Today is reformation day, which commemorates Dr. Martin Luther’s posting of his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This was of course an act that triggered a nation-wide movement we call the reformation. The reformation was a rediscovery of the Word of God and a turning from the unbiblical practices of the Roman Catholic Church to what we know as protestants today. The Roman Catholic church was plagued with false doctrines and superstitions such as purgatory, salvation through good works, and indulgences. It took an Augustinian monk and university professor named Martin Luther to recognize a problem, turn to the Word of God, and stand up against this Roman Catholilc heresy. He wrote his ninety-five statements concerning indulgences, good works, repentance, and other topics and posted it to the church door on October 31st, 1517. This was not an act of defiance as some make it out to be. The church door faced Wittenberg’s main thoroughfare and so the church door functioned as a public bulletin board. His theses was simply a message to the public asking anyone to come and debate these issues. His openeing paragraph said:

“Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.”

Luther’s Theses did not become a big issue until it was taken and translated into german using the new movabletype printing press. Once it was translated and printed it was given to mass amounts of people and thus Luther’s simple posting of his Theses turned into a big deal and the Catholic church decided they had to deal with it. This sparked a conflict that essentially led to the creation of the protestant churches as many seperated from the Roman Catholic Church and it’s practices. If you are interested you can read more about this by visiting spurgeon.org.

By grace God’s Son, our only Savior,
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of thine own merit
That Jesus died thy soul to win?
Nay; it was grace, and grace alone,
That brought Him from His heav’nly throne.

In honor of reformation day I have discovered this little commercial that I thought I would share with you. It’s just a little diddy that is meant to raise awareness of this holiday. Click Here to listen or right click the link and choose save as. Enjoy.

Happy Reformation Day!