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A Hammer and Nails

© John L. Hoh, Jr.

Once again we approach October 31. Most calendars simply call it "Halloween" or "Hallowe'en," if they give the holiday any credit at all. (The calendar next to my desk as I write this has October 31 blank, but that could be for space; the final Sunday block for October is split between the 24th. And the 31st.) The name for this date comes from the ancient church practice of celebrating "All Hallowed's Day" on November 1, hence the day before became "All Hallowed's Eve," or "Hallowe'en." November 1 is also referred to as "All Saints Day," since "hallowed" and "sainted" mean the same thing. Basically, it was the equivalent of Memorial Day.

In Luther's Day it became more than that. Like the Oriental cultures that also honored their elders, especially those who had passed on, the Church hierarchy found a money-making opportunity on this day. What better way to honor your dead ancestors, especially those parents who bore you and raised you, than by buying indulgences to shorten their time in purgatory? "When a coin in the chest rings, another soul to heavenly rest springs."

Luther saw this from afar. The Elector forbad the selling of indulgences within Electoral Saxony. His motive has less to do with theology and more to do with economics. The Elector himself had a vast array of relics which he opened for public view, for a price, every November 1, "All Saints' Day." What better way to celebrate "All Saints Day" than to view the remains of the Apostolic saints, or other saints who did so much for their church and fellow believers?

But while Luther saw the buying and selling of indulgences from afar, it wasn't too far for Saxons and Wittenbergers to cross the river to buy them from the source. And Luther often ran into people in licentious behavior who felt no guilt. Their reasoning was that they had paid for their sins by buying the indulgence! They "earned" the right to be drunk, to fornicate, to steal, and whatever other sinful and anti-social behavior they practiced. To Luther this was a sell-out of the Grace won and earned by the precious blood of his Savior. The transfer of money cheapened the Grace paid for by God with a steep price.

Not that he agreed with what his boss was doing, either. The adoration of relics was an abomination in Luther's eyes. Again, it cheapened the Grace that was paid for with a high price of blood, suffering, and death.