Trick or Treat? It's Martin Luther

Desiring God ^ | 10-31-2011 | David Mathis

[ReformationFan]

It was 494 years today that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. He wanted to debate the sale of indulgences with his fellow university professors. He wrote in Latin, but a nameless visionary translated the theses into German, carried them to the printing press, and enabled their dispersion far and wide.

Luther ended up with more than he bargained for, but he proved to be no coward in defending the discoveries he was making in Scripture. When the Roman church wouldn’t serve him the treat of sufficiently addressing his concerns, he was consigned to the role of sparking the now half-millennium running trick called the Protestant church. Why Halloween?

Of course Luther wasn’t trick-or-treating when he approached the threshold of the church in Wittenberg, but it’s likely no accident he picked October 31. There’s another angle on Halloween that many are unaware of some 500 years later.

Halloween’s history is shrouded in some of the same mystery and confusion the holiday is known for celebrating. Some historians claim the origin is really in pre-Christian harvest festivals among pagans, and that the occasion was later Christianized when the gospel spread through the Roman Empire nearly two millennia ago. It may be the case that things started pagan (as with all of us!), but it may be that we Christians have let unbelieving historians cloud the true origins of observing October 31. All Hallows’ Eve

One thing that is clear is where the name comes from—and that it is Christian. The English Halloween is short for “All Hallows’ Eve,” the night before the November 1 Christian feast of All Saints (Hallows) Day.

[the invisib1e hand]

It was 494 years today that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg.

Gawd that explains everything.

[edpc]

They didn’t have 3M and Post-It Notes back then.....

[samtheman]

They should have given him a treat.

He ended up soaping their windows but good.

[the invisib1e hand]

guess you could say he “occupied” Wittenburg, eh?

[.30Carbine]

The local Christian radio station played Martin Luther's - Here I Stand by the artistic interpreter Max McLean. What a treat to hear Luther as if I had been there on the night he made his prayer for courage as well as on the day he made that famous speech. We are blessed to be a part of so great a cloud of witnesses.

[narses]

Is this a caucus thread? Or is it somehow wrong to post Luther’s own words here?

[Religion Moderator]

It is not a caucus thread, but anti-Semitic posts are not acceptable on the RF even when they are quotes of a religious leader.

[narses]

But a celebration of the anti semite is OK?

[Salvation]

"We are compelled to concede to the Papists
that they have the Word of God,
that we received it from them,
and that without them
we should have no knowledge of it at all."

~ Martin Luther

"We are compelled to concede to the Papists
that they have the Word of God,
that we received it from them,
and that without them
we should have no knowledge of it at all."

~ Martin Luther

[Salvation]

Be Not Afraid: The Surprisingly Holy Origins of Halloween

Hallowe'en (with facts and recipes)
How Halloween Can Be Redeemed (from Catholic Update)
History of Halloween
Bishops’ Halloween Advice: Dress Children Up as Saints, Not Witches
Halloween (CNA Video)
All Hallows' Eve
Celebrating 'All Hallows Eve' and the 'Feast of All Saints' in a Pre-Christian West
Halloween Prayers: Prayers and Collects for All Hallows Eve
Holiday Hysteria (a Christian defense of Halloween)
Hallowe'en - Eve of All Saints - Suggestions for Reclaiming this Christian Feast

[Religion Moderator]

Hate speech is not tolerable whether using the quote to argue for or against. This is the same reason Chick, etc. are not allowed at all.

But Luther's bad speech on this particular subject is not enough to ban him altogether.

Call him anti-Semitic? Fine. Link to his quotes? Fine. Include the quote in a post where it can be requoted by AFRs out of context? No.

[narses]

On the Jews and Their Lies, 1543
by Martin Luther (1483-1546)

I had made up my mind to write no more either about the Jews or against them. But since .... May God help us. Amen.

More, much more, at the link.

I have excised out the parts that Luther wrote that are antisemitic but you can visit and read his words at the link.

[GAB-1955]

He had faults. Luther was not a saint. This was his biggest mistake. However, it doesn’t make the rest of what he said to be invalid.

[rzman21]

Reformed Protestants cite Luther at their peril because he remained far closer to Catholicism than just about any other Protestant leader.

[narses]

Like his approval of bigamy?

[rzman21]

Or his belief in the necessity of water baptism for salvation.
Private confession and absolution.
The corporeal presence of Christ in holy communion
Baptismal regeneration
Etc.

[Rashputin]

The only thing Luther was ever said in complete honesty was, “sin boldly”.

[Rashputin]

The only thing Luther ever said in complete honesty was, “sin boldly”.