On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted a written protest against the Roman Catholic Church. Out of his effort to reform Catholicism, the “Protestant Reformation” was born. You and I are direct “descendants” of what transpired: our lives both in the church and outside the church still receive the influence of the Reformation. In the religious sphere, the impact is manifold. The five “solas” are a starting place; what we do when we gather to worship flows from them (in contrast to Roman Catholicism). Our society is built upon the reverberations of those events from political structures to the liberty of the conscience to the arts. The Reformation was not only a spiritual reformation but a historical event that changed societies (knowing, of course, that all of life is theological anyway).

As we celebrated another anniversary of the Reformation in October, the following documentary was made available for viewing again. Entitled, “Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer,” the film details the events that led Luther to rediscover the gospel of the Scriptures. (Click on image)

In Acts 18:10 our Lord told Paul in Corinth, “I have many people in this city.” God is gracious and God is sovereign. If every era of history is like a city on the road toward eternity, no location has lacked His preserving power. The Lord faithfully preserves His gospel, advances His Word, and protects His people. Reflecting on the Reformation calls these comforts to mind.

With the affection of Christ, Pastor Michael