“You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.” - Psalm 71:20
Good morning. In last week’s message, we covered the history of Christianity during the Middle Ages. We saw the rise of the Roman Catholic Church and the strengthening of the papacy. We talked about some of the Church’s misguided undertakings and its wayward doctrines. We learned that millions of Christians who opposed beliefs and practices of Catholicism during medieval times were labeled as heretics, persecuted, tortured, and/or martyred. Despite this heavy oppression, small groups of dissenting Christians persisted who remained committed to the original teachings of Jesus Christ.
Before moving on into the next phase of Christianity history, we will backtrack a few centuries into the latter part of the Middle Ages. I want you to see that even then, in the midst of such desperation and gloom, God was beginning to work through certain individuals and groups to bring about transformation and change. Their courage and faithfulness would pave the way for the Reformation that swept across Europe during the 1500’s.
I. THE EARLY REFORMERS (1100-1500 AD)
Peter Waldo was a wealthy merchant who lived in Lyons, France. Sometime around 1170 A.D. he started a movement preaching against the lavish extravagance of the Catholic Church. He took a vow of poverty and renounced his wealth. Waldo and those who followed his teachings committed themselves to a simple, quiet lifestyle lived in strict accordance with the New Testament. They began preaching publicly against many Roman Catholic practices, and were declared to be heretics. As persecution against them increased, they fled to the Alps and then migrated throughout Switzerland and southern Germany. Their numbers increased steadily, and they became known as the Waldensians (or Waldenses).
Later, around 1370 A.D., a leading philosopher and theologian at Oxford University named John Wycliffe began writing about the ungodly leadership within and the unrighteous conduct of the Roman Catholic Church. Wycliffe’s statements were strongly condemned by Pope Gregory IX and he was forced into retirement. Nevertheless, Wycliffe resolutely advocated for the sufficiency of scripture. He believed that everyone should be able to read and study the Bible for themselves - not just the clergy. Late in life he began the monumental work of translating the Latin Bible into English, a task that was completed after his death. John Wycliffe has been called “The Morning Star of the Reformation.” His followers became known as the Lollards.
In the mid-1400’s, Johannes Gutenburg invented the first European printing press. Within a few decades, printing presses were being used across the continent. Up until this point, copies of the Bible had to be individually handwritten. Accordingly, they were few and far between. The printing press made it possible to mass produce books and literature - including the Bible. As more and more people began acquiring, reading, and studying God’s Word, the glaring excesses and falsehoods of the Roman Catholic Church became increasingly evident. The long-held tyranny of the papacy and Catholicism was starting to crumble.
II. THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION (1500-1600 AD)
Martin Luther was a German monk and university professor. After years of study, he became greatly troubled by Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences as a means of absolving sin. In 1517, he wrote his “95 Theses” and posted it on the door at the Wittenberg church listing numerous errors and offenses of the Roman Catholic Church. This marked the official beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Luther believed that the Bible - not the Church - held ultimate authority and that salvation was affected by grace through faith in Jesus Christ - not by works. Luther’s teachings were condemned by Pope Leo X and he was excommunicated from the Church. Undeterred, he continued writing against many of the false teachings and practices of Catholicism. His influence emboldened other reformers to do likewise.
John Calvin was a French pastor, who had originally been educated to become a lawyer. As such, he was able to brilliantly explain and defend his beliefs. Like the other reformers, he took issue with many of the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Around 1536 A.D. he wrote the Institutes of the Christian Religion, which was later developed into a 4-volume systematic theology supporting Biblical Christianity. He also wrote several commentaries and letters. His teachings and writings were widely disseminated in Switzerland, France, and elsewhere. Calvin also started a school in Geneva and was a proponent of public education.
Luther, Calvin, and other reformers (such as Ulrich Zwingli) had a profound influence on Christianity in Europe. Their followers established the Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches. While these new denominations didn’t completely abandon all of the teachings and practices of Catholicism, they successfully remedied many of its most egregious flaws.
III. THE ENGLISH REFORMATION (1500-1600 AD)
The reformation in England was more of a political movement than a religious one. King Henry VIII wished to divorce his wife, but needed permission from the pope to annul their marriage. For various reasons, Pope Clement VII refused to grant the king’s request. Encouraged to take action by his advisors, the frustrated king renounced papal authority in 1534 A.D. and declared himself to be the leader of The Church of England. In truth, King Henry VIII was a devoted Catholic who personally opposed the Protestant teachings of Luther and others. His break from the Roman Catholic Church was done for personal reasons, not theological ones.
