| Author | Message | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 2110 Registered: 4-2000  |
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther wrote a detailed letter to Albrecht, the Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, protesting the sale of indulgences. This letter became known as The 95 Theses nailed to the door of Wittenburg. Although Martin Luther initially had no intent to confront the Roman Catholic Church, he merely wanted to point out some theological errors that needed correction. This civic holiday is still celebrated in many European communities in addition to being a national holiday in Chile since 2008. So amidst the clamor and yummy treats of Halloween events, let us never forget the significance of the Protestant Reformation that started 493 years ago today. Happy Reformation Day to all! Dennis Fischer | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1805 Registered: 6-2006  |
Happy Reformation Day! We sang "A Mighty Fortress is our God" this morning at church. The song was written and composed by Martin Luther and was a paraphrase of Psalm 46 ~ Psalm 46 For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. 11The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Amen!  Leigh Anne | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 1495 Registered: 7-2007 |
Happy Reformation Day!!! Oh, that's so much better than "Happy Halloween." Saying "Happy Holloween" is about the same as saying "Happy Witches Day." This is one of Satanism's "high sabbaths." I believe that various covens secretly have a human sacrifice on this black "sabbath" and probably on their other black "sabbaths" too.  | ||
| Doc Registered user Username: Doc Post Number: 636 Registered: 2-2003  |
This really does make 31 October worth remembering! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 8732 Registered: 3-2004  |
WOW!! I did not know that October 31 is Reformation day. I like that much better than Halloween. HAPPY REFORMATION DAY ONE AND ALL!! Diana L | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 1806 Registered: 6-2006 |
Saying the word Happy Halloween is not the same as saying "Happy Witches Day". It is a variant of "All Hallow's Eve". "Hallows" means "Saints" in Old English (1600's), and "All Hallows Eve" is traditionally a day when the church honors the saints who have died before us. Christianity has celebrated All Hallow's Eve, or All Saint's Day for hundreds of years. If anything, the secular world has taken a church term and has used it in the wrong way, but to condemn the whole phrase altogether as a satanic phrase is completely incorrect. Leigh Anne | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 2111 Registered: 4-2000 |
Serious students of Church History are grateful for Martin Brecht's classic, 557-page book entitled "Martin Luther: His Road to Reformation 1483-1521" (translated into English from German by James L. Schaaf). This book reveals that several of Luther's friends, two brothers, and some of his university professors died of the bubonic plague that was still ravaging late-medieval Europe. Young Martin Luther went through extraordinary difficulties. For example, imminent death was common thinking with the plague being so terrible and threatening life daily. In addition, young Martin Luther encountered a serious medical problem when he was accidently jabbed in his thigh by a student sword he was carrying. The deep wound was kept from profusely bleeding, from an artery, by Luther's intervention of wisely applying hand pressure to the site while a friend summoned medical assistance. During the night, however, the wound began to bleed once again as he turned to the "Mother of God." Later he stated that "There I would have died trusting in Mary." Yes, even a bolt of lightening struck him later to the ground and injured his leg while he promised St. Anne to become a monk. Luther later compared this experience to that of Paul on the road to Damascus. Additionally, his father disowned him for awhile when he entered the monastic life. After achieving his Master's degree, Luther's father proudly addressed him in the plural as "Ihr" instead of "Du." (a common German practice of respect in those days for scholars). But his father returned to calling him merely "Du" ("you" in English) to express his anger and disappointment in Martin not pursuing a different scholastic goal. This problem was eventually resolved with the intervention and mediation of friends. In addition to being a great Reformer and theologian, Martin Luther was also a great linguist and translator of the Bible into German. As Providence would have it, the relatively new printing press greatly enhanced the Protestant Reformation. People could finally read the Bible in their own language. I have Luther's Gothic German Bible in my library. As some of you already know, I speak and read German being it was my first language. Admittedly, I am very rusty in my German today. The papist's greatly fear proved to be true that, with lay people and non-scholars reading and interpreting the Bible, there would become numerous groups and/or churches as we see today. A history buff, Dennis Fischer | ||
| Psalm107v2 Registered user Username: Psalm107v2 Post Number: 767 Registered: 10-2008  |
Happy Reformation Day. I am so moved by what 1 person can do thru the power of God. As I understand it luther did not want to start a new denomination but rather correct the errors perpetuated in his day. Because of his obedience there is no telling how many lives have been touched---and I proudly say he has touched mine as sola scriptura is so important in my life as it freed me from the SDA church. Today we had a baptism with my church family. A 12 year old girl, a deaf young man and a former muslim. If that was not enough one of our sisters who has been a Christian for a number of years but apparently is afraid of water agreed to and was baptized today. She was standing between another sister and I and the pastor invited anyone else who was not baptized to do so. We encouraged her and I quoted the Eunuch and Phillip in Acts to her. I am not taking credit for her decision---I am just so grateful that I could be there to witness such an event. The 3 other people who were baptized all gave testimonies and each one--including the former muslim said it was scripture and scriputre alone that convinced them to believe in Jesus. I praise God for Martin Luther and the reformation he started! Enoch | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 2641 Registered: 8-2004  |
Sounds like a wonderful day Enoch! | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 628 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yes, Enoch, aren't baptisms so wonderfully joyful now! | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 629 Registered: 5-2009 |
PS Thanks, Dennis for the great history of this day and Martin Luther--danke! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 11926 Registered: 12-2003  |
Enoch, what a great day! On Sunday our pastor pointed out that it was Reformation Day. He pointed out that in liturgical churches, the liturgical color for Reformation Day is red, the color that represents the Holy Spirit. He quoted John Knox, the Scottish reformer, who explained the Power behind Pentecost (and the Reformation): "God gave the Holy Spirit to simple men in great abundance." Praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the men who brought the teaching of justification by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone and based on Scripture alone back into focus! Colleen |
