Happy Reformation Day!
Of course, everyone knows what we celebrate October 31st -- an anti-establishment day if there ever was one… Reformation Day!
It was October 31st over 500 years ago (1517 wow!) that Martin Luther nailed 95 grievances (theses) on the church door in Whittenburg Castle. These were not meant to overthrow the political establishment of the day to bring a renewed zeal to hold conscience to the Bible and the Bible alone (sola scriptura). But that’s what God did with them. Truly, "The weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Cor. 1:25)."
The posting of grievances was more than just a challenge of the Roman Catholic Church’s authority, it was an appeal to a public debate. He was saying, “I think that Scripture has 95 clear problems with what is being taught today, and here they are. Please, show me if I am wrong.”
Most of the grievances dealt with the Catholic church’s practice of selling “indulgences” for the dead. In effect they were saying, “If you pay this much, you can purchase this much time off your loved one’s sentence in purgatory.” This is a good way to raise money, but a heretical lie that has no basis in Scripture. It was a demonic ploy to steal money from people and place them into the coffers of the church. Luther was right to stand against what most people were ignorantly practicing. His authority was the Bible, not public opinion or church tradition.
He knew he was standing on Scripture, and that’s all that he needed. And that is where we can find great comfort this Reformation Day. Although you will not agree with all of Luther’s stands his whole life. You and I can be thankful that this “wild Boar of a man” took his stand and kept his stand “So help me God.”
Comments
Post a Comment