Posted on 02/05/2015 9:29:51 AM PST by RnMomof7
What caused the Reformation?
Many people might answer that question by pointing to Martin Luther and his 95 Theses.
But if you were to ask Luther himself, he would not point to himself or his own writings. Instead, he would give all the credit to God and His Word.
Near the end of his life, Luther declared: “All I have done is put forth, preach and write the Word of God, and apart from this I have done nothing. . . . It is the Word that has done great things. . . . I have done nothing; the Word has done and achieved everything.”
Elsewhere, he exclaimed: “By the Word the earth has been subdued; by the Word the Church has been saved; and by the Word also it shall be reestablished.”
Noting Scripture’s foundational place in his own heart, Luther wrote: “No matter what happens, you should say: There is God’s Word. This is my rock and anchor. On it I rely, and it remains. Where it remains, I, too, remain; where it goes, I, too, go.”
Luther understood what caused the Reformation. He recognized that it was the Word of God empowered by the Spirit of God preached by men of God in a language that the common people of Europe could understand and when their ears were exposed to the truth of God’s Word it pierced their hearts and they were radically changed.
It was that very power that had transformed Luther’s own heart, a power that is summarized in the familiar words of Hebrews 4:12: “The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword.”
During the late middle ages, the Roman Catholic Church had imprisoned God’s Word in the Latin language, a language the common people of Europe did not speak. The Reformers unlocked the Scriptures by translating them. And once the people had the Word of God, the Reformation became inevitable.
We see this commitment to the Scriptures even in the centuries prior to Martin Luther, beginning with the Forerunners to the Reformation:
In the 12th century, the Waldensians translated the New Testament from the Latin Vulgate into their regional French dialects. According to tradition, they were so committed to the Scriptures that different Waldensian families would memorize large sections of the Bible. That way, if Roman Catholic authorities found them and confiscated their printed copies of Scripture, they would later be able to reproduce the entire Bible from memory.
In the 14th century, John Wycliffe and his associates at Oxford translated the Bible from Latin into English. Wycliffe’s followers, known as the Lollards, went throughout the countryside preaching and singing passages of Scripture in English.
In the 15th century, Jan Huss preached in the language of the people, and not in Latin, making him the most popular preacher in Prague at the time. Yet, because Huss insisted that Christ alone was the head of the church, not the pope, the Catholic Council of Constance condemned him for heresy and burned him at the stake (in 1415).
In the 16th century, as the study of Greek and Hebrew were recovered, Martin Luther translated the Bible into German, with the New Testament being completed in 1522.
In 1526, William Tyndale completed a translation of the Greek New Testament into English. A few years later he also translated the Pentateuch from Hebrew. Shortly thereafter he was arrested and executed as a heretic—being strangled and then burned at the stake. According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs, Tyndale’s last words were “Lord, Open the King of England’s Eyes.” And it was just a couple years after his death that King Henry VIII authorized the Great Bible in England—a Bible that was largely based on Tyndale’s translation work. The Great Bible laid the foundation for the later King James version (which was completed in 1611).
The common thread, from Reformer to Reformer, was an undying commitment to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, such that they were willing to sacrifice everything, including their own lives, to get the Word of God into the hands of the people.
They did this because they understood that the power for spiritual reformation and revival was not in them, but in the gospel (cf. Rom. 1:16–17). And they used the Latin phrase Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”) to emphasize the truth that God’s Word was the true power and ultimate authority behind all they said and did.
It was ignorance of Scripture that made the Reformation necessary. It was the recovery of the Scripture that made the Reformation possible. And it was the power of the Scripture that gave the Reformation its enduring impact, as the Holy Spirit brought the truth of His Word to bear on the hearts and minds of individual sinners, transforming them, regenerating them, and giving them eternal life.
Proof they did not ??
Indeed
Did a search for context ...the only place it is found is on papist pages.. they make it up as they go along
You have sources of course :)
Context, context,context :)
:>)
Source??
One does not need a degree in theology to understand the gospel .. .. Scripture tells us that the unsaved can not understand the scriptures ...that is because they are spiritually discerned ..
I have seen priests that can not rightly divide the word of God on forums..
At least with the Catholic church those who actually read the Catechism, the teachings of the Church can know where they stand. I am not going to say there are not unfaithful Catholics in the Church because there are, there always has been and there always will be. Just like the people of Israel. This sadly includes some bishops, cardinals and priests but they are outside the lines.
Much of the "catechism" twists scripture out of context.. they start with the conclusion and then look to have scripture support it..
There can only be one truth. That is borne out by looking at Christianity today. There is either one truth or there is no truth./I>
Jesus said HE as the truth..if you want the truth ...read the scriptures
And your arguments are what? That all Popes have been evil ne’er-do-wells? I should know what Protestants believe? Which group of Protestants? Who are the “real” Protestants? Protestants don’t even agree on those matters.
Says who? Pope RnMom? Who are you to say what kind of people hell is going to be full of?
**Who are the “real” Protestants? Protestants don’t even agree on those matters.**
Sez you.
I have worshiped in Baptist, Lutheran and all manner of Reformed churches. I have always been welcomed as a brother in Christ.
It is only the Roman Catholic Church that excludes others.
According to Protestant history, when exactly did the Catholic Church come into error? Since there was only 1 Church for 1,000 years who held the deposit of faith up to that point?
That’s another thing Protestants like to erase, all Christian history that does not suit them.
No Protestant ministers raped children and covered it up? Or worse?
There have been evil clergy since time began, beginning with the Old Testament Kings down through today. They will be here until Christ returns and judges each and every one of us.
So why then is the Catholic Church the only religious organization that is wrong?
Because you are lately in the news...because the standard was to move priests, not turn them over for prosecution....because the whole affair exposed a lavender mafia that still exists...because you claim to be the OTC, your standards should be higher than the rest of the world.
You seem to be hung up on on interpretation, so let’s consider two options.
#1 - One religious monarch or leader, often of questionable character, in charge of a denomination or church. All “revelation” filters through a single person, or a central authority, and then is spoon-fed to the masses who are discouraged to seek God’s Truth for themselves.
#2 - Jesus is the Head of the Church. All Believers have free access to God’s Word, and have the Holy Spirit inside as a Guide and Comforter.
Which one would be more productive for the Heavenly Father to fellowship with His children, and for their spiritual growth? Which one would lead to more abuse, whether it be Jim Jones or David Koresh, or a pope/monarch ordering the torture and murder of Believers?
There is no “private interpretation” in the Body of Christ. God’s Word is ALIVE. Scripture interprets Scripture. The Bible is spiritually discerned, and when rightly divided, the Word and the Spirit agree. Its the theologians who attempt to figure it out mentally who for almost 2,000 years have been leading everyone into the religious ditch. God’s Word is Truth. God’s Wisdom is revealed in the spirit first, and then you renew your mind with His Truth.
Reading the teachings of man will never build faith. That comes from hearing God’s Word, not some theological opinion or denominational dogma. Note the instructions to Joshua. He was told to meditate on God’s Word night and day, and then he would be prosperous. (Joshua 1:8) Similar instructions continue throughout God’s Word - Psalm 1 & 119, John 17, Colossians 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and many more.
Yes, there is absolutely ONE TRUTH. But it does not come from, or require some man-made religious organization. God is the Creator, and the Holy Spirit inspired His Word. He does not need a man to “interpret” it. He needs people to share it and preach it. Its the Word, the incorruptible SEED, that transforms people. From the Word in your spirit you understand His Wisdom, Will, and receive revelation. No religious organization can match that kind of personal intimacy and fellowship with your Heavenly Father.
1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
>>>“My God, what have I done? Even the milkmaids think they can interpret Scripture!” - Martin Luther.
At least he got that one right.>>>
Frankly, I would be more interested in hearing a Spirit-filled milkmaid share her insight almost any day over the vast majority of theologians. My gosh they can find Mary in every passage of the Bible, but don’t see Jesus! And the ENTIRE book is about HIM!!
Its frightening how some folks have more respect for theological opinion or denominational teaching, rather than God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Do you really think God would inspire His Word in such a way that His children could not understand His Truth? That’s exactly what the religious want you to believe, so they can keep you in bondage. It all started in the Garden - “Did God really say...”
Please note, I do not come here pimping any denomination. A careful examination of posts from Believers will show that rarely do they push any denomination. Why? They are man-made organizations just like Rome - all with the same pimples, boils, and warts alike. Folks get fixated on a building or a denomination - that is the foolishness of man, and the division of the enemy. Neither is THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH, the Body of Christ, is every Believer, they are the Temple of God with the presence of the Holy Spirit inside. Believers may worship in a church or a denomination, but they take THE CHURCH to the world.
Believers are complete in Christ. Flee all the religious nonsense, theological opinions, and man-made fables and myths. Cling to Christ and preach the Word only.
Because the Catholic Church has been infiltrated by pedophiles and those who would seek to destroy it, the truth of catholic teaching is no less valid.
I would not want to be in their shoes when they stand before Christ.
And the point is still valid, what about the wolves in your own midst? It must be nice having so little organization so that only the guilty incur wrath and not the entire denomination.
I thought about your shadow-boxing comment. You and I have both played this game before and these same arguments have been gone over by much more learned individuals than us.
I generally only engage in them when I view things as patently biased. Sometimes I learn things but most of the time it’s just back and forth banter.
I do have to respond to your last comment, even if you don’t respond back. From what I’ve read of your arguments you want things both ways. The one I already pointed out. In the last comment you say that I insist on defining you, yet you have already defined the entire Papacy as entirely corrupt, which it is not.
Then why isn't it practiced? Infiltrate; seek to destroy; then root them out and get rid of them. Don't coddle them or pass them around. Where's the Catholic teaching on that? That lack of action speaks volumes about Catholic teaching.
what about the wolves in your own midst?
They get prosecuted when they are found at a vastly higher rate than Rome.
It must be nice having so little organization so that only the guilty incur wrath and not the entire denomination.
If it wasn't endemic in Catholicism and the Catholic hierarchy actually took steps to rid itself of the plague in an open manner, all you would hear around here would be cheers.
And the point is still valid
No it isn't for the reasons outlined here. Quit crying about it and get your .org to DO something about it.
You act as if every priest is an abuser. I believe it’s what?3% or less? Yes, that is 3% too much but it’s not what the enemies of the Church would have us believe.
Some of them have been prosecuted, I’m sure more will be. They have brought great scandal to the priesthood.
Although these evil men were in the Church, the truth of Catholic teaching is still valid.
I will not leave Jesus because of Judas.
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