During this time of year there are a number of customs, traditions, rituals, habits, parties and celebrations. In some of those activities, costumes are involved.

In just a few days lots of kids, and adults too, will dress up and pretend, as they don various costumes.  Did you know that Martin Luther wore a costume as a disguise?

From an article I recently read:   “Following the 1521 Diet of Worms, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V issued an edict declaring Luther an outlaw who could be murdered without legal consequence. To save his life, Luther’s protector, Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony, arranged a fake kidnapping and hid him at Wartburg Castle.

For nearly ten months, Luther discarded his monastic robes, grew out his hair and beard, and wore lavish secular aristocratic clothing. He assumed the alias Junker Jörg (Knight George) and carried a sword at his hip to fool curious onlookers. Despite suffering from immense loneliness during his isolation, he maintained his disguise impeccably while feverishly writing theological treatises.”

Obviously this was long before our modern, “Halloween,” normally celebrated on October 31. There will soon be a myriad of costumes roaming all around, and I mention Luther’s disguise here, but not just for that silly reason.   Luther’s famous ninety-five thesis were intended to initiate a scholarly discussion rather than provoke the religious movement, the Reformation, that challenged the authority and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and led to the emergence of Protestant Christianity, which also reshaped European politics and society.

Tradition says Luther nailed his ninety-five thesis to the church doors in Wittenberg, on October 31, 1517.

From his study of the book of Romans, Luther saw the Scriptures clearly stating that man is justified and saved through faith in Christ and not by works. Luther’s breakthrough was that God justifies the sinner not by giving him the ability to become righteous, but by crediting the holiness, obedience, and goodness of Christ to him as righteousness. He saw that Justification is the gracious declaration of God, by which He pronounces the sinner, righteous, who in himself is not righteous.

This time of year I remember Martin Luther, not for his disguise; not for the fallout from the ninety-five thesis, not for many things that can be said about him; and not for the “Lutheran” religion. Rather, I am inspired by his determined and persistent study and love of the Bible; for his desire to understand what God has revealed in His wonderful matchless Word.

II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.