October means Reformation! 

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I love October.  I’m wearing sweaters!  The candy section at the grocery store has lots of my favorites!  I love fall colors!  And for Lutherans, October is our birth month.

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October 31, 1517, Martin Luther changed the way the Western World did church.  Ordained a monk, in 1507, he went on to get his PhD in Theology.  He started teaching at the University in Wittenberg.  And it was there as he was reading and writing and teaching scriptures that he had a new understanding of God’s grace.​

Ephesians 2:8, “We are saved by grace though faith.  It is a gift from God so that we may not boast.” 

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It may not sound like much of a quote, however combined with

Romans 3:22, “This righteousness of God is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” 

Dr. Luther had uncovered in scripture that we do not work for our salvation; Jesus did that for us on the cross.  It is not about doing good works it is about believing that Christ Jesus has died for our sins.

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It is well known that Martin Luther went to the Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517 and put on the doors 95 Thesis or ideas for debate.  He chose the 31st as the next day was November 1st and was celebrated as All Saints Day.   Luther knew many people would be going to church the next day and would see his ideas.

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By 1521 Luther was on trial by the Roman Catholic church, the Pope Leo X and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V.  During the trial, Luther was quoted as saying, “Here I stand I can do no other”, as a response to being asked to recant or take back what he had been teaching about being saved by grace through faith.  At the end of trial Luther was found guilty of being a heretic, someone who promoted false teachings. 

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There are a few good movies that mark this event.  Unfortunately Ken Burns hasn’t done one yet.  But there is one with Joseph Fiennes and Sir Peter Ustinov from 2004 which does a good job of telling the Lutheran Reformation story.  I recommend it.

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This year we will celebrate Reformation Day, on Sunday October 26th.  The Sunday closest to the 31st.  We wear RED on this day to celebrate the Holy Spirit working in the world and in our church!

 

Blessings,

Pastor Kim