October 2025
REFORMATION DAY
Society is preparing to celebrate Halloween. Many consider it an innocent day for the children to dress up like characters they look up to. Sadly, others use this day for dark and occult practices. We want to “TAKE BACK” this day for God’s Glory! By the way it is Reformation day!
What is Reformation Day? It is the day Martin Luther posted his 95 theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517 on October 31st. What did the 95 opinions (theses) say? They centered around 2 central beliefs: 1.) The Bible is the ultimate and only perfect authority for the church. [Ephesians 2:8-10] 2.) Humans may reach salvation ONLY by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not by their deeds. [II Corinthians 5:21]
What’s the connection between Halloween and Reformation Day? It’s more than just the proximity on the calendar. Here’s a little history to help you understand.
Martin Luther was confronting religious observances that exploited people’s fear of judgment and purgatory. Two important matters happened as a result of the Reformation. 1.} A rediscovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone. [Galatians 12:2], 2.} A protest against the corruption within the Roman Catholic Church (ex, false doctrines, Biblical illiteracy, and superstition). The leaders of the church practiced selling of indulgences, the treasury of merit, purgatory, and salvation through good works.
Halloween’s deepest roots originate in paganism. {This is the reason why many Christians base their choice not to participate in the holiday.} Modern Halloween’s origin is Celtic; it has to do with the summer sacrifices to appease Samhain, the lord of death and evil spirits. It was believed that Samhain sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could only escape by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. All Saints Day (a.k.a. All Hallow’s Day) was an attempt to have a Christian alternative that celebrated the lives of saints and martyrs on November 1st. The evening before became known as All Hallow’s Eve, hence “Halloween.”
All Hallows Day was first celebrated on May 13, 609 when the Roman Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the Virgin Mary. Later the date was changed to November 1st by by another bishop of Rome, Gregory III who dedicated a chapel in honor of all saints in the Vatican Basilica. In 837, Gregory IV (827-844) ordered its church wide observance. All Soul’s Day (a.k.a. Day of the Dead) is another day observed by Roman Catholics on November 2nd. This is a day of prayer and almsgiving in memory of ancestors who died, but its practices are not Scriptural. Prayers are offered for the souls of the dead in an effort to hasten their transition from purgatory to heaven by being purged and cleansed from sin. The treasury of merits was believed to justify people by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions. The people were encouraged to acquire this “merit” by purchasing certificates of indulgence. This left them wondering if they had done or paid enough to appease God’s righteous anger and escape his judgment. Salvation cannot be earned in this way, but only through the grace of God in Christ alone. This is precisely the kind of matter that concerned the Protestant Reformers.
This was the context of society that prompted Luther. Luther protested, “the true treasure of the church is the Most Holy Gospel of the Glory and the Grace of God” (thesis 62). This was Luther’s desire for Reformation Day!
In his own way Martin Luther was “taking back” the day for the Glory of God wanting to let the common people know what God’s Word (The Bible) said, and that they could know if they were going to heaven.
Here are a few Scriptures that will teach you about the grace of God – John 3:16; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-10. These are a great place to start, but there are many more!
Salvation is by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross alone. If you have not, please put your complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ today!
Article originally written by Paula Copland with some contributions from Sam A. Torcasio.
Society is preparing to celebrate Halloween. Many consider it an innocent day for the children to dress up like characters they look up to. Sadly, others use this day for dark and occult practices. We want to “TAKE BACK” this day for God’s Glory! By the way it is Reformation day!
What is Reformation Day? It is the day Martin Luther posted his 95 theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517 on October 31st. What did the 95 opinions (theses) say? They centered around 2 central beliefs: 1.) The Bible is the ultimate and only perfect authority for the church. [Ephesians 2:8-10] 2.) Humans may reach salvation ONLY by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not by their deeds. [II Corinthians 5:21]
What’s the connection between Halloween and Reformation Day? It’s more than just the proximity on the calendar. Here’s a little history to help you understand.
Martin Luther was confronting religious observances that exploited people’s fear of judgment and purgatory. Two important matters happened as a result of the Reformation. 1.} A rediscovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone. [Galatians 12:2], 2.} A protest against the corruption within the Roman Catholic Church (ex, false doctrines, Biblical illiteracy, and superstition). The leaders of the church practiced selling of indulgences, the treasury of merit, purgatory, and salvation through good works.
Halloween’s deepest roots originate in paganism. {This is the reason why many Christians base their choice not to participate in the holiday.} Modern Halloween’s origin is Celtic; it has to do with the summer sacrifices to appease Samhain, the lord of death and evil spirits. It was believed that Samhain sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could only escape by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. All Saints Day (a.k.a. All Hallow’s Day) was an attempt to have a Christian alternative that celebrated the lives of saints and martyrs on November 1st. The evening before became known as All Hallow’s Eve, hence “Halloween.”
All Hallows Day was first celebrated on May 13, 609 when the Roman Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the Virgin Mary. Later the date was changed to November 1st by by another bishop of Rome, Gregory III who dedicated a chapel in honor of all saints in the Vatican Basilica. In 837, Gregory IV (827-844) ordered its church wide observance. All Soul’s Day (a.k.a. Day of the Dead) is another day observed by Roman Catholics on November 2nd. This is a day of prayer and almsgiving in memory of ancestors who died, but its practices are not Scriptural. Prayers are offered for the souls of the dead in an effort to hasten their transition from purgatory to heaven by being purged and cleansed from sin. The treasury of merits was believed to justify people by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions. The people were encouraged to acquire this “merit” by purchasing certificates of indulgence. This left them wondering if they had done or paid enough to appease God’s righteous anger and escape his judgment. Salvation cannot be earned in this way, but only through the grace of God in Christ alone. This is precisely the kind of matter that concerned the Protestant Reformers.
This was the context of society that prompted Luther. Luther protested, “the true treasure of the church is the Most Holy Gospel of the Glory and the Grace of God” (thesis 62). This was Luther’s desire for Reformation Day!
In his own way Martin Luther was “taking back” the day for the Glory of God wanting to let the common people know what God’s Word (The Bible) said, and that they could know if they were going to heaven.
Here are a few Scriptures that will teach you about the grace of God – John 3:16; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-10. These are a great place to start, but there are many more!
Salvation is by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross alone. If you have not, please put your complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ today!
Article originally written by Paula Copland with some contributions from Sam A. Torcasio.
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