1 TIMOTHY 4:7
It was October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther approached the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany and began to hammer his 95 theses on the heavy wooden doors of the Church.
Luther’s protest was not directed against ghosts and goblins or children who were disguised to deceive or treat. He chose All Hallow’s Eve because it was the night before All Saints’ Day, a day on which the majority of the people would be in church. It was a good time to make his position known.
He was mindful that he was not in a state where freedom of expression is protected as a constitutional right. The Catholic Church was the highest authority in the land: anyone who opposed the Church did so at the risk of death.
What motivated Luther’s courage and defiance?
He had a new idea: the idea of the grace of God. Passion burned in him as he realised that we are saved by grace, through faith, and not by ourselves or our works.
Many Christians today are debating the right attitude towards Halloween. Some believe that it exalts witchcraft and evil, while others view it as simply innocent entertainment. One of Satan’s most successful tactics is to get Christians to fight one another on doctrinal issues. Perhaps we should better focus on what is most important to God, just as Martin Luther did on that fateful day in history.
Luther was determined. He was passionate. He was willing to sacrifice his credentials, his social standing and even his life to share the news of God’s saving grace.
Luther’s courageous act was like lightning that tore the midnight sky. Now it is our turn to do something revolutionary to give others the gift of God’s grace.
🙏 Lord, help us not to be distracted by the devil’s tactics, but show men Your saving grace in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
