Dear Cornerstone family,
On October 31, 1517, an Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther took a hammer and nail and posted his now famous Ninety-Five Theses on the Wittenburg church door in Germany. That courageous action sparked one of the greatest spiritual movements in human history. And it all began on... Halloween? As strange as it sounds, the launch of what would become known as The Protestant Reformation began on the one night of the year where ghosts and goblins rule the streets. A coincidence? Probably not.
Halloween is short for All Hallows’ Eve. The word “hallow” is the word for “holy.” You know this because you say it every week in worship when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). All Hallows’ Eve was the name given to the night before the Christian feast, All Saints Day, which was celebrated on November 1st. In the Christian calendar, All Saints Day is the annual remembrance of those who have died in Christ and gone before us into heaven.
Now, it has been suggested that Martin Luther chose to post his Ninety-Five Theses on All Hallows’ Eve in anticipation of All Saints Day. Why? Well, his protest was an attempt to call the church back to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). Luther believed the late medieval church was, in many ways, held captive by a “doctrine of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1), and that the time had come for a return to historic Christian belief and practice held by the church throughout the ages.
Though often neglected in our day, remembering and rehearsing together the long legacy of faith passed down through the generations is a meaningful Christian practice (Hebrews 12:1). Knowing that the death of God’s people is precious in his sight (Psalm 116:5), the church has historically set aside time to remember the dead in Christ. During this season, it is common for churches to name and give thanks for those in the past who bore witness to the gospel and today worship with us in glory.
As a way of stepping into that great tradition, today in worship we’re going take time to remember and give thanks for those who have died in Christ Jesus. We will have a small selection of members in each service give brief testimonials about a special person in their life who has passed onto glory but made a lasting spiritual impact on them personally.
As we worship today, please take time to remember those who have died whom the Lord has used to spiritually enrich your life. It could be a grandmother who modeled humility, a Sunday School teacher who taught you Scripture, a coach who challenged you in an area of obedience, even a work colleague who just always knew what to say to lift you up when you were down. It doesn’t even have to be someone you’ve met! For instance, you could go back in history and give thanks for a leader, missionary, writer, or artist whose spiritual legacy has made an indelible spiritual imprint on your life. Whoever it is, let’s remember them with thanksgiving before the Lord, anticipating the day when we’ll join them in glory.
Your servant,
