October 31 is more than Halloween

Halloween is a day that means different things for people.   The young and young at heart might be excited about October 31 because it is Halloween and they look forward to having small children dressed in an assortment of costumes ring their doorbells exclaiming “trick or treat.”     The businessman or employee reading this may suddenly remember that October 31 is the end of the month and they have sales goals to meet or projects  to complete by the end of work today. 

Today is also an important day in the history of the church because it was on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the doors of the church in Wittenberg, Germany.   While that act might seem inconsequential to you, it led to what church historians call the protestant reformation.   In the middle part of the 20^th century, there was a church theologian named Karl Barth.    He popularized a latin phrase that he said derived from St. Augustine.   That phrase was “Ecclesia semper reformanda”.   For those of you who are not fluent in latin, the phrase means “the church must always be reformed.”   Many shorten that phrase to “Semper reformanda.”   “Always reforming”.

On this date not only did the protestant reformation begin, but a reforming began.   I believe that St. Augustine and Karl Barth were right.   While (as the Scriptures declare)   “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”, the truth is that sometimes the body of Christ, the church, strays like lost sheep from the way of Christ in word and deed.       Today, as in the days of Augustine, Luther, and Barth, the church stands in need of reform as it always has.    “Semper reformanda”.    Let the reforming continue.    Have a joy-filled week.--  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:    O God, I  thank you for the body of Christ, the Church.   Let your Spirit fall afresh on your Church as you continue to reform it and transform it more  fully into your image;   through Christ our Lord.  Amen.