Today's the day. Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther put 95 theses on an announcement board in Wittenberg about Catholic practices he viewed as wrong. Requesting a conversation, desiring a reformation, what followed was a revolution.
Luther wasn't the first (or the only contemporary) to express concern about how the Church had veered from Scripture; other movements were afoot throughout Europe. But in a complex movement with many independent pieces, the Wittenberg event is an easy marker to remember, as it provoked a strong response from Rome and ignited into flame the heretofore embers of discontent throughout the continent. Gutenberg's printing press would help, enabling distribution of pamphlets at a breathtaking pace (for the time) and enabling fast circulation of Luther's ideas. Luther didn't want to break away from the Church; he wanted change and a return to the practices of Christianity laid out in the Bible. But it soon became clear that the Papacy was too tied up in worldly affairs, and focused on worldly power, to take such concerns seriously; schism was the only option. Luther broke away, and many others followed suit, eventually resulting in a collection of denominations known collectively as Protestants.
At its heart, the Reformation is about Earthly authority. Christians view the Bible as God's word and, therefore, the ultimate authority on life. But who interprets God's word? The Church in Luther's day said that only the Pope had the authority to do so. Luther argued otherwise, for "a priesthood of all believers," enabling even common men and women to read the Bible for themselves and access the word of God directly. To facilitate this, he would translate the Bible into German, and many others would follow suit in their own languages in subsequent decades.
In denying a central (earthly) authority, Luther unwittingly appealed to a broader humanistic trend occurring at the time, and the idea ultimately established Protestantism as a movement set up to schism. If the Pope isn't the central authority, who is? Initially, many argued the Scriptures were clear enough that all could read, understand, and draw the same conclusions from the text. In practice, there are many areas where Scripture isn't explicit, leading to varying conclusions about interpretation and application. Scripture itself calls for both unity (in essential matters) and liberty (in others) but never defines which doctrines belong to which category. And with no central authority to arbitrate disputes, many denominations would result. Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Anabaptist movements would spring up in the decades following Wittenberg, with many more on the horizon. Even today, those who do not like the teaching in a given Church can simply find another more suited to their tastes- or start a new one entirely.
I thought I'd be happy today, reflecting on the momentous event and what has resulted. Instead, I find sadness. Sadness that the Church strayed so far, that reform from within was impossible, and that continued schism, even among those following Christ, is inherent in our fallen world. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
I've done a number of posts on the Reformation; I recommend you read a book or two about this momentous event, as its impact affects us to this day.
Pictures from Wittenberg (taken during my trip there, when we lived in Germany)
Summary of the Reformation from a recent men's retreat
The Unquenchable Flame (this is a fast read and great starting point)
The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World
The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century (more in-depth work, but my summary gives you the gist of the Reformation)
Christianity's Dangerous Idea. A phenomenal look at Protestantism and its impact on the world through the centuries.
No comments:
Post a Comment