Seven Results of the Protestant Reformation

1. Violent Disagreements

2. Quincentenary Competition

3. Painful Splits

4. New Age Relics

5. Reckless Unaccountability

6. Translation Mutilation

7. Doctrine Buffett

What is special about Tuesday, October 31, 2017? Everyone that I asked responded with “Halloween!” Well, almost everyone. My fifteen year old son, who knows me too well, answered, “Probably something to do with the Bible.” When I would question people further, I discovered that only one person was aware of the significance of this momentous date.

October 31, 2017 is the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door of the cathedral at Wittenberg, Germany. Luther, like others in his day had misgivings about the direction of the Catholic Church. As a teacher of the New Testament, he saw practices within the church that contradicted Scripture. The most controversial issue to Luther was that the church offered salvation by means other than God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Luther’s commentary on Romans, of which he writes “is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel,” is arguably the best in existence and aids in understanding Paul’s teachings on faith. Among other scandals, blatant distortions of the Christian faith were being used to raise money for the church. See the film Luther (2003) for an accurate portrayal of the church’s abuse of power and Luther’s restlessness.

His response was to write 95 theses and nail them to the church door at Wittenberg. This event has become a symbolic pillar to the Protestant Reformation, much like the Declaration of Independence is to the American Revolution. However, it is crucial to understand that his aim was to bring awareness and reform within the church. Luther had no intention of creating new denominations. His goal was to rebuke the existing church much like Paul had the Corinthians. He was not radical, but courageous to stand up for truth. He spent countless hours studying the Scriptures and writings of early church writers. Describing his study habits, Luther wrote the following to be read by preachers. Nevertheless, he became, in his own language, die zentrale Persönlichkeit der Reformation (the central personality of the Reformation).

“I am also a doctor and preacher, yea, as learned and experienced as all those may be who have such presumption and security; yet I do as a child who is being taught the Catechism, and every morning, and whenever I have time, I read and say, word for word, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Psalms, etc. And I must still read and study daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and am glad so to remain.”

In a time when many preached who had little tolerance for questions and challenges, Luther states that he is as well-studied (if not more so) and still considers himself a child in his understanding. This humility was lacking in church leadership then, and valid arguments could be made of the need for similar humility today. Of Luther’s 95 theses, many are still relevant (in nature) today. Here are three that expose the prevalence of false doctrine and Luther’s confidence to challenge the church.

21. Thus those indulgence-preachers are in error who say that a man is absolved from every penalty and saved by papal indulgences.

27. They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory.

53. They are the enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid altogether the preaching of the Word of God in some churches in order that indulgences may be preached in others.

See the complete list here.

The effects of the Protestant Reformation redefined, for all time, countless believers’ theology. I would like to discuss 7 rarely addressed results.

1. Violent Disagreements – Even prior to 1517 the church had persecuted, imprisoned, or killed many who disagreed with their doctrine. John Wycliffe translated the New Testament into English against permission. His writings were banned and burned. After Martin Luther had translated the New Testament into German, William Tyndale came along and translated the Bible into English. Tyndale was executed for heresy. Eighteen years later, Dr. Rowland Taylor (my 15th great grandfather) defied the church, was charged with heresy, and burned at the stake in England.

2. Quincentenary Competition – Just like the Democrats and Republicans have been in competition over leading the American people, so too the Catholics and Protestants compete to evangelize the world in the name of Christ. Some tolerant-minded Protestants choose to see both sides as being acceptable, as long as members believe in Jesus. However, part of the Catholic doctrine is that, only Catholics are true Christians. Supported by the doctrine of the Catholic Church is the conclusion that every protestant is not really saved and will go to hell.

3. Painful Splits – From the Reformation came Lutherans, Calvinists, Episcopalians, Methodists, and Baptists. From those denominations split off Presbyterians, Anabaptists, and Pentecostals. The list continues with denominations splitting over doctrinal dissension. Not only do denominations split, but individual church bodies likewise split in two. Non-denominational churches continue to increase as unresolved differences divide believers.

4. New Age Relics – Whereas Catholics place spiritual emphasis on physical relics: bones, linens, or cross splinters, Protestants are guilty of another form of idolatry – New Age thinking. By this I primarily mean the wave of new theological branches and their theologies that spread throughout the United States in the late 1800’s – mid 1900’s. Here are a few with which most people are familiar. New doctrines were formed concerning the identity and role of the Holy Spirit. New eschatology was developed to include a two-part return of Christ. Jehovah’s witnesses predicted Jesus’ return in 1914. Scientology was founded. The United Church of Christ ordained openly gay clergy. Healing revivals increased beliefs in prosperity theology. Greater emphasis was preached from the pulpits on motivating believers to value being non-offensive rather than teaching God’s pure Word.

