Since your most serene majesty and your high mightinesses require of me a simple, clear and direct answer, I will give one, and it is this:
I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the council, because it is as clear as noonday that they have fallen into error and even into glaring inconsistency with themselves.
If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this way brought into subjection to God’s word, I neither can nor will retract anything; for it cannot be either safe or honest for a Christian to speak against his conscience.
Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise; God help me! Amen.
The quote above is part of the famous speech given by Martin Luther in defense of his protest against the catholic church at the Imperial Diet of Worms (both are german words pronounced ‘deet of vorms’) on April 18, 1521.
Reformation day is celebrated on October 31, on the Church calendar. If you are a Christian, you have probably heard of haloween, but have you heard of the protestant reformation? Did you know there was a connection between haloween and the reformation? Surprised?
According to Wikipedia, “Reformation Day is a Protestant Christian religious holiday celebrated on 31 October, alongside All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) during the triduum of Allhallowtide, in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation.”
If you are like me, you probably never heard of the protestant reformation growing up, neither was it ever talked about nor celebrated in your church. This is really sad indeed There are probably millions of Christians around the world who have never heard and know nothing about the reformation.
Just at the same time the culture will be celebrating halloween, the church will be celebrating the reformation,. Both are celebrated on October the 31st. What exactly is the reformation and why should we care?
From gotquestions.org : “The Protestant Reformation was a widespread theological revolt in Europe against the abuses and totalitarian control of the Roman Catholic Church. Reformers such as Martin Luther in Germany, Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland, and John Calvin in France protested various unbiblical practices of the Catholic Church and promoted a return to sound biblical doctrine. The precipitating event of the Protestant Reformation is generally considered to be Luther’s posting of his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church on October 31, 1517.”
The men of the reformation were willing to die for their faith and indeed many were killed, burned at the stake. Outside of the God’s word itself – the Bible, the reformation is one of most important event in Christian history.
What was it that drove them to risk their lives in such a manner? In order to learn how the reformation came about and what it is, I have decided to share the two part series by the late Dr. RC Sproul. As always, he does a masterful job of explaining what the reformation is and it’s importance. I will share part 1 this week and Part 2 next week.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Making of the Protestant Reformation (Part 1) by RC Sproul
I look forward to part 2 of this audio.
Helpful!
Thanks Liz
You are welcome!