Reformation Day, October 31, 1517

REMEMBERING THE REFORMATION

Every year in America, our country (sadly) celebrates Halloween on October 31st, as children dress up like witches, monsters and ghouls, to go about getting candy with the familiar phrase, "Trick or treat."  But in parts of Europe this very day is better known as Reformation Day.  It was this day on October 31st of the year 1517 that Dr. Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany proclaiming his objections to the Pope's usage and sale of indulgences for the sins of men.  The debates that followed this single event mark what many consider to be the beginning of the Great Reformation that swept across Europe, a movement that forever changed the world.  The Bible began to be published in unprecedented numbers in languages that all people could understand, and the everlasting Gospel was proclaimed fearlessly bringing countless souls to salvation.  It was the Reformation that ushered in the many God-given blessings that have come to define the modern world.

In commemoration of this day, we present the following article by Robert Rothwell.

What is Reformation Day All About?

by Robert Rothwell & Ligonier Ministries

Tomorrow, much of the culture will be focused on candy and things that go bump in the night. Protestants, however, have something far more significant to celebrate on October 31. Tomorrow is Reformation day, which commemorates what was perhaps the greatest move of God’s Spirit since the days of the Apostles. But what is the significance of Reformation Day, and how should we consider the events it commemorates?

Click here to read more

Martin Luther's Definition of Faith

"Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though they speak and hear much about faith. “Faith is not enough,” they say, “You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved.” They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working, creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, “I believe.” That is what they think true faith is. But, because this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything from it, so it does nothing and reform doesn’t come from this `faith,’ either."

Click to read more

DID THE REFORMERS PERSECUTE THE ANABAPTISTS?

It is fairly common to hear the claims that the Reformers persecuted the Anabaptists just because they "were not willing to baptise babies." One correspondent wrote that rather than celebrate the Reformation "would it not be preferable to study the Scriptures…"

Of course, our highest priority is to "study the Scriptures daily to see if these things be true". In fact that is the heritage of the Reformation. The Reformation gave us back the Bible freely available, translated into our own languages, and the Reformers championed "Scripture alone is our final authority". The Reformation succeeded in bringing about greater freedoms than had ever been experienced before in human history.

Those who accuse the Reformers of persecuting the Anabaptists are being unfair and selective in not reporting the whole context. The Anabaptists were not so much opposed and convicted for not being willing to baptise babies, but because the Anabaptists in the 1520's and 1530's were radical, violent revolutionaries.

Click to read more

VATICAN OPENS SECRET ARCHIVES

As the confidential correspondence of popes, princes and potentates, the Vatican Secret Archives have been jealously guarded for centuries. But now 100 of the most historically significant documents held by the Vatican's Secret Archives are to go on public display in Rome – the first and probably last time that they will leave the buttressed stone walls of the tiny city state. The priceless documents span more than a millennium, from the 8th century to modern times, and feature a cast of historical characters ranging from the Knights Templar to Galileo, Martin Luther and Henry VIII.

Click to read more ...

THE FAILURES OF THE REFORMATION

Listen to this powerful sermon about the Reformation by Irish pastor Dr. Alan Cairns entitled, "The Failures of the Reformation".