Reformation Day is October 31. It is October 31 because that is the day before November 1. November 1 is All Saints’ Day. The Reformation is really an entire movement that spanned many years and manifested itself in many different ways. With things like this it is not always easy to pin down a start date. October 31 was chosen because that is the day that Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg.
Now why would he do a thing like that? At that time, the church door was like a bulletin board so plenty of people nailed things to it (think yard sale, lost pet, babysitting fliers, etc.). A lot of people went to church there at that time and since there were not denominations as we have them today, everyone went to the same church. If you wanted people to see your flyer, then you would have to post it in a place people would see it. The church door fit that bill. So, Luther posts his 95 topics for discussion to the church door and since it becomes very hard to take this public act back once you have done it, this is the accepted start of the Reformation.
October 31 was chosen because it would have provided one of the largest audiences of the year for flyers posted to the church door. Again, because All Saints’ Day was the following morning. This means that the importance of All Saints’ Day to the church of Luther’s day is the reason that the Reformation began on the day that it did. Many modern Christians might raise an eyebrow at this because All Saints’ Day is not nearly as prominent as, say, Christmas or Easter. Why not? Why do we not think All Saints’ Day is a bigger deal? Good question.
First of all, it must be said that Roman Catholics have a different view of “Saints” than nearly all other Christians. Yet, when most people think of Saints they think of them in Roman Catholic terms. We call to mind people who have done especially good things in their lives and are now worthy of having their likeness affixed to a candle available for purchase from Spanish speaking grocery merchants and Catholic gift shops. This view of saints deliberately sets them apart as a thing that only the very pious may become and therefore, very few. Most of us do not think of ourselves as worthy of being put on the outside of a candle.
If we turn our eye to God’s Word what do we find? Paul in the beginning of his letter to the Romans says, “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints”. It seems that Paul is calling all the Christians in Rome Saints. Either that or Romans was written to only a select few people there. This would also be the case with many of Paul’s other letters i.e. 1 & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.
So how are we to understand what is and is not a saint? Let’s take Paul’s view and view all Christians as Saints. That would include you and me. But especially on All Saints’ Day we remember those Saints who no longer struggle with sin, those who have died and are now with their Lord. So for us, All Saints’ Day can, and perhaps should, be a special day for us as we remember our family and friends who believed as we do that Jesus is Lord and have passed away. For them, however, life is much easier and much better. So much so that we look forward to joining them. Happy All Saints’ Day this November 1. ~ Pastor Mehl