Do We Celebrate Reformation…or Hallowe’en?

Seeds of the Parish, a newsletter put out by the ELCA which is a help for Pastors, urged pastors not to celebrate Reformation out of respect for Catholics and the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.

To which I ask, "Why not?"

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses to the Castle Church door. He sought to debate points of doctrine, especially the role of faith and works in our salvation. Luther also wanted to discuss such topics as indulgences. This was not unusual in Luther's day. Having no TV or video games, the learned entertained themselves with debates. A student or professor would post terms of a debate in a public place, await the challenge to be taken, and set the time and place for the debate and debate before a live audience. Trouble is, Luther never got to debate his theses.

The fact that Rome has somewhat agreed to the Joint Declaration should be reason to celebrate what the Reformation was about-restoring the true and pure Gospel message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone.

A pastor friend of mine offered this observation, however:

I suppose the question of whether or not to celebrate Reformation comes down to what your mission is as a Lutheran ministry. Me, I like Reformation Sunday, because I look at it as a celebration of the three Sola's and of liberation from legalism in all its forms. But if it's degenerated into mere Lutheran chest-thumping and making fun of them "mackeral snappers," then it serves no good purpose. And if a Lutheran ministry were to get something hopeful going with the local Catholic community, some kind of opportunity to really explore the meaning of grace with them, then I could see Reformation Sundays being an impediment. Kind of like, I suppose, a Christian ministry with a strong emphasis on outreach to Muslims would probably want to ditch singing "Beautiful Savior," what with it being known as "The Crusaders' Hymn."

And that may be why some Lutheran congregations may not celebrate Reformation-it has become a matter of pride and chest-thumping about "pure doctrine" and being right. It has long ceased to be a celebration of grace. And maybe it's good to review how and why we celebrate Reformation on occasion.

For in being saved by grace alone, we are all made saints. And if we are all saints, then we are all hallowed. All Hallowed's Eve, or Hallowe'en, was a celebration of the grace God gave all saints-whether they were canonized by Rome or not.

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