For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. – Romans 15:4
Some events are localized at first but then have an enduring worldwide impact. I was barely a year old when Martin Luther King Jr stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial 60 years ago. His “I have a dream” speech captured the attention of the 250,000 protestors for sure. It then changed the course of history, bringing Civil Rights reform around the world.
A huge impact on your life occurred 506 years ago this coming Tuesday. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 ideas on a public bulletin board. If X (formerly known as Twitter) had been available back then, this scholar would have tweeted his views. Instead, he printed them and nailed them to the door of a church for all to see on All Hallow’s Eve (aka Halloween).
What did Luther’s posting have to do with you? It kicked off the Protestant Reformation, changing religious teaching and social norms around the world. Some people had already been expressing concern about the source and form of authority. Luther listed nearly 100 issues that he perceived were being taught incorrectly by the Roman Catholic Church. His main concern was that instead of looking to God’s Word for guidance, the church leaders were constructing and disseminating their own views on how to live and what to think.
The Protestant Reformation can be understood as 1) protesting the church’s movement away from Scripture and 2) reforming the church to be more biblically based. After all, Luther argued, if God gives us His Word as our only rule of faith and practice, then we ought to look to the Bible alone as the source of truth. The Reformers reformed society’s thinking.
Why had the church strayed so far? Why hadn’t people already relied upon Scripture alone? The answer has two practical facets, one had to do with technology and the other with authority.
From a technical perspective, as a written document, the Bible was limited in its reach because books were expensive and could only be circulated through hand-copied editions. The invention of the printing press in the late 1400s changed the potential availability of God’s Word.
From an authoritative perspective, the church chose to reproduce the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts in Latin, so that only scholars could read them. By limiting access, the church prevented the common man from being able to read and interpret Scripture for himself. The Reformers renounced this tradition and insisted that the Bible be translated into local languages.
As a protest, the Reformation focused on five battle cries: 1) Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone is the source of authority, 2) Sola Fide – Salvation is found in faith alone, 3) Sola Gratia – faith is received by grace alone, 4) Solus Christus – the only way to receive salvation is through the sacrifice of Christ alone, and 5) Soli Deo Gloria – all glory is due to God alone.
So, how does the Reformation affect you? On one level, if you recognize these biblical truths, then you have benefited from Reformed Theology. On another level, your ability to challenge unbridled and unbiblical authority is rooted in the re-formed church. This Halloween weekend, celebrate how access to the truth of Scripture has given you freedom to worship your Creator as He alone has granted you. Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr fought for your right to think for yourself as you look to God’s Word for truth. I have a dream that we can unite on these truths. Here I stand, I can do no other. To God alone be the glory!
