Why Reformation Month?
Reformation Day, observed on October 31st, marks a pivotal moment in religious history. It commemorates the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a monk and professor, boldly nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. What seemed like a simple act for Luther ignited the flames of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that would reshape the religious landscape of the world.
In my early years as a pastor, I felt a compelling urge to highlight this significant day in our church calendar, primarily due to the prevalent ignorance of this monumental event I observed among the congregation. However, dedicating just one day to reflect upon the Reformation felt insufficient.
““The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.””
It was around 2009 when I conceived the idea to delve deeper into the essence of the Reformation—the translation of the Word of God into vernacular languages. I initiated a plan for our church to read the New Testament in the month leading up to Reformation Day in October, a venture that proved to be immensely successful. Each subsequent year, we set more ambitious reading goals, striving to immerse ourselves further into the Scriptures.
Over the years, our focus has expanded to include studying and disseminating the Word. We began by alternating our studies between the Five Solas and the doctrine of Scripture. More recently, we have incorporated studies of the Apostles’ Creed and, this year, we are exploring all the major creeds and confessions from 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 to the 17th-century confessions.
As participation in Reformation Month continues to flourish, my hope is to guide more individuals towards a profound appreciation of the Word of God, fostering a deeper connection to our spiritual roots.
