October 31: A Day of Change in Christian History

I wonder how many people are “celebrating” Halloween today. There’s something about this day they might not know about. It was a great day in Christian history.

History of Halloween

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the harvest, and which is when people believed the dead returned to earth.

To ward off spirits, they lit bonfires and wore costumes.

Later, as Christianity spread, the Church moved the feast day of All Saints’ Day to November 1, making the evening before, October 31, All Hallows’ Eve, which became Halloween.

Many modern traditions, like dressing up and trick-or-treating, have roots in these older customs. ⠀

What happened on this day in Christian history?

Two significant things happened on this day in Christian history that changed the world:

• 1517: Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in Wittenberg, spearheading the Reformation Movement.
• 1825: An unnamed Moravian mission leads George Müller to Christianity.

Martin Luther’s Reformation

Martin Luther, a German theologian and monk, was a significant figure in transforming Europe’s religious landscape. His teaching and followers made a profound impact on society, politics, and the culture that resonates to this day.

His criticism of the sale of indulgences and his call for reform sparked the formation of new Christian denominations, collectively known as Protestantism.

The things we learned from Martin Luther are personal faith, the authority of the Bible, and salvation by grace through faith rather than by rituals or intermediaries. Luther’s emphasis on education alone (so that the commoner could read the Bible) helped establish schools and universities. Praise the Lord for the day Martin Luther posted his theses.

Imagine: on this day in history, life changed — and so did the Western world. What would have happened if Martin Luther had not dared to post his 95 Theses in Wittenberg?

“There is no need for bloodshed. The world will be conquered by the Word of God, and by the Word, the Church will be rebuilt and reformed.” ~ Martin Luther

Muller’s Legacy of Faith and Inspiration

Another person took a breath of faith and made a market difference in Christian history, but we will never know his name, only what he did. Someone prayed with George Müller on this day in 1825. Why is that important?

George Müller would change the lives of 10,000 orphans as director of the Ashley Down Orphanage in Bristol, England.

The Orphanage opened when orphaned and destitute children faced exploitation, poverty, and neglect, as described in Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist.

Oliver Twist, in 19th-century England, escaped a cruel workhouse only to fall in with a gang of London thieves. He navigates poverty and crime; eventually, he’s saved by kind-hearted people and discovers his true parentage. 

Not every orphan was that fortunate, but George Müller, a faithful and mighty prayer warrior, was able to take 10,000 orphans off the streets and care for them through the power of prayer.

Muller’s unwavering reliance on prayer and faith left a legacy as he refused to solicit donations directly, believing that God would supply all their needs through prayer. The fact that these orphanages ran successfully for decades without debt, solely on unsolicited gifts, is a powerful testament that inspires people around the world.

Imagine: If the Maravion Mission had not opened on this day in 1825, and someone had not led George Müller to Christ, then what would have happened to the 10,000 orphans?

“It is not enough for the believer to begin to pray, nor to pray correctly; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray. We must patiently, believingly continue in prayer until we obtain an answer. Further, we not only have to continue in prayer until the end, but also to believe that God does hear us and will answer our prayers. Most frequently, we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing.” ~ George Muller

Conclusion:

Take a few minutes today and thank God for the great things He has done. There’s more to this day than Halloween.

Was this the first time you had heard about these two events happening on October 31?

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Note: Photos from Lightstock and Freepik.