Topic #23: Some Thoughts About Reformation Day

Yesterday’s posting was about Halloween and why Christians should separate themselves from this evil, satanic holiday.   Only Christmas surpasses Halloween when it comes to money spent on decorations.  How sad that little or no attention is given to Reformation Day. Today’s posting on “Spreading God’s Word” is one meager attempt at trying to change that.

Reformation Day dates to October 31, 1517 and it’s the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of his church in Wittenburg, Germany.  This was the beginning of the liberation of the church from under the oppression of Rome. 

Luther probably never imagined his writing would ignite such a furor.  Likewise, in July of 1741 when Jonathan Edwards delivered his famous sermon “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”, he reportedly read it from a paper and spoke in a monotone voice — and yet God used it to break the hearts of many and begin the Great Awakening. 

(Rom 1:17 KJV) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 1:17 was the catapulting verse that stunned Luther when he read it. The key was living by faith and not by works.  Luther was now on a road with no exits and the earthly end was either death as a heretic or recanting his whole thesis.  We know that Luther continued to study Scripture and discovered the erroneous teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.  He was eventually excommunicated in 1521.  

By this time the Reformation was gaining momentum so quickly  that the Pope of Rome was losing power in many governments across Europe.  In fact, Papal power was diminishing so rapidly that in 1534 Ignatius Loyola formed the Jesuit Order which was dedicated to the glory of the Pope and the re-strengthening of the Roman Church.  

There are some guiding principles we can all glean from Reformation Day and the actions of Martin Luther:

1. Never consider anything you do for the Lord as insignificant no matter how small the deed.
2. Realize that no matter what type of decision we make, whether big or small, it will always have a ripple effect in our life.
3. Realize your actions affect not only you but others too. Consider the effect Luther’s 95 Theses had on Europe.
4. Christ is strategically involved in the small phases of our life as well as the large ones.(2 Ki 6:5-6 KJV) But as one was felling a beam, the ax head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. {6} And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
5. Never downplay things you do for the Lord because you don’t know the plan the Lord will have for your activity.
6. Obedience in small things equates to obedience in large things. Christians learn obedience one step at a time. Progressive obedience in the Christian walk yields greater and greater blessings. The Christian’s walk is faith to faith, not faith to sight or sight to faith. We obey and do in faith and leave the results to God.

In case you have never read the 95 Theses of Martin Luther, this is where you can see them: http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/95theses.html

To God Be The Glory!