The Reformation

October, 2005

by: John McGinnis

While Halloween is infinitely more popular than Reformation Day, when it comes to historical and spiritual significance Reformation Day outweighs all but Christmas and Easter. Unfortunately, many Evangelical Christians fail to understand the importance of the event we call “The Reformation.”

Sixteenth Century Europe was quite different than modern Europe. Instead of being divided into many small modern nation-states, Europe was composed of only a few large empires—one of which was called the Holy Roman Empire. At the Head of the Holy Roman Empire stood it’s political and spiritual head Pope Leo X. The various princes of the region that now constitutes Germany were becoming incensed at the fact that they were controlled by the far off power in Rome. The peasantry also was becoming increasingly upset that their taxes were being used to build palaces in Vatican City while they lived in poverty. In other words, both the upper and lower classes were looking for a reason to separate themselves from Rome. Their prayers were answered in the person of Martin Luther.

Perhaps no man in world history has ever felt his own depravity more than Martin Luther. Luther joined an Augustinian monastery in the early 16th century. Plagued by his own flesh Luther felt that the religious system of his own day, far from relieving the pangs of guilt, merely exasperated his sinfulness. As he began lecturing through Romans to a group of university students at Wittenberg, Luther came across an obscure line in the works of Augustine that suggested a new reading for Romans 1:17. Whereas Luther had previously understood that the gospel reveals God’s own righteousness Luther now found comfort in seeing that what the Gospel reveals is a righteousness which is from God; i.e. Christ’s righteousness imputed to us.

This insight set off a chain of events in Luther’s mind that culminated his posting a challenge to the Scholars of his day concerning the authority of the Pope and the selling of indulgences. This challenge then spread throughout Europe like wildfire. The peasantry liked Luther’s idea and sympathized with his earthy character. The princes saw this movement as a “valid” reason to separate from Rome while maintaining the support of the people. Thus Luther’s little revolution caught on and gained widespread support throughout Germany. In no time at all Protestantism was born.