
St. Cross Church in Oxford, England, has stood since before the Reformation.
I grew up celebrating Reformation Day on October 31st (no offense to my Catholic friends out there!). My teen years are peppered with fond memories of dressing up in 16th century garb, eating lentil stew by candlelight, and playing the piano for us to sing Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” together.
But when my sister was a young teen, my mom asked her what she thought of the Reformation, which she had been studying in school.
She responded, “It was a mess!”
Honestly, she was right. Catholics killed Protestants, and Protestants killed other dissenters who disagreed with them. An awful lot of hatred and discord and worse came from this movement many of us celebrate now.
And yet, I believe God used the Reformation, as well as the Catholic reforms that followed it. I’m grateful that I can read the Bible in my own language, don’t have to stay behind a screen when I go to church, and know I can approach the Lord directly for forgiveness through Jesus rather than purchasing an indulgence.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
More and more, I’ve realized that history doesn’t have any flawless heroes. Life doesn’t either. And yet, for some reason (and honestly, I don’t always understand why), God chooses to work through us human beings, flawed and messed-up though we are, to bring about His plan of redemption for the world. He chooses to perfect His strength in our weakness.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, his name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And because of Jesus, all the hateful schemes of “our ancient foe” must finally be defeated.
Two Sundays ago in church, we sang this hymn, written when many Christians were facing persecution or death for standing up for what they believed. These threats were very real for them.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
The final verse we sang a capella. As I stood surrounded by old and young singing with whole-hearted vigor words that believers have sung for hundreds of years in different languages, I thought of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East right now for whom these words are also very real:
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours, thru him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.
This beautiful rendition of “A Mighty Fortress” by the choir of Kings College, Cambridge, is dedicated to the Christians of Iraq. I hope you’ll listen, and pray for our brothers and sisters.
So, what is your family/cultural/faith heritage for this time of year? Do you celebrate Reformation Day? All Saints’ Day? Halloween? Please comment and share!
Our church has a harvest festival, and I have two young daughters who are surrounded by children who celebrate Halloween in some form or another, so that’s what we do. But I was talking to my eldest who is nine and asking her what is really being celebrated in dressing up and getting candy from strangers and she couldn’t give an answer. So I explained both the Christianized version and the roots behind the holiday that we made into a holy day.
Personally, though, I wish it was what it’s name originally implied a night to think and talk about those who’ve gone before us who fought the spiritual fight to follow Christ. Followed by a day to celebrate the examples we hold in honor as those saints (though we are all technically saints) who showed us how to fight with humility and God’s love.
Thanks so much for sharing, Jessica! And I like your ideas. 🙂
Hi Kiersti, I’m really glad we met on Saturday at the Karate dinner – it looks like we have a lot in common! (For example, my husband is an APU alum, and I love Downtown Abbey and Call the Midwife too!)
We always sing “A Mighty Fortress” on Reformation Sunday at our church. Over the years our family has at times done the Halloween thing, but not consistently. When it comes to Christians participating in Halloween, we believe it’s a matter of “liberty of conscience,” but I do think it’s a shame that so many Christians get caught up in Halloween yet don’t even know it’s Reformation Day – or what that even means – an issue which I addressed on my blog as well: http://imallbooked.com/2014/10/31/happy-reformation-day/
I’m looking forward to exploring more of your site and reading more of your articles.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It was lovely to meet you as well, Linda! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing. I actually already enjoyed finding your post on Reformation Day, though I hadn’t commented yet! May you and your family have a very blessed Thanksgiving as well. 🙂 Hope to see you again in the future!