WHAT WAS REFORMATION ALL ABOUT? WHY IS IT RELEVANT FOR US TODAY?

Church has a calendar and there are certain dates marked as important days to celebrate. They are considered significant events relevant for us as Christians and the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ. The past three days, 31 October, and 1 and 2 November are considered one of the most important days in the Church calendar. 31 October being the Reformation Day, 1 November being the All Saints’ Day and 2 November being the All Souls’ Day.

I say it is an interesting line up of days. Most of those who celebrated these three days don’t seem to grasp the importance of the days and their theological significance and its impact on our spiritual lives. Most of those who celebrated these days, especially the latter two, seem to be blissfully ignorant of what is being celebrated and its spiritual relevance to us.

The Reformation Day is directly in opposition to the All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day. In fact, one of the very foundational reasons for the Protestant Reformation were Church traditions like these two, along with others. Sadly the Protestant Church today is in deep spiritual slumber and seems to be utterly disinterested in knowing what is being celebrated and why. We seem to follow the religious trends driven by sentiments and emotions, and not what the LORD says in His written Word.

I have seen Baptists, Mennonites and some Bible based non-denominational Christians promoting and practicing “All Souls’ Day” with deep religious sentiments. It is a tragedy, and no one seems to bother to “Bell the Cat” which seems to roam around freely.

Let us ask ourselves two questions about the All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day and try to answer them in the context of the Reformation Day.

1- WHAT WAS REFORMATION ALL ABOUT? 
The Protestant Reformation can be summed up in the Five Solas of the Reformation. They give us the context for such a necessity. 1- SCRIPTURE ALONE, 2- FAITH ALONE, 3- GRACE ALONE, 4- CHRIST ALONE and 5- GLORY TO GOD ALONE

1- SOLA SCRIPTURA – “Scripture Alone”
God’s Word is the only infallible and sufficient authority for faith and life.
– “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable…so that the man of God may be equipped” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2- SOLA FIDE – “Faith Alone”
We are justified before God by faith alone, and not by works.
– “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” – Romans 1:28

3- SOLA GRATIA – “Grace Alone”
Salvation is a free and sovereign gift of God’s grace, and not earned or deserved by human merit in any form or shape.
– “By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

4- SOLUS CHRISTUS – “Christ Alone”
The LORD Jesus alone is our Mediator and Redeemer. His work in and through His birth, sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and the resurrection is complete and sufficient for the salvation of sinners. 
– “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name given…by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

5- SOLI DEO GLORIA – “Glory to God Alone”
All of life and salvation exist for God’s glory alone. 
– “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” – Romans 11:36

When we celebrate the All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day, do we even think “WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?” and “WHY ARE WE CELEBRATING IT?” To ask these questions is to touch the very core of the Protestant Reformation. This is why Luther nailed his 95 theses or questions to the door of the Church in Wittenberg, Germany on 31 October 1517 – he questioned the practices of the Church, and all who were following them basing his question on the Bible.

2- WHY IS IT RELEVANT FOR US TODAY?
The basis for the celebration of “All Saints’ Day” and the “All Souls’ Day” is not found in the Bible. If reformation was about “SOLA SCRIPTURA” – Scripture Alone, then we are far away from these very Scriptures, which God gave as His written Word.

ALL SAINTS’ DAY – a day that honours all known and unknown saints who have attained heaven, because they, by virtue of their holy lives on earth, have earned the power to intercede with God, on behalf of all who pray to them on the earth.
– “The importance of All Saints Day (also known as All Hallows Day)…lies in its focus on the communion of saints—a key belief that saints continue to intercede for those on Earth.” – Lauren Woodrell

ALL SOULS’ DAY – This is a day when the loved ones who died are remembered and prayed for. The observance reinforces the spiritual connection between the living on Earth (Church Militant), *the souls undergoing purification in purgatory* (Church Penitent), and the saints in heaven (Church Triumphant). 
– “The Church recognizes that few people achieve perfection in this life (after all, we are human!), and therefore, go to the grave with remaining traces of sinfulness; a period of purification is necessary to prepare the soul to join God.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.”  This is called Purgatory.  It is important to recognize that Purgatory is not a state of punishment, but rather a cleansing very much like our Baptism.” – Christine Berg

As a sentiment it sounds great to remember the dead in the family. Is it just that, or is there something else that one is doing inadvertently? The Bible tells us that…
– all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23;6:23
– there is only one Mediator between God and all the human beings – the victorious LORD Jesus Christ – 1 Timothy 2:5
– it is appoint for man to die once and then the judgement – Hebrews 9:27
– No godly person who ever lived has any influence in heaven on behalf of those of us still on earth.
– There is no purgatory where people with lesser sins are being purged and prepared to enter heaven.
– Our prayers, from the earth, for the purging of the dead, and the forgiveness of their sins has no biblical basis, and it is wrong understanding of the Scriptures. 

We are called to worship God and God alone, for the glory belongs to God and God alone – SOLI DEO GLORIA. The danger of error is far greater than what we normally perceive and are being told to us. John Calvin sums it up very well.
– “They worship both the apostles and the martyrs to such a degree that they rob God of his worship and service. It seems as if all that rightly belongs to God and that should be reserved for him is put on offer among them. For what distinction do they make between him and his creatures? They virtually dispose of the Lord Jesus Christ, by robbing him of the office that he has been given. For instead of acknowledging him as the Advocate who grants us access to God the Father, and applying to him to have their prayers and applications answered, they have an infinite multitude of advocates, patrons, and intercessors! Jesus Christ is no longer anything to them.” – John Calvin

Dear brothers and sisters, let us know our God and the holy Scriptures that He has given us. Let us read the Bible and know all what God says. Let us follow all what the LORD Jesus says faithfully and obediently. Let us not fall into error and walk a different path than what the Bible talks about. Even so, the LORD Jesus help us.