Halloween has become a rather controversial holiday among North American
Christians in the last few decades. There are obvious questions about the moral
and spiritual propriety of some things associated with and glorified by modern
Halloween customs. Unfortunately, fundamentalist critiques of the holiday often
include historical revisionism and extreme rhetoric suggesting any
participation is a compromise with the Devil. This is inaccurate and unhelpful.
It is regrettable that
so many Christians who oppose Halloween have no awareness of the Protestant significance of October 31:
Reformation Day. This was the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the
door of the church in Wittenberg. No one could have anticipated, not even
Luther himself, how significant this action would be. Luther’s 95 Theses called
the Roman Church to repent in light of Scripture and launched what would be
known as the Protestant Reformation.
Luther’s actions on
October 31st were so significant that Reformation Day eventually
became a formal festival in Lutheran and some Reformed churches and a national
holiday in Germany, Slovenia, and Chile. Whether the church should appoint a
formal celebration of this anniversary as a “holy day” is debatable. (It
certainly seems inconsistent with the Reformed emphasis on the Regulative Principle of Worship.)
However, it is part of our history
and heritage as believers. It is an event of tremendous importance that
profoundly shaped both the western world and the church as we know it today.
The Lord used Luther’s 95 Theses and the teaching and piety of other Reformers
to bring about great awakening and revival and renewal within His Church.
We will not be having
any formal celebration of Reformation Day in our services on October 25th,
though we will sing A Mighty Fortress is
Our God (written by Luther and traditionally sung on Reformation Day) in
the morning service and Faith of Our
Fathers in the evening service. But we should, at least, be aware of the
historical significance of it. There is more to be said about this time of year
than candy, costumes, or Christian debates about Halloween. There is history to
remember, God’s providence to praise and give thanks for, and heroes to admire.
Soli Deo Gloria! –JME
