THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE REFORMATION

Five hundred years ago today, Martin Luther protested against the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.  It was not his intention to begin the Protestant Reformation, but rather, to challenge those who were abusing their power, who much like the Pharisees and the Sadducees with the Jews in the days of Jesus' sojourn on this orb, the Roman Catholic Church was getting wealthy at the expense of the poor, even to the point of enslaving them.  In addition to that, and a much more serious charge, he called for a return to the Bible as the sole source of doctrine for the Body of Christ!  He recognized that salvation was a gift from God to all who believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  His "enlightenment" came while teaching the Book of Romans, when he came to Romans 1:16-17; it reads:  "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith." 

Luther called for reform, not division!  He was well aware of Christ's desire that His Church be united, so that its testimony to this lost world would be well received.  Jesus had said in His prayer before going to the Cross:

"As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.  And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one:  I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." (John 17:18-23)

Unfortunately, Luther's protests were rejected, and he was declared a heretic, which was punishable by death.  He spent the rest of his life in exile.  Thus began five hundred years of debate, division, and denominationalism.  Of course, the Lord, being Omniscient, knew that it would happen.  His knowledge of it can be seen in the parables of Matthew 13, and in the Seven Churches described in Revelation 2 & 3.

Perhaps the saddest result of the fragmentation of the Christian Church, is that each individual group thinks they are doctrinally correct, and that all others are going to hell!  It has been my privilege to fellowship with born again believers from many other groups.  While in the Navy, true Christians from many different denominations, including Roman Catholics, met together to worship, study, and edify each other.  All believed that Jesus is the Son of God!  All believed He was coming back for us!  All shared the Lord's Supper, and many were baptized having come to faith during our times together!  We all praise the Lord and shared the Gospel message with others!  Most of all, we all loved one another!  Blacks, Whites, males, females, Catholics, and dozens of those from Protestant denominations, all thanking God for each other!

Don't get me wrong.  The doctrines involving salvation and discipleship were foundational for our unity.  Those who challenged the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, the death, burial, and Resurrection, Christ's Second Coming, and those with an agenda to "convert" others to their narrow views, were quick to discover our fellowship was united and firm in our faith.  They either came to believe as we, or moved on to seek weaker sheep in some other fold.  I miss that unity and fellowship!