Well the Trick is that I’m not writing this post about All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween). The Treat is that I am writing this about Reformation Day. It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of the Wittenberg Church. Although did not intend it as such, this action became the spark that started the Protestant Reformation. His intention was for an academic discussion at the Wittenberg University regarding the practice of selling indulgences that was currently taking place in the area.

Indulgences can be likened to a “Get out of Jail Free” card. The Roman Catholic Church was building St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. It was a pretty costly endeavor. Some unscrupulous priests took creative liberties in raising money. One such priest was the Domincan, Johann Tetzel. He sold indulgences to people with the jingle, “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” In other words, by making a donation to the building of St. Peter’s, a person could pay their way out of Purgatory.

Luther was an Augustinian priest who had been teaching through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. He had been undone by Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (ESV)

Although he still believed in Purgatory at this time, he had become convinced that salvation was something that God gave only on the basis of faith alone. Tetzel was telling people they could “buy” their way into Heaven. So Luther proposed his 95 Theses statements as a points to have a discussion regarding these issues. Some of the points were:

21. Hence those who preach indulgences are in error when they say that a man is absolved and saved from every penalty by the pope’s indulgences.

24. It must therefore be the case that the major part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of relief from penalty.

32. All those who believe themselves certain of their own salvation by means of letters of indulgence, will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.

36. Any Christian whatsoever, who is truly repentant, enjoys plenary remission from penalty and guilt, and this is given him without letters of indulgence.

43. Christians should be taught that one who gives to the poor, or lends to the needy, does a better action than if he purchases indulgences.

50. Christians should be taught that, if the pope knew the exactions of the indulgence-preachers, he would rather the church of St. Peter were reduced to ashes than be built with the skin, flesh, and bones of the sheep.

51. Christians should be taught that the pope would be willing, as he ought if necessity should arise, to sell the church of St. Peter, and give, too, his own money to many of those from whom the pardon-merchants conjure money.

52. It is vain to rely on salvation by letters of indulgence, even if the commissary, or indeed the pope himself, were to pledge his own soul for their validity.

When you have the chance, read all of the 95 Theses.

On this 491st Anniversary of Reformation Day, all of us Christians in the Protestant tradition have much to be thankful for. Luther wasn’t the first or only one to say some of these things, but he was the one that God used to bring about some needed change in His Church. So let us give thanks to God and His work of providence and grace.

Shane+