Reformation 500:
This year we join the reformed family of churches throughout the world in celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which began on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses Against Indulgences to the bulletin board on the door of the Castle church in Wittenberg, Germany.This was the beginning of the church’s return to the Bible as the supreme authority and its gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
“Most of the economic, political and personal freedom and prosperity that people enjoy today is rooted in the Reformation. Before it, people were enslaved to an all-powerful Church with a false teaching about salvation, and were at the mercy of government that ruled mostly according to the laws of men than of God. The basic biblical principles were: 1) The primary authority of God’s word in the Bible, 2) Justification of sinners only through faith in Christ, and 3) The priesthood of all believers no matter what their office or occupation in this world” (Rev. Robert Grossmann, The Protestant Reformation and World History).
The Reformation spread through Germany, Switzerland, France, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden; and eventually led to the founding of the United States of America – which at first was 98% Protestant.
Our goal is to celebrate the Reformation all year. Each Sunday’s bulletin insert will focus on the main history of the Reformation, and on one of its best creeds: The Heidelberg Catechism. We will also be using the Catechism for our public confession of faith. The 129 Questions and Answers are divided into 52 portions, one for each of the 52 Sundays of the year.
NOTE: These Posts were written and designed as bulletin inserts by Pastor David Fagrey of the Grace Reformed Church of Rapid City, SD .
Hi, I am a reverend of the Reformed Church of South Africa congregation in Pretoria West. I would like to translate to Afrikaans and use these blog posts on the history of the reformation for our church bulletin in the coming year.
ReplyDeleteMay I please do so?
Kind regards