Tag: Reformation Day

Reformation Discussion – Peter Lillback with Janet Mefford

The four main figures
The four main figures (Photo credit: keepps)

There was good Reformation introduction discussion on The Janet Mefford Show yesterday with Peter Lillback. Download HERE.

‘It’s Reformation Day and Janet will mark the occasion by talking with Westminster Theological Seminary President Peter Lillback. He’ll join Janet to discuss a new video series he hosts called, “The Protestant Revolt: A Study of the Protestant Reformation.”’

I didn’t know anything about the new Video series Dr Lillback talked about, but it sounds excellent. And I didn’t see anything on the WTS website either. I’ll post details when they become available.

Just in case there is anyone out there that actually thinks The Reformation started when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door – to be clear it, didn’t. It wasn’t like the second he stopped nailing – BAM, The Reformation was under way. A friend of mine (long since with his Lord) used to say when people start praying earnestly for revival – it’s already begun. And The Reformation is similar. God was already at work, and had been for some time. But The Reformation is a way of referring to an extended period of history all over Europe where The Gospel was being re-discovered. So why not celebrate October 31st as Reformation Day. It wouldn’t be a bad thing would it if Churches & individual Christians celebrated, talked about, discussed, lectured, read about, thought about The Reformation and the consequences of that great work brought about by God.

To listen to some excellent lectures go to my website here and scroll through for Reformation lectures. It’s made me think I should arrange a whole series on The Reformation for 2017. That will be 500 years after the nailing of The Theses. Watch this space!

If there were only two lectures to recommend it would be from 2005, Phil Arthur ‘Luther & The Bondage of the Will‘ and from 1984, Bob Sheehan on ‘The Legacy of Tyndale‘. Both speakers really know their onions!

Reformation Day Thanks

Door of the Schlosskirche (castle church) in W...
Door of the Schlosskirche (castle church) in Wittenberg to which Luther is said to have nailed his 95 Theses, sparking the Reformation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

496 years ago today Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg. Not sure how many Churches mark this day as the start of The Reformation – arguably the greatest revival in the history of the Church. Even in a secularised West we still benefit from this recovery of the Gospel.

Many Churches will have an alternative to Halloween, maybe a ‘light’ party in contrast to the darkness of Halloween. But Reformation Day isn’t an alternative. It’s an opportunity to remember something that under God actually happened in history, much like the Gospel itself. As Christians we don’t have to pretend about anything, we deal in facts, things that happened.

Other Churches will have something for the kids but will also mark the day by a Historical Lecture or perhaps celebrate by remembering ‘The just shall live by faith’. Our Salvation, and your Salvation if you are not yet a Christian believer, depends not on what you do but on what God has done, what Jesus accomplished for all who will ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ’.

The Gospel is at the heart of Reformation Day and it should be at the heart of every day and especially in the preaching.

Praise God for the Gospel. Have a blessed Reformation Day.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

Martin Luther