvation, and eternal forgiveness of sins, was not a matter of Priestly absolution, or something that could be earned by one's good works, but was solely a free gift of God, for the confession of Jesus Christ as one's personal Lord, and Savior, and receiving His forgiveness for all of your sins! It further dismissed the practice of purchasing the salvation of deceased loved ones from the Church, and their release from "Purgatory" unto Heaven, a practice that was common in Luther's time, as the Church tried to raise money for Vatican repairs.
It also started the concept that the Bible should be translated into the common vernacular, and as such should be the final authority in instructing Christian living. The idea that the Church Priests were not the final authority for Christians, was considered blasphemous in his day, for which people were routinely burned to death, at the stake!
In a time when Bible reading has become considered frivolous, and even pointless, perhaps a different celebration set for October 31st of each year might cause some reconsideration of people's values.
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