Reformation Sunday

On the Liturgical Church Calendar, this Sunday is Reformation Sunday. It is the Sunday commemorating the beginning of what is affectionately known as the Protestant Reformation. The official unofficial start date is October 31, 1517. This is the day that Martin Luther nailed the "95 Theses" to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral. These "theses" were points of discussion that Luther wanted to have with the Roman Catholic church at the time. He had been studying his Bible (imagine that) and found much of the teaching that was being espoused by the Roman Catholic church did not line up with what was actually in scripture. So, he wanted to have a conversation about those items. Well, it wasn't much of a conversation. The Church branded Martin Luther a heretic. They wanted him to recant what he came to believe by studying the bible (again, imagine that) and "come back" to the Roman Catholic church. His now famous reply was, "I cannot choose but adhere to the word of God, which has possession of my conscience; nor can I possibly, nor will I even make any recantation, since it is neither safe nor honest to act contrary to conscience! Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God! Amen.” 

And, so was born a return to the Bible, the Protestant Reformation. Out of that movement in Christian history, several streams of the river of Christianity have flowed. Of which, we baptists are one. The Protestant Reformation is our spiritual heritage. And, while we may not agree with every itty bitty detail or teaching that came from this movement, we cannot deny that it is our heritage. 

As historians have studied this movement in Christian history, 5 pillars have been identified as foundational truths for the continued success of the Protestant Reformation. Over the next five weeks, we will study each one of them as they are demonstrated and taught in the Bible. These five pillars are: sola scriptura, sola gratia, sola fide, sola Christus, and sola deo gloria. In English, they are scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and Glory to God alone. 

May the fires of revival and renewal and reformation be stoked in our souls over these five weeks.