Happy Reformation Day

Posted by Brian Tubbs Oct 31, 2008

On October 31, 1517, an Augustinian monk and professor nailed a statement to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. That priest's name was Martin Luther, and his Ninety-Five Theses were touched off a firestorm - and forever changed the world!

Luther was angered by what he considered to be corruption and abuse of power in the Roman Catholic Church. He was particularly outraged at the selling of indulgences by Vatican fundraiser Johann Tetzel. Luther's Ninety-Five Theses, however, went beyond the malpractices he observed. He challenged the Vatican not only on practice, but on its beliefs. In so doing, he set himself on a collision course with the Roman Catholic Church, that ended with his excommunication and the launching of a new movement.

The seeds of the Reformation began long before Martin Luther's life. There were differences within the Christian community as far as back as the very first century, and there were churches and groups operating outside of the authority of the Catholic Church. But Luther came at a time, when the world was entering a new era -- printing press and all. He was the catalyst that set in motion the most significant reform movement in church history.

For more on Martin Luther, check out "Finding Luther: Archaeologists Trail Reformer," an interesting article by fellow Suite101 writer Stan Parchin.

For information regarding the Protestant Reformation, check out the Hanover College History Department's "Protestant Reformation" Internet archive of texts and documents.