While October 31 is the day our culture celebrates Halloween, Protestant Christians have something far greater to celebrate: Reformation Day. On October 31 in 15 17, the German monk named Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Luther was concerned with several questionable church practices and he wanted to debate his 95 theses with his brothers in the church. The debate, however, sparked a protest that would recover the gospel and change the world.
Stephen Nichols sums it up well:
What is Reformation Day? It is the day the light of the gospel broke forth out of darkness. It was the day that began the Protestant Reformation. It was a day that led to Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and may other Reformers helping the church find its way back to God’s Word as the only authority for faith and life and leading the church back to the glorious doctrines of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It kindled the fires of missionary endeavors, it led to hymn writing and congregational singing, and it led to the centrality of the sermon and preaching for the people of God. It is the celebration of a theological, ecclesiastical, and cultural transformation.
This day is family history for all Protestants: Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, and everyone in between.
Here are some excellent resources to celebrate Reformation Day.
Free Reformation Day Lectures and Courses
The Lutheran Reformation: Lectures by Dr. Carl Trueman. Thanks to the Master’s Seminary and Professor Carl Trueman, you can watch all the lectures from Trueman’s class for free online! These are an absolute gold mine.
The Reformation in England. A Survey of the events and Individuals involved in the Reformation of the Church of England
The Five Solas. A Survey of the Reformation Solas: Grace alone, Faith alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, God’s glory alone.
The Next 500 Years. The 2017 Ligonier Ministries National Conference celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the future of the church.
Videos
Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer. This is an outstanding documentary on the story behind the man who sparked the Protestant Reformation
The 5 Minute Case for Protestantism:
Reformation Day Reading
Suggested Reading on The Reformation. These articles provides excellent recommendations for further reading.
- The Unquenchable Flame, Michael Reeves
- Reformation: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, Carl Trueman
- Reforming Joy, Tim Chester
- Why the Reformation Still Matters, Michael Reeves and Tim Chester
- The Legacy of Luther, R. C. Sproul and Stephen Nichols
- The Five Solas Series
- Reformation Theology, Matthew Barrett
- The Unfinished Reformation, Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo
- Rescuing the Gospel, Lutzer
A Protestant Confession of Church Unity
The Reforming Catholic Confession
One of the best ways to commemorate the Reformation is to remember the Reformers’ original vision for true catholic (i.e., universal) unity under the authority of Scripture alone. In 2017, a number of leaders from across the Protestant spectrum came together to honor the original vision of the Reformers by demonstrating that, despite our genuine differences, there is a significant and substantial doctrinal consensus that unites us as “mere Protestants.”
Dozens of Protestant theologians have joined together to produce a “Reforming Catholic Confession” which has already been endorsed by several hundred church leaders. This confession summarizes the beliefs Protestants of diverse churches and theological traditions hold in common.
Mitch Bedzyk serves as a pastor Emmanuel Community Church, overseeing music and Sunday Classes. He received his Master of Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and works in IT for the NY Office of Mental Health. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children: Kya, Khalli, Oliver, Amelia, and Micah. In his spare time he enjoys reading, coffee, guitar, being an MLS fanatic and playing fantasy soccer.
