The Protestant Reformation: 500 Years Later
This October 31, 2017, will be the 500th anniversary of the day Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on Wittenberg’s Castle Church door, and essentially sparked the Protestant Reformation. One of the most recognizable Protestant heroes, Martin Luther spent most of his life as a monk and a scholar, earning his doctorate and ultimately becoming a professor of biblical studies. Luther’s constant theological study and training led him to question the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther came to understand that if forgiveness depended on our own obedience to the law, then we have no hope of salvation at all. Specifically two central beliefs ate at him:
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- That the Bible is the foundation for religious authority; not the church
- That man could find salvation through faith alone, and not through their own efforts
When church officials began selling release from purgatory in the form of indulgences, Luther finally became so enraged he was prompted to publish his Ninety-Five Theses, also called the “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences.”
The Reformation Today
Sadly today, as much or even more than in 1517, we have once again lost touch with these teachings as churches have focused more on “seeker friendly” services, entertainment, and appealing to the masses. Of course the Catholic Church still stands apart on these teachings as well. With the churches fragmented, people leaving the faith in record numbers, and evangelical churches not looking much different from the rest of the world, it is our prayer that the Reformation continues, and Christians today find their way back to the essential truths of our faith. The Reformation isn’t over.
“The issue of the non-negotiable Gospel wasn’t settled 500 years ago, it was settled 2,000 years ago. But we’re still calling the professing church to be faithful to the truth,” – Pastor John MacArthur.
