What Is It: The Reformation
In this What Is It series, we are exploring dozens of different topics within the Christian faith that are common, and commonly misunderstood. This series post objectively overviews the Reformation.
As with every series post, we ask you, the community to play an active role in commenting and providing your understanding.
What Is the Reformation?
The Reformation was a political, social, and religious protest against the alleged corruption and wealth of the Roman Catholic Church. When Maritn Luther (1483-1546 AD) nailed his 95 Theses to the church doors in Wittenberg, Germany, everything changed.
However, while Martin Luther was the public face of these events in 1517 AD, the reformation was really due in part to other events. The most important of these was the invention of the printing press in 1436 AD by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany.
The printing press introduced texts formerly not readily available. St. Augustine (340-430 AD) wrote of the primacy of Scripture over man’s authority. He also wrote strongly about God’s sovereign choice in effecting salvation apart from the works of man.
In addition, translations of original texts were being made readily available. The printing press made an indelible mark on the people of the early 16th century, and Luther took it to heart. The central theme of the reformation would be this: the Authority of Scripture (Sola Scriptura) and justification by Faith Alone. (Sola Fide)
Key Points of the Reformation
Corruption in the Church
The early reformers were protesting what appeared to be corruption in the Church. The Roman Catholic Church was incredibly wealthy and held power over entire nations, kings, and emperors. The charge was that the church had become self-serving.
In fact, the Church of England was born out of Henry VIII’s need to control his own future, and that of England, without the control of the pope of Rome. Albeit, for not-so-moral reasons.
Selling of Indulgences
Additionally, the selling of indulgences had become a corrupt fund-raising method of the church by means of the doctrine of purgatory. The Catholic Encyclopedia declares that purgatory is where Christian souls go after death to finish paying the penalty for their earthly sins.
Indulgences were a papal pardon from purgatory by means of golden donations. Individuals could buy their own or loved ones early release from purgatory. This was not only a non-Biblical doctrine but a means for the church to gain riches according to Luther.
Why does not the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?
Martin Luther, 1517, 95 Theses
The Rise of Nationalism
As with Henry VIII, other nations and leaders wanted to dictate the course of their future. The Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Pope had nearly unlimited power. Because of this, many nations began to rebel against papal authority.
While the Reformation began in Germany, it spread far and wide until eventually, Puritan Protestants reached the shores of America. That self-same independence from the Roman Catholic church extended to Americans seeking religious freedom from the Church of England.
The Incredible Impacts
The reformation had world-changing impacts. Not only did it leave a complete division of the Western Christian world between Catholic and non-Catholic believers, but it also sparked wars and regional conflicts.
Additionally, the reformation also led to a rising demand for literacy and education. Because of the sweeping emphasis on the sainthood of all believers, individuals no longer relied on priests to interpret the Word of God. Furthermore, this led to churches opening schools to teach the Bible in the common tongue.
There is also an agreement that the reformation led to a higher state of individualism, a highly praised Western/Democratic quality. This is due in part to the emphasis on having an individual relationship with God, personal faith, and consciousness towards God.
Previously, faith was construed through the priest and bishop of the church. It is no surprise then that Luther was declared a heretic via Papal Bull in 1520 AD. Pope Leo X gave Luther 120 days to recant, but as history shows, he did not.
This indelible change to Christianity gave rise to further reformers and groups. The reformation and today’s democratic freedoms have given rise to denominationalism. 2023 estimates place the number of Christian denominations at roughly 45,000.
Conclusion
It seems clear that the reformation was both a boon and a blessing. While it paved the way for individuals like you and me to have religious freedom, it came at a very high cost. Furthermore, it seems to have divided the body more than unify it under a single, common faith.
After Martin Luther’s death in 1546 AD, the Reformation suffered a terrible blow. However, it continued on and changed the course of Christianity forever.
Today, Reformed Theology is experiencing something of a revival. This may be due in part again to rises in technology. The internet and mobile phones have made it even easier to translate and spread the Gospel. It has also made it easier to spot and expose charlatans.
Whatever the cause of the rise of Reformed Theology is, it never could have been possible without the incredible events of the Reformation.
