October 31 - A Day of Celebration

October 31 is a great day for celebration, but perhaps not for the reason you think. Today marks the anniversary of the event that is considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door at the castle church in Wittenberg. In the decades that followed, the social, theological, and political landscape in Europe had been forever changed. In fact, many people would say that the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ was recovered from centuries of obscurity and darkness. So what is so significant about Luther's revolt against the Catholic church, and why is it reason for continued celebration today?

The subject of the Reformation is fascinating, both from a theological point of view as well as an historical point of view, and perhaps a more detailed exposition of these issues will come in a forthcoming series of articles. For now, however, it is sufficient to give a brief background of the world Luther lived in. Luther eventually argued against much of what the Catholic church taught, but the specific subject of his 95 Theses was the issue of indulgences. At the risk of oversimplification, indulgences were pardons that could be bought. After buying the indulgence, the pope would grant (out of the "Treasury of Merit" earned by saints) merit to the person for which the pardon was sought. This (supposed) power of the pope was exploited as a fundraising tool for the church. [In this regard, some churches today are not all that different, but that is an issue for another day...].

Luther was horrified by the sale of indulgences because of the abuse of papal power, but he had also come to question some of the theological presuppositions that underlied the idea of indulgences. Just two years earlier Luther, through his study of Romans, had begun to understand the idea of justification as both a gift of God and as something given to those who live by faith. This became the central idea of the Reformation - and cut at the heart of much Catholic doctrine: Justification (forgiveness, being righteous) is by faith alone, and it is through the satisfaction and merit of Christ. This is where the great fault-line lay and where the heart of the disagreement was. And this is why the Reformation is something to be celebrated. Do we merit righteousness because of our good works, or because of Christ's good works? Do we receive it by faith, or do we achieve it by keeping the law and paying penance for our sin? These are no small distinctions. These are earth-shattering differences. Praise God that the biblical gospel was recovered from darkness and confusion, and is once again set before us in the clear words of Scripture (which the Reformers taught should be translated in the common language so everyone could understand).

So, in honor of the Reformation and this anniversary of its beginning, let us heed the words of Luther, (taken from his Lectures on Galatians)

Therefore we define a Christian as follows: A Christian is not someone who has no sin or feels no sin; he is someone to whom, because of faith in Christ, God does not impute his sin. This doctrine brings firm consolation to troubled consciences amid genuine terrors.

The next time you are troubled in your conscience over your sin...know that you do not need to perform a sacrament of penance or make satisfaction on your own. Jesus Christ has done that for you, if you will come to him in faith and receive His promise of forgiveness and new life. In fact, it is idolatry to think you can make satisfaction for your sin. That is something only Jesus can do. Praise be to God for this glorious truth, and praise to Jesus Christ who is our atoning sacrifice.