Mon 31 Oct 2005
October 31st is the official date of “Reformation Day,” though it is often celebrated on the last Sunday of the month of October by Christians around the world. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to the Wittenburg Castle Church door. Though many understand Luther’s move to be one of fierce defiance, it was not. It was a plea for doctrinal clarity and an invitation to doctrinal discussion.
Years prior on a stormy night in 1505, Luther was walking to law school at the University of Erfurt in Germany when a bolt of lighting struck near him. His reaction was to cry out “Help me, St. Anne and I’ll become a monk!” Luther made good on his vow and became a monk. His superiors urged him to pursue the doctorate of theology, and he eventually became a professor at Wittenburg University. While lecturing through the book of Romans, he was stopped by the implications of the phrase the righteousness of God (Romans 1:17). Luther became convinced of the doctrine now known as “justification by faith alone” that Protestants now take for granted.
It is very easy for us to focus on the men involved. It’s common to hear objections such as why do you worship John Calvin when discussing what has come to be broadly known as Calvinism. It is readily admitted that Luther, along with his great accomplishments, was also not a terribly nice person and said some rather nasty things. Yet, it’s not about the men involved but the God for whom they were willing to die. Are we willing to die for God and do we see doctrine as a life and death matter? These men did.
Has doctrine been used to say some mean things? Absolutely. But that does not free us from the obligation to get our thoughts concerning God right. Churches has sacrificed doctrine for numbers and they’ve lost sight o God in the process. The Reformers understood the relationship that exists between head and heart and that when our doctrine is right, it points us squarely to such a grand vision of God that our hearts cannot help but overflow with obedience, praise and thanksgiving.
Yes, there are often points of disagreement, but we are still not free to lower our doctrinal standards in pursuit of a false campfire unity. Doctrine is important; inescapably so and churches must once again strive to fulfill our roe as te “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). We must heed the strong warning of A.W. Tozer in his book The Knowledge of the Holy that “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Doctrine is the boundary between orthodoxy and heresy, between devotion and idolatry and we must take it serously. If God thought it important enough to reveal Himself to man, we’d better make sure that man understands that revelation correctly.
“The Church reformed, always being reformed
according to the Word of God.”
Read Luther’s 95 Theses.
Read The Bondage of the Will by Luther.
Read Martin Luther by Martin Marty.
Read What is Reformed Theology by R.C. Sproul.
Watch the Luther movie trailer.
Buy Luther.
Download Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross.
