Reformation Introduction

REFORMATION ERA
Introduction to The Reformation (1300-1790 AD)

Apostasy After the NT Era

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:3 — Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.
  • 1 Timothy 4:1-3 — 1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. 3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
  • Matthew 24:11 — and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
  • 2 Timothy 4:3-4 — 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
  • Jude 1:3 — Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints.

Teachers Vs. The Crowd

  • Matthew 21:46 — 46 Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
  • Luke 7:29-30 — 29 All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.
  • John 7:45-49 — 45 Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?” 46 “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered. 47 “Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees. 48 “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law, they are under a curse.”
  • James 2:5-7 — 5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

Definitions

REFORMATION

A movement which expressed an effort of the church to return to Biblical teachings. The word “Reform” suggests a change in the current religion (Catholicism) enough to correct some of its errors. The reformation was a revolt against the practices of the catholic church and not against the church itself.

PROTESTANTS

The broad name applied to those who would object to the practices of the Roman Catholic church. The term originated in a protest voiced at a catholic council when the council decided that the reformers would not be tolerated.

Reasons for the Reformation

  • The Western Schism (1378-1417, 39 years) had two popes at the same time. In 1409, they tried to go back to one, and elect a new pope, but neither stepped down and a third pope was elected.
  • Those further down in the clergy followed the suit. Simony, the practice of selling offices become prominant.
  • The study of the Scriptures was abandoned. Carlstadt, the older colleague of Luther, confessed that he had been made a “doctor of divinity” before he had even seen a complete copy of the Bible, much less study it!
  • The true worship of God was obstructed by image worship and endless rites and ceremonies.
  • Good works were substituted by the Catholic notion of meritorious works.
  • Remission of sins could be bought with money. The sale of indulgences was carried on under the direction of the popes.
  • Many European kings and princes favored the full separation of church from the state, or vice-versa.

ADDITIONAL REASONS:

  • The Renaissance man felt self-sufficient and could think for himself in regard to religion.
  • The scriptures were made available to the common man and were translated – French, German, English, etc.
  • Schism between East and West paved the road for religious separation
  • The printing press - provided an easy medium for getting one’s ideas into circulation.

Common Principals of the Restoration:

  • The Bible was accepted as the only infallible rule of faith and practice. This was in opposition to the Roman Catholic doctrine that Scripture and ecclesiastical tradition are both to be accepted as a rule of faith.
  • Luther stated one of the principles which has remained as an important one in many protestant groups: “What is not contrary to Scripture is for Scripture and Scripture for it.” This principle has been the cause of much confusion in denominations, for it states simply that anything may be accepted in religion which does not expressly contradict the Scriptures. It is a negative approach to the Scriptures. It came about due to attempt to justify many practices (such as instrumental music and sprinkling) that Luther had accepted from Catholicism when he left the Catholic Church.

Regulative Principle Vs. Normative Principle

Normative Principle
“What is not contrary to Scripture is for Scripture and Scripture for it”
Luther

Regulative Principle
“God disapproves of all modes of worship not expressly sanctioned by his Word”
Calvin

If we have time after this we can look up what the reformers believe on doctrinal issues that would seperate us from the modern Christian landscape

Common Principals of the Restoration:

  • The doctrine of justification by faith alone (Luther: sola fide); as distinct from the doctrine of justification by faith and works of human merit as held by the Catholic Church.
  • The principle of the priesthood of all believers, as contrasted to the special priesthood of the Roman Catholic system.
  • The removal of obstructions placed between the believer and Christ; such as, intercession of saints, Mary, etc.

The Major Players in the Magisterial Reformation

Martin Luther
Ulrich Zwingli
John Calvin
Henry VIII

The Magisterial Reformers worked with secular authorities to bring about reforms to the church.

MARTIN LUTHER:

  • German reformer
  • Opposed indulgences
  • wrote Thesis of 95 problems of the church
  • The public stood behind Luther the Pope did not
  • Church declared Luther an outlaw and excommunicated him and condemned his writings
  • Luther stopped short of his full potential in order to remain politically acceptable
  • Lutheranism flourished in Germany and Scandinavian states

ULRICH ZWINGLI:

  • Switzerland reformer
  • Responsible for first major division of reformers
  • Unlike Luther, he more openly criticized the church
  • Claimed the people could determine their faith without the help of the catholic church
  • Protested images and mass - got mass abolished in Zurich
  • Opposed Luther on transubstantiation - Luther for and Zwingli against
  • His movement was stopped when he was killed in battle against the Catholics

JOHN CALVIN

  • Frenchman who worked in Switzerland
  • Main theme was predestination
  • Most influence in Switzerland and northern Europe

HENERY VIII

  • King of England wanted to divorce his wife
  • Claimed to be Spiritual leader in England "Defender of the Faith”
  • His church was almost just like Catholics

JOHN KNOX

  • Scotland born reformer
  • Studied in Geneva where he embraced Calvin’s doctrine
  • Founder of the Presbyterian church in Scotland

The Radical Reformation

Besides Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and other Magisterial Reformers, the Radical Reformers did not work with secular government to bring about reformation. These movements were more drastic, not wanting to reform the Roman church, but to discard everything and go back to the Scriptures as the foundation for faith and practice.

THE ANABAPTISTS:

  • Protested infant baptism and required baptism of all believers
  • Placed great emphasis on personal commitment to Christ
  • Persecuted by protestants and catholic alike

THE ANTITRINITARIANS:

  • Denied the 3-person Godhead
  • Prospered in Poland

DENONINATIONS OF THE REFORMATION:

  • Episcopal
  • Methodist
  • Lutheran
  • Presbyterian
  • Baptists
  • Mennonites
  • Quakers
  • Unitarians
  • Moravians (John Hus)

Discussion

  1. What lessons/warnings have you learned from this study of Church History?
  2. What were some of the key factors that led Christians into error?
  3. What is needed to prevent or overcome errors like we’ve seen in history?