Reformation Day misused for a Roman agenda

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Reformation Day, for the (former) Protestant Church, despite the shredding of its original creed, is an occasion for empty rhetoric. The occasion for which numerous reformers risked, and even lost, their lives is now being misused to support a Roman Catholic agenda.

A return to our origins?

Reformation Day, established in 1667, is a day of remembrance for the reformed churches, once also known as Protestants. It provides an opportunity for many church leaders to deliver commemorative speeches on this day that undoubtedly changed the world. However, if one assumes that the achievements of Martin Luther are being given special recognition, then one would be better off consulting historical literature and familiarizing oneself with the truth.

The famous event that sparked the Reformation was Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. This sparked a momentum that even Luther himself likely hadn’t anticipated. His theses initially addressed only the deplorable commercial practices of the Roman Catholic Church, specifically the sale of indulgences. Johann Tetzel, the church’s appointed “chief salesman,” entered Luther’s sphere of influence and had clearly gone too far. Cash was offered in exchange for the remission of years in purgatory, either for oneself or for a deceased relative. Pope Leo X needed a great deal of money for the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and had heavily indebted the Papal States to the Fugger banking family (Augsburg) for this purpose.

Rome reacted to Luther’s theses, which were clearly not dismissed as the ramblings of some monk in the provinces. Pope Leo X published his bull “Exsurge Domine” in June 1520, a counter-statement to the theses. However, it only addressed 41 of the 95 theses.

Reformation begins

But it didn’t stop with the issue of “pontifical indulgence presumption”; the ball that had been set in motion triggered a whole avalanche. Luther, an Augustinian monk, Doctor of (Catholic) Doctrine, and holder of a professorship, continued his research in Scripture and contrasted his findings with the traditional teachings of the Church. It must be remembered that access to the Word of God was not a given, even for the ordinary Catholic priest.

Liturgy, the correct performance of rituals, and especially the celebration of “Holy Mass” were important, but not the Word of God. This was based on the self-understanding that the Church was the infallible and legislative mystical body of Christ, and that the Bishop of Rome was his earthly representative. What the Pope decreed was absolute and not to be questioned. The Church itself was a sacrament, therefore necessary for the salvation of humankind.

The differences between Roman Catholic doctrine and the Gospel are as obvious and as numerous as the beads of a rosary (Info). Martin Luther didn’t need long to compile a whole list of these deviations.

The most important principle of the Gospel is that a person can be declared righteous solely through the grace of Jesus Christ based on faith, and not through the performance of many good deeds, certainly not to compensate for punishments after the (supposed) forgiveness of sins against God by a priest. This is blasphemy against God.

Other Catholic teachings that are foreign to or contradict the Gospel include the “immortal soul” of man, the state of the dead, the mediation of Mary and “saints,” and the Bishop of Rome as head of the Church (Info).

The Reformation brought the Bible into vernacular languages

After Martin Luther translated the Bible into German according to the text compiled in 1516 by Erasmus of Rotterdam (Textus Receptus – Majority Text) for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament, the Reformation could no longer be stopped.

In January 1521, Luther was excommunicated by the Church after he had challenged the authority of the Pope. On January 23, 1521, the Diet of Worms, convened by Emperor Charles V, began. In mid-April, Luther finally stood before the Emperor and the Empire. Luther was supposed to recant all his writings. However, he did not, for the following reason:

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of Holy Scripture or by clear reason (for I trust neither the Pope nor councils alone, since it is known that they have often erred and contradicted), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is subject to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to act against conscience. [Here I stand, I can do no other,] God help me. Amen.“

On May 25, 1521, Emperor Charles V issued a decree declaring Luther’s writings illegal and ordering Martin Luther himself to be treated as a heretic and enemy of the state. Luther was an outlaw and could therefore be killed by anyone at will, without consequence. What did Luther do? He sat down to translate the Bible into the vernacular and completed it for the first time in 1524. There was no turning back.

The term “Protestants” did not appear until 1530, on the occasion of the Augsburg Confession on June 25. Numerous German princes stood before Emperor Charles IV and professed their faith. They bore witness to their beliefs, thus “protesting” (pro testare). Something that has been completely lost today by the churches that still call themselves Lutheran (Info).

The Light of the Gospel

In short: Martin Luther brought the light of the Gospel to a world completely darkened and tyrannized by the Church of Rome. With the founding of the Jesuit order in 1534 and its official launch in 1540, intended to destroy Protestantism and restore the Church’s originally unrestricted position, the Roman Catholic Church once again demonstrated that it was by no means concerned with the Word of God for the salvation of humankind, but solely with wealth and power, and above all, with implementing the agenda of its great adversary (Info).

The Reformation was not perfect and also had theological shortcomings, including in particular the adoption of numerous traditions of the Roman Catholic Church (holidays) and especially the sanctification of Sunday instead of the biblical Sabbath (“Saturday”). This is also presented in the prophetic view by John in Revelation 3:1-2 in a letter to the church in Sardis (Info):
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.“

What is being made of Reformation Day today

One might think that all of this would be worth mentioning on Reformation Day. Perhaps “back then,” but not anymore. Kirsten Fehrs, Chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), believes she sees something quite different in Reformation Day. “October 31st commemorates a spiritual awakening that continues to shape thought, culture, and society to this day,” says Fehrs. (Source). Today we live in a time of great upheaval, and therefore it is important to shape our coexistence in such a way that the “well-being of humankind” is placed at the center.

Luther had the courage to question things. Reformation means “decisively tackling change, trusting that God is with us,” said the Chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). Trust in God is the “source of strength for transformation and further development.”

Humanism instead of the Gospel

Empty phrases, and the veneer surrounding them consists of the “common good” of humanity as prescribed by Rome, according to the religion of humanism. Gospel? Not even remotely. Instead, it’s entirely carved from the raw material of Catholic social teaching (Info). Gnostics would also find something to appreciate in Fehr’s pronouncements.

Just let that sink in. The head of the EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany) seriously suggests that humanity, guided by reason and “good morals,” forges its own path, and that we trust God to accompany us on this journey. Or rather, to “follow” us?

Martin Luther predicted the renewed darkness because he knew the Church of Rome better than most of his learned contemporaries. And this didn’t even require an overt apostasy or denial of the Gospel.
“Reason before faith and the knowledge of Christ is darkness, but in the believer it is an excellent instrument. For just as all natural gifts and instruments are ungodly in the ungodly, so they are beneficial in believers.” (Martin Luther).

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)