Today is "Reformation Day" in churches that have their roots in the Protestant Reformation. The actual day is next Saturday, October 31, the anniversary of Martin Luther's nailing his "Ninety-five Theses" to the door of the church in Wittenberg, but any churches that observe the anniversary will be doing it today.
Why should they?
The first answer would be Because America is/was a Protestant nation, and it was Protestantism that made America the most prosperous and admired nation in history. Having repudiated its duty to be a Christian (Protestant) nation, America is now bankrupt and despised.
There is a second reason we should observe (though not "celebrate") "Reformation Day." That's because the Protestant Reformation planted the seeds of secularism which are now choking America to death. That post has not yet been written. Please contribute your suggestions for that post in the comments below.
3 comments:
Great subject! I look forward to your article! So here's a possible question to address:
Do you see the "Two Kingdoms" theology as having much to do with the rise of secularism?.. I assume your answer is yes. If so, why do you think many who hold to this theology seem to promote "freedom?" I'm thinking of many baptists and ana-baptists, as well as some reformed churches. It seems like a logical step to take would be from separation of church and state to separating state from everything.
Kevin
Bankrupt and despised...
Seeds of secularism...
and choking...
Just wondering...
Re”form”ation.
Good, or, er,
just another religious alternative “form?”
Was “the Reformation” a dangerous detour, leading people away from;
Jesus being the “head” of the body, the Church,
and those led by the Spirit, those are the sons of God?
Is Religion the system, and NOT the relationship?
Did Jesus reform “the Jewish Religious Sytem” He etablished?
Or did He leave it?
When Jesus left “The Religious System,”
He called others out of ”The System” with Him. Didn’t He?
Jesus is the head of the body (the ekklesia, the called out one's), the church.
“Disciples of Christ” were “called out” of the religious system,
into a relationship with Jesus.
They are “called out” of the worlds system,
into the Kingdom of God.
They are "called out” of self,
into the body of Christ.
They are “called out” of sin,
into righteousness.
They are “called out” of bondage,
into liberty.
They are “called out” of darkness,
into light.
They are “called out” of death
into life.
Doesn’t “Religious” reform mean to take one “religious” form
and change it, make it different?
Isn’t it still a form, still religion, NOT a relationship?
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness...
Peace...
A.A.L. said, Was “the Reformation” a dangerous detour, leading people away from;
Jesus being the “head” of the body, the Church,
and those led by the Spirit, those are the sons of God?
I don't think it was the wrong direction, it just didn't go far enough. This was the criticism made by the Anabaptists. The "Magisterial Reformers" said reform had to wait for the approval of the magistrate.
Is Religion the system, and NOT the relationship?
The root of the word "religion" is related to "oath." Think of the oath that new citizens take. Oath is the essential relationship of the saved Christian. True religion is an oath of allegiance to God's system.
Did Jesus reform “the Jewish Religious Sytem” He etablished?
Or did He leave it?
Jesus was the fulfillment of “the Jewish Religious Sytem” if by that phrase you mean the Old Testament. If you mean the religion of Pharisaism that developed during the Babylonian captivity, then Jesus did not leave that because he did not establish it, and was never a part of it.
When Jesus left “The Religious System,”
He called others out of ”The System” with Him. Didn’t He?
Any who were part of the religion of Pharisaism (which negates God's system by substituting man's system) were called out of that religion by Christ. But He did not leave that system because He was never a part of it.
Jesus is the head of the body (the ekklesia, the called out one's), the church.
True, and I think Luther would agree with that.
“Disciples of Christ” were “called out” of the religious system,
into a relationship with Jesus.
They were called out of a false religious system (if they were a part of it) into a new system, which was also the fulfillment of the Old Testament system.
They are “called out” of the worlds system,
into the Kingdom of God.
I'll go with that.
They are "called out” of self,
into the body of Christ.
Agreed.
They are “called out” of sin,
into righteousness.
They are “called out” of bondage,
into liberty.
They are “called out” of darkness,
into light.
They are “called out” of death
into life.
Yes to all.
Doesn’t “Religious” reform mean to take one “religious” form
and change it, make it different?
It certainly could. And if that reform were consistently pursued, it could lead completely out of a false religion into the true religion.
Isn’t it still a form, still religion, NOT a relationship?
You can substitute "relationship" for "religion" in the sentence above. Satan has a "relationship" with God -- pure and total rebellion. Lots of people have a version of that relationship. Everybody has a relationship with God, according to Romans 1. People whose relationship to God is characterized by disobedience need to repent and develop a relationship with God characterized by obedience.
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness...
Or a form of ungodliness.
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