October 31 is usually known as the day to dress up, knock on a stranger’s door that may or may not have graves set up in the front yard, and beg for food that slowly kills you, but to Christians in the West, this day is special for another reason. In 1517, Martin Luther posted to the door of Wittenberg Chapel his 95 Theses, which fueled the Protestant Reformation. His concern was mostly for the selling of indulgences, which was basically a piece of paper stating that you were pardoned from all your sins, even if you haven’t committed some of them yet. The pope in Italy had drained a completely full treasury in the space of He needed a quick money-maker, and this was the product. Johann Tetzel was selling indulgences to Martin’s congregation, and Martin’s response was 95 argument against the Roman Catholic Church. After posting it, it was published on the Gutenberg printing press, and sparked a revival, causing people to recognize the hypocrisy abounding in the church. Thank you Martin!!
