Reformation Day
““by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone””
Today, we celebrate the 504th anniversary of Reformation day. But what exactly is Reformation Day and why does it matter to me? Many of us, including myself at a point in my life, asked this question and did not recognize the radical cultural significance of Martin Luther’s actions at Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517 AD. So what if Luther nailed a piece of paper on a church door? So what if he had 95 issues with the way that the Church was doing things? It is 2021, how does this affect me?
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Who are we, as limited, weak, finite, filthy, wretched humans, to question the grandeur and all-powerful authority of the one and only Creator of the Universe and Giver of Life? Who are we, to question Him? What authority do we have to challenge His authority? None! Absolutely none. We have done nothing to deserve life. We have done nothing to deserve anything that we have and cherish. Everything that we think is from our own doing: everything we think we possess all comes from the undeserved Grace of God. Nothing we could possibly do can help us “earn” our way to Heaven. Certainly paying the Church will not justify our case of “deserving” eternal life. If this is the case, then this gives some people a better chance of “achieving” Eternal Life than others and this is not what is taught in the Bible.
These are some reasons why Martin Luther did what he did 504 years ago. These are by no means Biblically sound teachings, and he knew that only after he actually studied the Bible himself!
This is why theology matters! This is why it is constantly mentioned throughout the Scriptures to beware of false teachers! How else do we identify false teachers other than to read God’s Word! Martin Luther lived in a time where biblically false street preachers and church leaders alike were claiming “as soon as the gold in the casket rings, the rescued soul to heaven springs”. Because common folk at this time were not literate and did not have access to the Scriptures, they blindly trusted what they heard about the Bible from whoever claimed to be a religiously-associating figure in their community. This, added with their fear tactic of eternal damnation, convinced the already poor civilians to give what little they had to the most successful financial scam and saddest heretical prophecy of the millenia. Indulgences.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 states,
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds”
Luther’s risk of challenging the most powerful entity in the known world in 1517 sparked a truth-seeking movement throughout the world that encouraged people to read and discern the Bible for themselves rather than blindly believe corrupt Church clergymen for Biblical insight on eternal life after the bodily death.
This is why Martin Luther did what he did. This is why we believe what we believe. This is why we celebrate Reformation Day. May we be seekers of truth and ask the Lord for discernment in our daily lives.
Amen.