When Queen Mary I rose to the throne, she moved to restore papal authority over The Church of England. In addition, she imposed severe punishments against and held mass executions of those who protested the beliefs and practices of Roman Catholicism. For this, she became known as “Bloody Mary”. After a short and turbulent reign, Mary I died and her successor, Queen Elizabeth I came to power. In 1559 A.D. she reasserted her power, again throwing off the papacy, and reviving The Church of England. During her long reign the English church implemented many of the Protestant reforms that had occurred elsewhere. It became known as the Anglican church.
IV. THE RADICAL REFORMATION (1500-1600 AD)
For many centuries, well before the Reformation of the 1500’s, the Catholic church had collectively labeled the many Christian groups who opposed it as “Anabaptists” due to their dogged insistence on believer’s baptism. Thus, the word anabaptist was more of a general title than a specific denomination. It included numerous groups such as the Novatianists, Donatists, Albigenses, and Waldenses. The Reformation seemingly provided an opportunity for these believers to finally gain legitimacy and standing outside of the Roman Catholic Church.
Rather than just reforming the errors of Catholicism, however, the Anabaptists sought to establish a wholly separate church that rejected even the practices of infant baptism and establishment by the state. These traditions had been maintained by most of the newly formed Protestant churches. Unfortunately, these views put the Anabaptists at odds with both the Roman Catholics and the majority of Protestants. As a result, persecution against them continued and their efforts were deemed as “radical”. Unable to find refuge, many began seeking a place to flee, where they could exercise their Christian faith freely.
CONCLUSION
The Reformation of the 16th century finally ended the Roman Catholic Church’s monopoly over western Christianity. Many new denominations were formed out of Catholicism. In the years that followed the Lutherans became the official church of Germany, the Presbyterians became the official church of Scotland, the Anglicans became the official church of England, and the Reformed church took firm root in France. Meanwhile, Catholicism continued its dominance in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Despite these changes, sadly the Anabaptists were still widely shunned and unwelcomed in most of Europe. In next week’s message - the final one in this brief series - we will learn where and how many of these Anabaptists finally found a home.
Before we close, I would like to briefly mention the “5 solas” that were popularized during the Protestant Reformation. These served as corrective statements to the heretical doctrines of the Catholic Church. They are, in Latin: Sola scriptura (“Scripture alone”), Sola fide (“faith alone”), Sola gratia (“grace alone”), Solo Christo (“Christ alone”), and Soli Deo gloria (“to the glory of God alone”). Following these ideals, the reformers sought to restore Chrisitianity to the original teachings of Jesus as documented in the New Testament.
Good morning. In last week’s message, we covered the history of Christianity during the Middle Ages. We saw the rise of the Roman Catholic Church and the strengthening of the papacy. We talked about some of the Church’s misguided undertakings and its wayward doctrines. We learned that millions of Christians who opposed beliefs and practices of Catholicism during medieval times were labeled as heretics, persecuted, tortured, and/or martyred. Despite this heavy oppression, small groups of dissenting Christians persisted who remained committed to the original teachings of Jesus Christ.
Before moving on into the next phase of Christianity history, we will backtrack a few centuries into the latter part of the Middle Ages. I want you to see that even then, in the midst of such desperation and gloom, God was beginning to work through certain individuals and groups to bring about transformation and change. Their courage and faithfulness would pave the way for the Reformation that swept across Europe during the 1500’s.
I. THE EARLY REFORMERS (1100-1500 AD)
Peter Waldo was a wealthy merchant who lived in Lyons, France. Sometime around 1170 A.D. he started a movement preaching against the lavish extravagance of the Catholic Church. He took a vow of poverty and renounced his wealth. Waldo and those who followed his teachings committed themselves to a simple, quiet lifestyle lived in strict accordance with the New Testament. They began preaching publicly against many Roman Catholic practices, and were declared to be heretics. As persecution against them increased, they fled to the Alps and then migrated throughout Switzerland and southern Germany. Their numbers increased steadily, and they became known as the Waldensians (or Waldenses).
Later, around 1370 A.D., a leading philosopher and theologian at Oxford University named John Wycliffe began writing about the ungodly leadership within and the unrighteous conduct of the Roman Catholic Church. Wycliffe’s statements were strongly condemned by Pope Gregory IX and he was forced into retirement. Nevertheless, Wycliffe resolutely advocated for the sufficiency of scripture. He believed that everyone should be able to read and study the Bible for themselves - not just the clergy. Late in life he began the monumental work of translating the Latin Bible into English, a task that was completed after his death. John Wycliffe has been called “The Morning Star of the Reformation.” His followers became known as the Lollards.
In the mid-1400’s, Johannes Gutenburg invented the first European printing press. Within a few decades, printing presses were being used across the continent. Up until this point, copies of the Bible had to be individually handwritten. Accordingly, they were few and far between. The printing press made it possible to mass produce books and literature - including the Bible. As more and more people began acquiring, reading, and studying God’s Word, the glaring excesses and falsehoods of the Roman Catholic Church became increasingly evident. The long-held tyranny of the papacy and Catholicism was starting to crumble.
II. THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION (1500-1600 AD)
Martin Luther was a German monk and university professor. After years of study, he became greatly troubled by Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences as a means of absolving sin. In 1517, he wrote his “95 Theses” and posted it on the door at the Wittenberg church listing numerous errors and offenses of the Roman Catholic Church. This marked the official beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Luther believed that the Bible - not the Church - held ultimate authority and that salvation was affected by grace through faith in Jesus Christ - not by works. Luther’s teachings were condemned by Pope Leo X and he was excommunicated from the Church. Undeterred, he continued writing against many of the false teachings and practices of Catholicism. His influence emboldened other reformers to do likewise.
John Calvin was a French pastor, who had originally been educated to become a lawyer. As such, he was able to brilliantly explain and defend his beliefs. Like the other reformers, he took issue with many of the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Around 1536 A.D. he wrote the Institutes of the Christian Religion, which was later developed into a 4-volume systematic theology supporting Biblical Christianity. He also wrote several commentaries and letters. His teachings and writings were widely disseminated in Switzerland, France, and elsewhere. Calvin also started a school in Geneva and was a proponent of public education.
Luther, Calvin, and other reformers (such as Ulrich Zwingli) had a profound influence on Christianity in Europe. Their followers established the Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches. While these new denominations didn’t completely abandon all of the teachings and practices of Catholicism, they successfully remedied many of its most egregious flaws.
III. THE ENGLISH REFORMATION (1500-1600 AD)
The reformation in England was more of a political movement than a religious one. King Henry VIII wished to divorce his wife, but needed permission from the pope to annul their marriage. For various reasons, Pope Clement VII refused to grant the king’s request. Encouraged to take action by his advisors, the frustrated king renounced papal authority in 1534 A.D. and declared himself to be the leader of The Church of England. In truth, King Henry VIII was a devoted Catholic who personally opposed the Protestant teachings of Luther and others. His break from the Roman Catholic Church was done for personal reasons, not theological ones.
When Queen Mary I rose to the throne, she moved to restore papal authority over The Church of England. In addition, she imposed severe punishments against and held mass executions of those who protested the beliefs and practices of Roman Catholicism. For this, she became known as “Bloody Mary”. After a short and turbulent reign, Mary I died and her successor, Queen Elizabeth I came to power. In 1559 A.D. she reasserted her power, again throwing off the papacy, and reviving The Church of England. During her long reign the English church implemented many of the Protestant reforms that had occurred elsewhere. It became known as the Anglican church.
IV. THE RADICAL REFORMATION (1500-1600 AD)
For many centuries, well before the Reformation of the 1500’s, the Catholic church had collectively labeled the many Christian groups who opposed it as “Anabaptists” due to their dogged insistence on believer’s baptism. Thus, the word anabaptist was more of a general title than a specific denomination. It included numerous groups such as the Novatianists, Donatists, Albigenses, and Waldenses. The Reformation seemingly provided an opportunity for these believers to finally gain legitimacy and standing outside of the Roman Catholic Church.
Rather than just reforming the errors of Catholicism, however, the Anabaptists sought to establish a wholly separate church that rejected even the practices of infant baptism and establishment by the state. These traditions had been maintained by most of the newly formed Protestant churches. Unfortunately, these views put the Anabaptists at odds with both the Roman Catholics and the majority of Protestants. As a result, persecution against them continued and their efforts were deemed as “radical”. Unable to find refuge, many began seeking a place to flee, where they could exercise their Christian faith freely.
CONCLUSION
The Reformation of the 16th century finally ended the Roman Catholic Church’s monopoly over western Christianity. Many new denominations were formed out of Catholicism. In the years that followed the Lutherans became the official church of Germany, the Presbyterians became the official church of Scotland, the Anglicans became the official church of England, and the Reformed church took firm root in France. Meanwhile, Catholicism continued its dominance in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Despite these changes, sadly the Anabaptists were still widely shunned and unwelcomed in most of Europe. In next week’s message - the final one in this brief series - we will learn where and how many of these Anabaptists finally found a home.
Before we close, I would like to briefly mention the “5 solas” that were popularized during the Protestant Reformation. These served as corrective statements to the heretical doctrines of the Catholic Church. They are, in Latin: Sola scriptura (“Scripture alone”), Sola fide (“faith alone”), Sola gratia (“grace alone”), Solo Christo (“Christ alone”), and Soli Deo gloria (“to the glory of God alone”). Following these ideals, the reformers sought to restore Chrisitianity to the original teachings of Jesus as documented in the New Testament.