Issue 1286 – Happy Reformation Day – October 31, 2023
Today, much of the world celebrates All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. It has become a night to celebrate make-believe, and all that is dark in this world.
Some celebrate it as harmless fun, while for others, it truly is an evening of celebrating the occult and demonic.
There are Christians violently opposed to it, others who are attempting to “reclaim the night” from darkness and still others who simply celebrate the fun. It is an area of strong opinions on all sides. Ironically, the feelings run so high that Christians often “demonize” their opponents rather than merely disagreeing on the issues.
I would suggest this is a non-essential issue where believers can disagree in love, even if they hold firm positions.
I think the Apostle Paul might agree.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Romans 14:1-9
Kathy and I will be out on the front lawn with a propane fire pit and chairs. We will give candy to the kids and take the opportunity to meet (or re-meet) the parents who come by. They are often glad of a few moments of respite.
October 31 remains a big day on the Christian calendar. Happy Reformation Day.
On this day in 1517, the Augustinian monk Martin Luther posted his famed 95 theses on the door at Wittenberg. You can view them here.
Luther’s intent was not to break the church apart but, like the prereformers Jan Hus and John Wycliffe before him, to bring about changes in doctrine to restore them in places the church had drifted from the truth.
Some of the articles he posted for debate were of great importance, such as salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. Others were of much more limited scope and technical in detail.
Whatever his intentions, the result was that the gospel was recovered, and we can celebrate that fact.
Praise God for His faithfulness in providing men and women like the reformers who would give their lives for the truth to be known.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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