Mid-Week Music #18 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Last week, I put up a song called "The Last Halloween". It was one of the funniest Halloween songs I've ever run across, especially with Dakota singing the whole thing. But, like my dad reminds me, things like that are like cotton candy, really. They're fun to have sometimes, but we need things that will fill us--the meat and potatoes of the thing, really. And today, I am posting a song that is just along those lines. It's not a song, though: not just a song, I mean. This is a hymn, to remind us of why we celebrate.

"But Grace!" you may say. "You're getting mixed up! It's not Christmastime yet--now's not the time to be pulling out 'Reason for the Season' messages." Still others may wonder what on earth I'm talking about: Halloween isn't a Christian holiday. Everybody knows it. Ask anyone you like. Unless you happen to be one of the few who do realize my reasons for this, do read on for your own knowledge.

You see, Halloween (especially by that name) has always been Christian. The name itself means "All Hallows Eve", which precedes All Hallows Day. Just like Christmas Eve precedes Christmas Day. From what I've been told, the origin of the way we celebrate today was that people believed that demons and all manner of evil would run wild on All Hallow's Eve, in order to try and ruin the festivities of the next day. Thus (and this is according to people I've heard), the folks would dress as demons, goblins, and witches because they were afraid of them, and wanted to hide and protect themselves from the creatures.

Some Christians today believe this means All Hallow's Eve is a holiday that's all about evil, and the Devil, and so are wary of celebrating it. The Adventures in Odyssey lost episode "What Are We Gonna Do About Halloween?" addresses this. All Hallow's Eve was just a day for the Devil to run wild--why would they want to celebrate it?

But, in case any of you are thinking of stowing your Halloween costumes next year, let me tell the real reason we celebrate, why we dress up in costumes like that every October the 31st. You see, people didn't dress like demons and things like that out of fear--they were mocking the evil things. No one thought all witches were green with warts all over them, no one thought the Devil was red with pointy horns and a pitchfork. They were doing it to mock him and his servants, because they knew he can't stand being mocked. He and his hate it, and so we do it even more.

And we can do it, because we know they can't hurt us. The servants of darkness can't separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, no matter what they do. That's why they run wild, you see: it's as if they're making a last desperate attempt to gain a victory. But Jesus has thrown their kingdom into disarray, and we will surely be the victors. A theologian by the name of James Jordan has a wonderful article on the matter, which has even more than what I've included here. Please do give it a read.

That's not the only reason, either, as my brothers and sisters eagerly pointed out when we listened to the Odyssey episode. It was on this very day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenburg and begun the Reformation, 500 years ago. That's part of the reason why I chose this hymn: to commemorate Luther and the Reformation. This is his most famous hymn, and has been called the Battle Hymn of the Reformation. 500th anniversaries only come once, you know.

The second reason I chose this hymn was because of what Luther preached. Among other things, he taught that the Bible said we cannot be saved through works of the flesh. Without God, we are nothing. If Jesus had not died to conquer sin, then risen again to conquer death, we would have good reason to fear these demons and witches and evil spirits. But because God has saved us, and we have faith in this promise, we will not fear the Prince of Darkness or his servants. Whatever happens, God's Truth abideth still, and His Kingdom is forever. And if God is for us, who--be they witch or demon, goblin or ghoul--can stand against us?

With that in mind, dear readers, let us listen to the great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God".

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask Who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His Truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little Word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God's Truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.