Had the Reformation Not Happened

It’s the time of year where we decorate our front porches with pumpkins and hay bales. The air is brisk and we bundle up in our sweaters and boots. It’s a season that fills the senses with favorite tastes and smells. Even as I write this, an apple scented candle fills the room with a sweet fragrance. This month, children ready themselves to gorge on candy. Before long, we’ll be stuffing ourselves with turkey and pie, followed by stockings and presents.

It’s a busy time of year and sometimes we miss an important event tucked in amid all the celebration and feasting. Reformation Day. It’s not a holiday but it is an important day to remember for so much of what we experience as believers today, began October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door at Whittenburg. For many of us, the day comes and goes without thinking about it. What happened five hundred year ago is all too often taken for granted.

But what if the Reformation had not happened? What if Martin Luther had not brought his questions and challenges to the church, confronting it with all that the Bible taught about salvation and the church?

Here are just a few things that might be different:

• We would not have the Bible in our own language.

• We would still be paying indulgences to get loved ones out of purgatory.

• We would believe that we are saved by our works instead of by grace alone.

• We would elevate church tradition over what the Bible teaches.

• We wouldn’t know the extravagant grace of God for us in Christ.

• We wouldn’t worship God with our whole hearts and glorify him with our lives.

• We would not hear the word preached each Lord’s Day.

Can you imagine any of these things? Each one of them is significant and had the Reformation not happened, the church today would be very different. Every morning when I sit down to read my Bible, I’m doing something that Christians did not do before 1517. Not only do I have the Bible in my own language, but I have multiple versions of it in every size and shape, even digital versions. Through my encounter with God’s word and what it has taught me about the gospel, I trust in Christ alone for my salvation knowing that I am saved by faith and not works. Another reformer, John Calvin, explained the depths of God’s grace in our salvation. From beginning to end, salvation is rooted in God’s grace. There is nothing we did to earn it. There is nothing we can do to lose it. Think of it, had the Reformation not happened, we would not sing the hymn Amazing Grace. It would have no meaning for us.

There are many other things that grew out of the Reformation as well, including how we view vocation. Had the Reformation not happened, we would still separate work into jobs that are holy and important and those that are not. Martin Luther also influenced worship through all the hymns he wrote, inspiring musicians down through the ages.

Luther’s simple act on October 31, 1517 sparked a reformation that continues to ripple down through the ages. May we not take what happened at the Reformation for granted. May we continue the motto from the Reformation: Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda, the church reformed and always reforming. And may we look to the word of God alone to be our authority, as it teaches that we are justified through Christ alone, by faith alone, in grace alone, to the glory of God alone.

How about you? Anything else you would add to the list?

Photo by Wim van 't Einde on Unsplash

Busy in Prayer

I remember the first time I came across Martin Luther’s quote on prayer: “Work, work from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” I was a young mom overwhelmed with the daily tasks of raising littles. I had no time or space of my own. Every moment seemed like I was at the beck and call of people who constantly needed me. Even getting a shower each day seemed like an impossible task.

As I read the quote, I couldn’t help but recall those mornings before I had children where I would read my Bible and pray before heading off to work. It seemed so easy then. My time was my own. But after having children, it was a struggle to find quiet. It was a challenge to find pockets of time to focus on my own needs. (Anyone have littles follow them into the bathroom?!) So when I came across the Luther quote, my mind could not wrap itself around the idea. I couldn’t find five quiet minutes alone to pray, much less three hours!

But more than the amount of time Luther designated to prayer, I think what stood out to me the most is Luther’s response to the busyness of his life. He had a full life, translating the Bible, preaching, leading a Reformation. He was also a husband and father. With all that he had on his plate, he chose to begin his day with prayer. When my life is filled to the brim and I get overwhelmed, trying to juggle all the tasks and duties before me, I am more likely to cut things out of my day like Bible study and prayer. I will zero in on my tasks and work hard until they are completed. The fact that Luther didn’t set aside prayer in his busy day but instead prayed because he was so busy is a testament to his faith and trust in God. He entrusted his time to our sovereign Lord who rules our days. As Proverbs tells us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (16:9). The Lord knows the tasks we have before us. He knows our limitations. And he knows what we need in order to accomplish what he’s called us to do. When Luther had too much to do and not enough time, he turned to the keeper of his days, praying for the Lord to provide, instruct, guide, and direct his path.

Our Savior did the same. He made it a priority to be with his Father in prayer. He rose early in the morning to be alone and commune with the Father (Mark 1:35). In the midst of people desperate to meet with him and be healed, he would leave to pray by himself, “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:15-16).

Jesus abided in the Father and taught us to abide as well: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). We abide through prayer and study of the word. And as we abide, we received the spiritual strength we need to live out our callings. God hears our prayers and equips us for the tasks at hand. He gives us the wisdom and discernment we need. He enables us to accomplish his purposes. It is only as we abide that we bear fruit.

Luther knew the truth that apart from God, he could do nothing. And so he prayed. While it’s hard to imagine committing three hours of our day in prayer—and there may be times when we need to do just that!—more so, we need to entrust all our plans, all our busy tasks and responsibilities, to the One who rules our days. May we have a heart like Luther, one that is busy in prayer.

Photo by Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Celebrating the Reformation with Your Children

The year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg church door. This action started a series of events which shined the light of the gospel of justification by faith, transforming the church. All Protestant churches can trace their history back to this day and this action by Martin Luther.

Our children need to know our church history and this is great time to teach and talk to them about it. Today I'm sharing about activities and resources you can use over the next month to help them understand the importance of the Reformation to the church today.

Lapbook:

Create a Reformation Lapbook: One year we created a lapbook in homeschool to celebrate the Reformation. I used three file folders, stapling them together to create one big folder. I found various worksheets online which we added to the lapbook. (If you do a search, you can find Martin Luther coloring pages, notebooking pages, and other handouts/worksheets that can be used in a lapbook). We talked about the 5 solas of the Reformation and wrote them down. We did a timeline of events during the Reformation. We also studied Martin Luther's hymn "Almighty Fortress is Our God" and included that.  

Books to Read:

Martin Luther - Christian Biographies for Young Readers:This is a picture book for young readers which not only tells the history of Martin Luther and the Reformation, but the theological reasons behind it. She also has books on John Calvin and John Knox. Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World: This is a great picture book for younger elementary kids that tells the story of Martin Luther and the 95 theses. The Barber Who Wanted to Pray: This is another great children's book, by R.C. Sproul. Martin Luther's barber once asked him how to pray and he wrote a little book on prayer for his barber. This picture book tells that story. Rebels Rescued: A Student's Guide to Reformed Theology: This excellent book is great for helping older kids understand the Reformation and the basics of Reformed theology. John Calvin: After Darkness Light (Trailblazers): While the Reformation began with Martin Luther, it didn't end with him. Consider having your older children read the biographies of some of the other Reformers, such as this one we've read about John Calvin. The author also has one on John Knox.

The Church History ABCs: Augustine and 25 Other Heroes of the Faith: I read this picture book to my kids when they were young. Each page shares about an important person in church history.

Reformation ABCs: The People, Places, and Things of the Reformation_from A to Z: This is another picture book by the same author of Church History ABC's.

Guarding the Treasure: How God's People Preserve God's Word (Biography): This is one we read in homeschool. Each chapter is about a different person in church history who guarded God's Word, including several people during the Reformation.

God's Story: A Student's Guide to Church History: I recently got this one for my oldest son to read because he has been curious about church history in general.

Movies:

Torchlighers has a cartoon video for children about Martin Luther. 

Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer is a documentary using live-action storytelling. The film inclues R.C. Sproul, Carl Trueman, Steven J. Lawson, among others. 

Martin Luther: The Idea that Changed the World is an excellent documentary on PBS. It's a typical documentary, including actors portraying moments in Luther's life as well as interviews with theologians and historians. It would probably interest older children, middle to high school. 

Luther (by MGM) is movie suitable for older children (adolescents) which tells the history of Martin Luther nailing his theses and what unfolded afterward. 

Other:

Because Martin Luther was put on trial in Worms, Germany (pronounced Verms), make your kids a snack of crushed cookies, pudding, and gummy worms. We did this one year for homeschool and it was a hit!

Build a medieval church out of Legos with a big front door and have Martin Luther place his 95 theses on the front door. 

Turn a door in your house into a Wittenberg door and have your children pin Martin Luther's theses on it. 

Enjoy traditional German food!

How will you celebrate 500 years since the Reformation?

Note: I am a member of the Amazon Affiliates program and links to books in this post are connected to my affiliates account with Amazon.com.