A Day of Celebration! A History Lesson

Many people celebrate the 31st of October in a way that can not be pleasing to God. We choose to celebrate a day in history that is one all believers should be grateful for, REFORMATION DAY!

What is Reformation Day? I am glad that you asked. Reformation Day is a religious holiday celebrated on October 31 in remembrance of the Reformation, particularly by Lutheran and some Reformed church communities.

On this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted a proposal at the doors of a church in Wittenberg, Germany to debate the doctrine and practice of indulgences. This proposal is popularly known as the 95 Theses, which he nailed to the Castle Church doors. This was not an act of defiance or provocation as is sometimes thought. Since the Castle Church faced Wittenberg's main thoroughfare, the church door functioned as a public bulletin board and was therefore the logical place for posting important notices. Also, the theses were written in Latin, the language of the church, and not in the vernacular. Nonetheless, the event created a controversy between Luther and those allied with the Pope over a variety of doctrines and practices. When Luther and his supporters were excommunicated in 1520, the Lutheran tradition was born.

Within the Lutheran church, Reformation Day is considered a minor festival, and is officially referred to as The Festival of the Reformation. Until the 20th Century, most Lutheran churches celebrated Reformation Day on October 31st, regardless of which day of the week it occurred. Today, most Lutheran churches transfer the festival, so that it falls on the Sunday (called Reformation Sunday) on or before October 31st and transfer All Saints' Day to the Sunday on or after November 1st.

The liturgical color of the day is red, which represents the Holy Spirit and the Martyrs of the Christian Church. Luther's hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God is traditionally sung on this day. Lutherans customarily stand during the hymn, in memory of its use in the religious wars of the Sixteenth Century.

It is also traditional in some Lutheran schools for schoolchildren to hold Reformation Day plays or pageants that re-enact scenes from the life of Martin Luther.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day"

So you asked, why does this little southern baptist butterfly celebrate a day that the Lutherans celebrate. Well the answer is simple...Martin Luther was allowed by God to grasp and understand the biblical principle of Sola Fide, which means "faith in Christ Alone".

I celebrate Reformation Day because this great man of faith took a stand for Christ that costs him his life, but liberated believers from the persecution and oppression of a works based faith! Praise God for the faithful who stand for righteousness.

May all who come behind us, find us faithful,too!