“Happy Reformation Day!”

“Happy Reformation Day!”(Mk.4:30-32).
On this day, 505 years ago – 31st October, 1517 – Martin Luther posted The Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castile Church in Wittenberg. There was nothing unusual about his action. It was the usual procedure for giving notice of such a disputatiion which were a regular feature of university life.
There was nothing dramatic in Luther’s action. He was confident that after exposing the evils of Indulgences he would gain papal support.
This is how Luther introduced the theses: “A disputation of Master Martin Luther, Theologian, for the elucidation of the virtue of Indulgences.
From a zealous desire to bring to light the truth, the following theses will be maintained at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Rvd. Fr. Martin Luther, Master of Arts, Master of Sacred Theology and official Reader therein. He therefore asks that all who are unable to be present and dispute with him verbally will do so in writing. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. “
Rather than acheiving what Luther expected, the theses turned out to be the spark that ignited the fire that gave birth to the Protestant Movement.
I dare call it Protestant Movement because as has been accepted within Reformed tradition, “Ecclessia reformata semper reformanda” – “the reformed Church should always be reformed.” This Latin phrase though it gained ground within Reformed tradition through the German theologian Karl Barth, was first coined by St. Augustine of Hippo.
The Reformed Church should always be reformed because the evils of Indulgences which Luther set out to fight against is even now being aggravated and exaggerated within some of the Reformed fraternity.
The freedom of the reformed Church always being reformed has generated the cankerworm of unchecked and difficult-to- control schisms and secterianisms. Thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ is still the Church’s One Foundation.
Christ Jesus towers above the Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Protestant, Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches!
The kingdom of God may spread and expand through breakaways and factionalism, it only confirms that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest seed in the world of plants, but when planted in grows and becomes the biggest of all the plants. Its branches keeps spreading providing shade where birds build their nests.
One thing needful: Any bird that builds its nest on any of the branches should not claim monopoly over the branch, nor should it be that some bird species would claim superiority by determining which bird perches on which branch.
Worth noting is that as long as the Reformed Church is in the hands of gullible human beings, it will constantly be reformed through new Reformations of breakaways or through Counter Reformations of Internal Renewals.
Prayer of the week: Holy Spirit help us that as we expand the Church of Christ through Reformation and Counter Reformation, let us in every way preach the gospel of Christ undiluted and without sugarcoating it. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working day and week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you & Happy Reformation Day!
Rev Babila Fochang.