Reformation: Not Just a Day, but a Confession

Every year as the calendar turns to late October, storefronts fill with pumpkins, cobwebs, and costumes. Children plan their Halloween routes, and neighbors decorate their porches with spooky scenes. Yet for confessional Lutherans, October holds a deeper and far more enduring significance than candy and costumes: Reformation Sunday.

On October 31, 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg. His intent was not to split the church but to call it back to the truth of the Gospel—salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. What began as a call to repentance became a movement that reshaped the church and re-centered it on the unchanging Word of God.

For us as Lutherans in the Missouri Synod, Reformation Sunday is not a nostalgic nod to the past but a living confession: “The Word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25). It is a time to rejoice in the pure Gospel, give thanks for the faithful who confessed it before us, and recommit ourselves to that same confession today.

So how can we shift our focus?

Halloween may dominate the culture, but October 31 is first and foremost Reformation Day. Preparing for Reformation Sunday offers families and congregations a way to center this season not on fear, superstition, or sweets but on Christ crucified and risen.

Here are a few practical ways to prepare in your household:

• Worship as the Centerpiece: Begin by making Sunday morning the highlight of the week. Reformation Sunday’s liturgy and hymns—such as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”—are not just traditions but confessions of faith. Encourage your family to attend the Divine Service, hear the Word, and receive Christ’s gifts in Word and Sacrament.

• Family Catechesis: Take time in the days leading up to Reformation Sunday to read from Luther’s Small Catechism. Review the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, or the explanation of the Lord’s Prayer. These short, clear teachings have strengthened Lutheran families for generations. (Do small parts each night - it doesn't have to take very long, just be consistant.)

• Tell the Story of the Reformation: Share with children and youth why Luther nailed the 95 Theses and why it mattered. Read age-appropriate books or watch a faithful Reformation documentary. Remind them that this is not simply “Luther’s story” but part of their own story as baptized Christians who confess the same faith.

• Music and Hymnody: Luther understood the power of music in shaping faith. Singing Reformation hymns at home during devotions or mealtime—such as “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”—can help prepare hearts to receive God’s Word with joy on Sunday.

• Acts of Christian Mercy and Witness: As neighbors celebrate Halloween (and even as we may choose to participate), consider handing out small Scripture verses or invitations to church along with candy. This season is an opportunity to be salt and light in your neighborhood, pointing others beyond fear and fun toward the Gospel of Christ.

So consider Reformation as not just a day, but a confession.

It's not about celebrating Martin Luther the man, but proclaiming Christ the Savior. The Reformation was, at its heart, a return to Scripture’s clear proclamation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

As Halloween fades, candy bowls empty, and decorations come down, the Gospel remains. Christ remains. His Church stands firm on the foundation of His Word.

May this Reformation season lead us not just to remember history but to confess boldly the faith once delivered to the saints. And may our families, homes, and congregations shine with the joy of the Good News that changed the world, and still changes hearts today.

“Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen.” – Martin Luther