Reformation Day, annually occurring on October 31, honors Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses on the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517. This holiday is largely exclusive to Protestants as a commemoration of the origin of the Protestant Reformation. Luther's 95 theses sparked the Reformation, as they were quickly translated and spread across Germany within weeks. 

Dr. Ray Pritchard writes: "on Reformation Day, we pause to give thanks to God for Martin Luther and for the recovery of the gospel truth that we are declared righteous in the eyes of God solely based on what Jesus Christ accomplished for us in his bloody death and victorious resurrection."

Martin Luther, desiring to spark theological discussion over the medieval practice of selling indulgences, nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. That happened 503 years ago today. The spark he set off ignited a flame that spread across Europe and became known as the Protestant Reformation. By challenging the church's authority and its doctrine, Luther reclaimed for Christianity the central doctrine of salvation-justification by faith alone.

Luther took a bold and dangerous step as he nailed a paper to the door of a Cathedral in Wittenberg, Germany, on which he had written 95 complaints against the only Christian community of his day - his own Church. It went down in history as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. The protests that were written that day for the public to see began the most dramatic reform within Christianity.

Reformation Day is traditionally observed on October 31, the same day as Halloween. In numerous German states, it is a public holiday; likewise, many branches of the government and court system are often closed. 

In the United States, this holiday is often observed on the Sunday preceding Halloween, a day recognized as Reformation Sunday, which will be October 27, 2024. We invite you to wear RED on Reformation Sunday to remind us of the fire of the Spirit.