The Reformation was the result of the same temptations that satan gave to Jesus in Matthew 4:. The difference is that Jesus did not succumb.
Spot on,dear brother!
Markbsnr: The Reformation was the result of the same temptations that satan gave to Jesus in Matthew 4:. The difference is that Jesus did not succumb.
And yet you could substitute the word "priests" for "pastors" and "Roman Catholic" for "Protestant" and the statement would be entirely applicable and true. Self-aggrandizement, wealth, power, authority, submission of the "laity" were all sins the "Church" was steeped in and which brought about a need for reform. It didn't start with Martin Luther but he, as a Catholic priest himself, recognized the depravity and wantonness of the hierarchy. The "protest" was against this surrender to Satan by those who should have known better.
Do pastors still sin? Yes. Do priests, bishops, popes? Again, yes. We are all sinners and it is only through the grace of God that any can come to him - on his terms, not ours. Until we recognize that we are redeemed through Christ and not some religion or organization, we will never let go of hostility, suspicion and negativity and we will never be able to let the light of the glorious gospel shine through us.
Mark, the sons of the reformation do not live in marble palaces, wear silk vestments, have golden crowns or staffs or rings worthy to be kissed , they do not have fine art work, antiques or an army to defend them ...That is what Satan offered to Jesus...the world.. and its comforts and riches.. position and power..all the reformers had was the army of satan chasing them to cut off their heads or burn them at the stake for proclaiming the truth of God..
But Satan did not give up, did he?
The so-called reformation wa a sever test of the Church. In the end, we won.