Defining Moments in Christian History

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Defining Moments in Christian History

• The Diet of Worms (1521)
• The Protestant Reformation

October 17, 2004 Linford Fisher
www.fisherkids.net/psc.htm
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(No Transcript)
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Western Europe, c. 1525
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Martin Luther (1483 1545)
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Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
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Luther nailing the Ninety-Five Theses to the
Wittenberg Castle church door, 1517
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Luther Nailing Ninety-Five Theses, from
2003 Movie, Luther
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Pope Leo X
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Luther burning Pope Leo Xs papal bull, 1520
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Luther at the Diet of Worms, 1521
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Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the
Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust
either in the pope or in councils alone, since it
is well known that they have often erred and
contradicted themselves), I am bound by the
Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is
captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will
not retract anything, since it is neither safe
nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand
I can do no other. So help me God.
- Martin Luther, final statement at the Diet of
Worms, 1521
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Martin Luther stood here and faced emperor and
empire, 1521
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Late-medieval religious life cycle
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Erasmus of Rotterdam, Humanist
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• St. Peter to Pope Julius The church was not
  like this when founded by ChristPaul did not
  speak of the cities he had stormed, the princes
  he had slaughtered, the kings he had incited to
  warYou say the Church is increased when the
  priests have thrown it into tumult. You consider
  it flourishing when drunk with debauchery,
  tranquil when enjoying vices without reproof, and
  when the grand robberies and furious conflicts
  are justified by the princes and doctors as the
  defense of the Church.
• -Erasmus, from Julius Exclusus (1513-1514)

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First page from Erasmus 1516 Greek New Testament
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Western Europe, c. 1525
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Luther and Romans 117

• Romans 117 (NIV) For in the gospel a
  righteousness from God is revealed, a
  righteousness that is by faith from first to
  last, just as it is written The righteous will
  live by faith.
• Luther Though I lived like as a monk without
  reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before GodI
  did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who
  punishes sinners, and secretlyI was angry with
  GodAt last, by the mercy of God, meditating day
  and nightI began to understand that the
  righteousness of God is that by which the
  righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by
  faith. And this is the meaning the righteousness
  of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the
  passive righteousness with which merciful God
  justifies us by faithHere I felt that I was
  altogether born again and had entered
  paradise.There a totally other face of the
  entire Scripture showed itself to me.

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Protest against Indulgences Ninety-Five Theses
(1517) 1) Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when
He said Repent, willed that the whole life of
believers should be repentance. 6) The pope
cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that
it has been remitted by God and by assenting to
God's remission though, to be sure, he may grant
remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If
his right to grant remission in such cases were
despised, the guilt would remain entirely
unforgiven. 27) They preach only human doctrines
who say that so soon as the penny jingles into
the money-box, the soul flies out of
purgatory. 32) They will be condemned eternally,
together with their teachers, who believe
themselves sure of their salvation because they
have letters of pardon. 36) Every truly
repentant Christian has a right to full remission
of penalty and guilt, even without letters of
pardon. 43) Christians are to be taught that he
who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does
a better work than buying pardons 53) They are
enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the
Word of God be altogether silent in some
Churches, in order that pardons may be preached
in others. 82) Why does not the pope empty
purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the
dire need of the souls that are there, if he
redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake
of miserable money with which to build a Church?
The former reasons would be most just the latter
is most trivial. 94) Christians are to be
exhorted that they be diligent in following
Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths,
and hell.
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Katherine von Bora (Mrs. Luther)
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Ulrich Zwingli Zurich, Switzerland (started
reform c. 1520)
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John Calvin Geneva, Switzerland (converted
1533 went to Geneva in 1536)
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Western Europe, c. 1525
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Menno Simons founder of the Mennonites
(1496-1561)
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The English Reformation
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Western Europe, c. 1525
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John Wycliffe, (c. 1330-1384) England, the
Morning Star of the Reformation
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Pages from John Wycliffes English Bible, c. 1380
(1 Timothy)
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John Huss (c. 1372-1415) Bohemia
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Post-Reformation Europe, c. 1600
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Defining Moments in Christian History
The Diet of Worms (1521) The Protestant
Reformation
October 17, 2004 Linford Fisher
www.fisherkids.net/psc.htm