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Reformation Day
by A.J. Wilson

What happened on October 31, 1517

 The short answer is Martin Luther nailed a copy of his 95 theses (see back page) onto the door of a catholic church.  This action contributed greatly to a movement away from the Roman Catholic faith.  Southern Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and most other churches we now have, all owe a debt of “freedom” to Mr. Luther.  For with out him we might all be listening to the pope as Roman Catholics. 

Martin Luther’s action, and the 95 theses themselves, were not directing any hate toward the Roman Catholic Church.  In fact it was not his intention for people to pull away from the church.  Martin Luther was a Catholic monk and professor of theology at the Univ. of Wittenberg.  He just thought that the church had moved away from its original focus, and now needed to adjust itself.  His 95 theses were an attempt to reform the church, specifically practices of selling indulgences (see next page) and placing too much emphasis on good works.  When his ideas were spread out the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church met Luther with stiff opposition.  Taken before the leaders of the Church he was asked to renounce his ideas but wouldn’t, asking instead to be shown in the scriptures where he was mistaken.  The leadership of the Catholic Church had been the “authority” on everything, so Luther’s insistence that the scriptures be the most important resource caused them to become angry.

Luther’s frequent cry, “Scripture Alone! Grace Alone! Faith Alone,” has somewhat become the basis for most of out contemporary Protestant Churches.  These are the doctrines which separate Protestants & Catholics:

1.Justification by Grace through Faith: man’s efforts cannot win him God’s favor, only grace accepted in faith. (Rom 3:23-24)

2. The Authority of the Bible:  the Bible is God’s Word, it is finished, and it alone is the source of all teachings (Rev 22:7,18-19)

3 Priesthood of all believers.   All Christians are workers for God, and have direct access to God through prayers (2 Pet 2: 4-12)

4. Participation in Worship by Laymen: Protestants led the way to get the Bible translated so anyone could read it, and introduced the idea of singing of hymns.

Leaders of the Reformation:

Martin Luther:  He wrote the 95 theses which was considered the event begining the Reformation.  Luther’s intention was only to reform the Catholic Church by ending the sale of indulgences. 

Huldreich Zwingli:  A pastor in Zurich, Switzerland who led a very strict radical reform, which only practiced what was specifically authorized in the scriptures.

John Calvin:  A French theologian in Geneva who setup a severe regime that combined church and state to force moral and doctrinal conformity.  He established influential educational institutions which educated men like John Knox, who introduced Calvinism in Scotland where it became the established Presbyterian Church.  Calvin also is widely known for his belief in Pre-Destination (idea where it is already decided who will be saved and who will not) 

Henry VIII: English king who broke allegiance to the pope and Roman Catholic Church and established himself as the leader of the Anglican Church in order to annul his marriage and marry again. 

 Terms Associated with the Reformation:

Theses: A position that a person advances and offers to defend in debate or argument

Indulgence: forgiveness of part or all of the punishment delivered in purgatory, due for sins which eternal price has been paid by salvation (Catholic priests were selling indulgences for money)

Purgatory: A place where those who are saved may make satisfaction for past sins and become fit for heaven (another teaching of Catholicism)

Sacrament: a Christian ritual ordained by Christ and that is held to be a means of divine grace or a symbol of spiritual reality (Catholics had 7, Most Protestants have 2 Baptism & Eucharist (the Lord’s Supper) )

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