REFORMATION CELEBRATION IN EUROPE In the early 16th century - TopicsExpress

REFORMATION CELEBRATION IN EUROPE In the early 16th century western and central Europe followed the Latin Church headed by the Pope. While religion permeated the lives of everyone in Europe – even if the poor focused on day to day issues and the rich on improving the afterlife – there was widespread dissatisfaction with many aspects of the church: at it’s bloated bureaucracy, perceived arrogance, avarice and abuses of power. There was also widespread agreement that the church needed to be reformed, to restore it to a purer and more accurate form. While the church was certainly vulnerable to change, there was little agreement on what should be done. Reformation Day is a public holiday in five states in Germany on October 31 each year to remember the religious Reformation in Europe. It commemorates when German monk and theologian Martin Luther’s proposals were nailed on the doors of a church in 1517. This event was the start of religious and social changes in Europe. Reformation Day commemorates the efforts that theologian Martin Luther made towards religious and social changes. ©iStockphoto/Christina Hanck What do people do? Many members of the Lutheran and some Reformed Churches, attend special church services to mark the anniversary of Martin Luthers proclamation. Other people have a day off work to spend time with family or friends. Many people use the day to shop or visit attractions in countries, such as Austria, Poland or Switzerland, as these countries are close to the German states. They also celebrate Reformation Day as a public holiday. Public life Reformation Day is a public holiday in a number of German states including: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. In these states, post offices, banks, stores and other businesses are closed. Stores in some tourist areas may be open and stores at railway stations, airports and along highways are usually open. Public transport schedules vary depending on where one lives or wants to travel. This event is not a public holiday in the rest of Germany. Background Martin Luther was a monk, theologian and religious reformer. Many people also see him as the “Father of Protestantism”. During his life, he became disenchanted with the power that the Catholic Church had over people’s lives. He was particularly concerned about the sale of indulgences. Indulgences are documents issued by the Catholic Church to grant full or partial pardon of sins. They are usually issued after prayer and good works. However, indulgences were also sold to finance projects sponsored by the Catholic Church around the 1500s. To express his concerns, Martin Luther nailed written works, known as The 95 Theses, on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. In doing this, he started the Reformation. The Reformation period started in Europe, particularly in Germany, in 1517 CE and ended around 1648 CE. It was a time of large religious and social changes. The Catholic Church’s power and its role in mediating between the word of God and the general population were attached and many new Christian movements evolved. The following summary of the Five Solas is adapted from the modern restatement in The Cambridge Declaration of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (1996): Faith alone (Sola Fide) Justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. In justification Christs righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of Gods perfect justice. Our justification does not rest on any merit to be found in us, nor upon the grounds of an infusion of Christs righteousness in us, nor that an institution claiming to be a church that denies or condemns sola fide can be recognized as a Protestant main element of change opposite to works! Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura) The inerrant Scripture (the Bible) is the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. It is denied that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christians conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of or contrary to what is set forth in the Bible, or that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of Christ alone (Solus Christus) Our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father. It is denied that the gospel is preached if Christs substitutionary work is not declared and faith in Christ and his work is not solicited. Grace alone (Sola Gratia) In salvation we are rescued from Gods wrath by his grace alone. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life. It is denied that salvation is in any sense a human work. Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Faith is not produced by our unregenerated. Glory to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria) It is affirmed that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for Gods glory and that we must glorify him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for his glory alone. It is denied that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self-esteem or self- fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel.