The Other October 31st

When you hear October 31, what comes to mind?

For most people, it’s Halloween—costumes, candy, and kids running down the sidewalk with plastic pumpkins. But there’s another event that happened on this same date that changed the course of history—an event that still shapes the world today, whether we realize it or not.

On October 31, 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther walked up to a church door in the small town of Wittenberg and nailed a list of statements—called Ninety-Five Theses—to it. He wasn’t trying to start a rebellion. He wasn’t looking for fame. He simply wanted to spark a conversation about something that had gone missing in the church: the message of grace.

That moment became the spark of what we now call the Protestant Reformation, and it’s one of the most important events in Christian—and world—history.

The Question That Changed Everything

At the heart of the Reformation was a question that every honest person eventually asks:

How can a sinful person be made right with a holy God?

In Luther’s day, people were taught that the answer was found in doing enough good, following enough rules, or paying off their spiritual debts through rituals and religious effort. But Luther read the Bible and realized that wasn’t the message of Jesus or the apostles at all.

One verse in particular opened his eyes:

“The righteous shall live by faith.” — Romans 1:17

For the first time, he saw that righteousness—the kind that makes us right with God—isn’t something we earn. It’s something we’re given through faith in Christ. Salvation isn’t a reward for the good; it’s a rescue for the guilty.

That truth set Luther free—and it’s been setting people free ever since.

The Reformation in Five Simple Truths

Out of that rediscovery of grace came five short phrases, often called the Five Solas (Latin for “alone”). They sum up what Christianity is all about:

Scripture Alone — God has spoken clearly in His Word, and it’s enough to show us who He is and how we can know Him.

Grace Alone — We are saved not by what we do, but by what God has done for us. Grace means undeserved kindness.

Faith Alone — We receive God’s gift of salvation simply by trusting in Christ—not by earning it, working for it, or adding to it.

Christ Alone — Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. His life, death, and resurrection are enough to save anyone who believes.

To God Alone Be the Glory — Life isn’t about impressing others or proving ourselves; it’s about knowing and enjoying God, who loves us.

These aren’t dusty theological slogans. They’re the heartbeat of real Christianity. They tell us that the gospel—the “good news”—isn’t about what we do for God, but about what God has done for us in Christ.

Why It Still Matters Today

Five hundred years later, we’re still asking the same questions.

People might not talk about “indulgences” anymore, but we still live under the same pressure to perform—to prove our worth, to fix ourselves, to make our lives count. We live in an age of anxiety and exhaustion. We chase peace through achievement, identity, and self-expression, but it always seems to slip through our fingers. That’s why the message of the Reformation still matters. Because it isn’t just church history—it’s your story, too.

It says that you are loved by God before you ever lift a finger. That forgiveness is real and free. That peace with God isn’t achieved by climbing up, but by receiving what Christ has already done.You don’t need to pretend. You don’t need to perform. You can rest. That’s what the Reformation rediscovered. That’s what the gospel still offers today.

Why We Care at Central Presbyterian Church

At Central Presbyterian Church, we love this story because it’s our story.
We are a church built on the same truth that changed the world in the 1500s: that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation—still changing lives, still reconciling people to God, still bringing hope to every kind of person.

We’re a church that’s:

Rooted in Scripture – We teach the Bible because we believe it’s living and true.

Reverent in Worship – We gather not to perform, but to meet with God in awe and gratitude.

Relational in Community – You don’t have to walk alone. Church is a family.

Relentless in Mission – We want everyone in Central Orange County to know the joy of the gospel.

Whether you’ve grown up in church or have never stepped foot in one, you’re welcome here. We love questions. We value honesty. And we’d love for you to experience the same grace that set a monk free five centuries ago—and still changes hearts today.

Come Celebrate Grace

Martin Luther once said,

“This is the truth of the gospel. It is also the principal article of all Christian doctrine, wherein the knowledge of all godliness consists.”

In other words, Luther was saying that everything in the Christian life begins and ends with this one truth: that God saves sinners by grace through faith in Christ alone.

This October 31, as the world celebrates Halloween, we’ll celebrate something far better—the day the gospel broke through the darkness again.

Because Reformation Day isn’t just about what happened in history.

It’s about what God is still doing now.

He’s still rescuing people by grace.
He’s still drawing near to sinners through His Son.
And He’s still inviting you to come home.

If you’re in Orange County, we’d love for you to join us at Central Presbyterian.
Come hear the good news that changed the world—and still changes lives today.