5. Reckless Unaccountability – Without a central nervous system to regulate church doctrine, Protestants have redefined Christian values at will. We read of the church of Pergamum tolerating false doctrine, the church of Thyatira teaching false doctrine, and finally, the church of Sardis dying of false doctrine (Revelation 2:12-3:6). Churches who do not hold their members, elders, teachers, or even pastors accountable invite spiritual disaster.

6. Translation Mutilation – Unlike what is approved by Catholics, there are many translations of the Bible available for Protestants. Some lean toward word-for-word translations while others lean toward thought-for-thought. Problems exist with both approaches and so translators will also blend the approach to attempt to print a Bible in English that makes the most sense even if the words are not exact. An example of such a complication in translation can be found in Psalm 7:9. Various translations use: hearts and reins, hearts and kidneys, minds and hearts, thoughts and emotions, and motives and thoughts. Reading, “God tries hearts and minds” may get the message translated, but the words literally read “hearts and kidneys.” Translators will add words to aid our understanding, often emphasized by italics. For example, the angel of the Lord told the shepherds, “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12, NASB). The words will be are not in the original manuscripts, but are added for clarification. We now have the ability to find translations that are easier to read, but may be less accurate.

7. Doctrine Buffett – Some Protestants have taken advantage of the lack of accountability and decided not to concern themselves with confusing parts of Scripture. I have heard it said that the Old Testament need not be taught since believers are not bound by Old Testament law. I have also heard that only the Ten Commandments need be obeyed. I read an article written by a Professor of New Testament who said that the Bible completely denounces homosexuality, but the Bible is wrong on that one issue. Lastly, I have heard countless people brag that they do not need to learn the book of Revelation because they “won’t be here for it.”

With all of these problems facing the church, was the Protestant Reformation worth it? Yes! All of these problems within the church are possible because of the freedom we all have to seek God according to our own desires. The reformers that fought the church 500 years ago found the messiness of their rebellion a worthwhile price to pay for this freedom. Mess in the church should be expected during productivity. Proverbs 14:4 (NIV) reads, “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty.” If you have animals, there is going to be excrement. So too, when individuals act out in faith and wisdom within a church that struggles in its attempts to conform to the world, they are going to make a stink in the nostrils of the nominal majority. Understand that this is not the kind of stink we have from bickering and materialism. That sort of sinful rubbish has no place in the church. But when the church is trying to define itself and rubs its members or pastors the wrong way, I feel privileged that we have the freedom to make messes such as those.

I thank God that our Protestants freed themselves from the rigid system of indoctrination that would rather have them ignorant subjects than vigorous students of God’s Word. I thank God that we have the freedom to accept or twist Scriptures rather than believing what someone else tells us they mean. I thank God for each reformer (then and now) who defy questionable denominational doctrines in order to stay true to their personal and studied understanding of the Bible.

I cannot get enough of God’s Word. I crave to understand it better and feel blessed according to the effort I spend absorbing it. It is my desire that every believer appreciate the relationship they can have with the Lord through a better understanding of His Word too. Martin Luther wrote to preachers, “It is an exceedingly effectual help against the devil, the world, and the flesh and all evil thoughts to be occupied with the Word of God, and to speak of it, and meditate upon it.” I find this to be true in my life. My responsibility as a teacher of the Bible is even greater since I influence the path that others may choose. Martin Luther was highly critical of his peers that they should teach the Word of God truthfully. He writes that God’s Word drives away the devil, and if the power of God’s Word is not appreciated by pastors and preachers, then they deserve to be starved, driven out, baited with dogs, and pelted with dung. This may seem drastic, but those who teach the Gospel have the greatest responsibility to understand it so that they do not teach false doctrine. I can think of no greater disgrace than to misrepresent my Lord.

One does not need to appreciate Martin Luther in order to appreciate his contribution. History records that his character would not want our praise anyway. It is important, however, to think for ourselves and love God with our whole minds. We can obtain a reasonable faith in God, and Martin Luther brought that to the light in his day. What can we do to bring it to light in our day?

“Everything that is not of faith is sin, because it goes counter to faith and conscience; for we must beware with all possible zeal that we may not violate our conscience.” – Martin Luther

28 October 2017