Reformation Day

On Reformation Day, we commemorate the beginning of one of the most significant events in Church history—the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a Catholic priest, fearlessly published his Ninety-Five Theses, officially titled Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences. He sent one copy to the archbishop and posted another on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

Luther sought to bring clarity and access to the gospel at a time when the Catholic Church had hijacked and distorted the truth. He went on to translate the New Testament—and later the Old Testament—from Latin into German, opening the Scriptures to all people.

And whether his theses were dramatically nailed to the door with a hammer or more likely affixed with paste, Luther’s document ignited the Reformation movement that we still celebrate over 500 years later.

“I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one’s conscience is neither safe nor sound. God help me.”
— Martin Luther