DAY
40 4/9/17 Palm Sunday- DAY 40 EFFECTS OF THE REFORMATION
The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23; Mark 12:11
The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23; Mark 12:11
Thoughts:
The world is not the same because of the Protestant Reformation. Though it was a long time coming (think Wycliffe, Waldo and John Hus) it has a long term effect. In some ways the Reformation was fueled by and fueled the Renaissance. Most of the Reformers were humanists who sought to get back to the source- the Bible, and were well schooled in their day. The political power of the Roman Catholic church broke as it both fought and could not fight the Reformation and its leaders. Feudalism gave way to nationalism both by the Reformers (like Cranmer in England and Knox and Scotland) and the reaction to the Protestants in France and the Netherlands. Democracy and individualism were influenced by the idea that we didn’t have to go through a priest and people could read scripture alone. Many point to Calvinism as a tremendous influence on the checks and balances found in American government, and presbyterianism’s representative democracy as influencing the representative democracy of America and others. The rise of the middle class was definitely inspired by the Protestant work ethic of both Luther and Calvin who valued every day work and encouraged all to do their best for the glory of God. Vernacular Languages of German, French, and English were tremendously effected by the writings of the German Bible, the Book of Common Prayer and King James Version in English, the French Bible of Olivetan and Calvin’s writings.
There were also some negative things. The church divided then divided then divided again. In the midst of the divisions the main teaching of love has been downplayed. Many of the teachings of the Reformation once rejected in the Counter-Reformation and the Council of Trent are now mollified with Vatican I and Vatican II councils that recognize the limits of the veneration of the saints, the problems of indulgences, and the idea that we are saved by grace and not by works. There has been a tremendous shift in the Catholic church. At the same time, some Protestants today are downplaying the basis of their own belief systems saying that scholarship and science should be elevated to the same position of authority as the Bible. There has clearly been a growing skepticism in western Europe and among the old mainline churches of the Reformation in America. There are some who say that every 500 years a change is made and we should embrace that change. But the Book of Judges (everyone did what was rig hint heir own eyes), the deterioration that led to the Old Testament and Diaspora exiles should warn us that not all change is good. We should be ever reforming- but not omit- “According to the Word of God.” It is clear that without belief and the Spirit no church or even great principle will stand on its own. The church today needs to get back to its roots, which was the original call of the Reformation (the solas: Scripture, Grace, Faith, Glory to God, and Christ Alone) and also return to our first love.
Prayer: Lord, help me to change. Keep me from being conformed to the world but to be transformed in a way that honors you alone. May my life glorify you alone.
The world is not the same because of the Protestant Reformation. Though it was a long time coming (think Wycliffe, Waldo and John Hus) it has a long term effect. In some ways the Reformation was fueled by and fueled the Renaissance. Most of the Reformers were humanists who sought to get back to the source- the Bible, and were well schooled in their day. The political power of the Roman Catholic church broke as it both fought and could not fight the Reformation and its leaders. Feudalism gave way to nationalism both by the Reformers (like Cranmer in England and Knox and Scotland) and the reaction to the Protestants in France and the Netherlands. Democracy and individualism were influenced by the idea that we didn’t have to go through a priest and people could read scripture alone. Many point to Calvinism as a tremendous influence on the checks and balances found in American government, and presbyterianism’s representative democracy as influencing the representative democracy of America and others. The rise of the middle class was definitely inspired by the Protestant work ethic of both Luther and Calvin who valued every day work and encouraged all to do their best for the glory of God. Vernacular Languages of German, French, and English were tremendously effected by the writings of the German Bible, the Book of Common Prayer and King James Version in English, the French Bible of Olivetan and Calvin’s writings.
There were also some negative things. The church divided then divided then divided again. In the midst of the divisions the main teaching of love has been downplayed. Many of the teachings of the Reformation once rejected in the Counter-Reformation and the Council of Trent are now mollified with Vatican I and Vatican II councils that recognize the limits of the veneration of the saints, the problems of indulgences, and the idea that we are saved by grace and not by works. There has been a tremendous shift in the Catholic church. At the same time, some Protestants today are downplaying the basis of their own belief systems saying that scholarship and science should be elevated to the same position of authority as the Bible. There has clearly been a growing skepticism in western Europe and among the old mainline churches of the Reformation in America. There are some who say that every 500 years a change is made and we should embrace that change. But the Book of Judges (everyone did what was rig hint heir own eyes), the deterioration that led to the Old Testament and Diaspora exiles should warn us that not all change is good. We should be ever reforming- but not omit- “According to the Word of God.” It is clear that without belief and the Spirit no church or even great principle will stand on its own. The church today needs to get back to its roots, which was the original call of the Reformation (the solas: Scripture, Grace, Faith, Glory to God, and Christ Alone) and also return to our first love.
Prayer: Lord, help me to change. Keep me from being conformed to the world but to be transformed in a way that honors you alone. May my life glorify you alone.
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