It seems to me that there are fundamentally two attitudes to the Reformation that happened 500 years ago.First we can start with the Low View: This view says that what happened 500 years ago was a misunderstanding, that it was an intramural disagreement that spilled over to the egos of the participants. This view then says that what happened 500 years ago is not relevant to our day. We need not carry that disagreement that happened there to where we live today. Besides one can get tired of this fighting, who wants to always be in protest? It gets boring. Let's just kiss and make up, go for a bear hug.
Then there is the High View: What happened 500 years ago was not a misunderstanding, in fact the parties understood each other, in fact it had something to do with the most crucial aspect of one's existence, how is a man made right with God? The issue 500 years ago was the understanding or misunderstanding of the Gospel.
If the Low view is correct, then hang your fighting gloves. If the High view is correct, then what happened 500 years ago reaches out to you, it is relevant to you today, not only to your present, but to your future and the future of your children.
If the Low view is correct, then you can adopt any confession of faith out there, it should not matter at all. If the High view is correct, then you'd better get the right one, and hang on to it till Jesus comes.
7 comments:
Great post, LPC.
The High View is correct..and Luther was right.
SM,
Thank you, since you and I were ex-RCs I am not surprised that you too have are into the High View.
I do believe it was more than just a disagreement in terminology. I think the opposing parties understood what each other meant. The split is on the Gospel, what is it? That meaning is still relevant today. How a sinner can be made right with God. That was the Reformation. Ergo, relevant today.
LPC
"The split is on the Gospel, what is it?"
Absolutely correct!
We know that it (the Gospel) is that Christ forgives sinners.
They know that it is some of this and some of that... but if it's Tuesday then maybe a little more of this.
God only knows exactly what they believe.
And I'm not just speaking of Christians of the Roman persuasion. There are many Protestant Christians who are also all over the map.
SM,
and the crucial message is that God forgives our sins freely because of Christ' work as a gift.
The Free Gift is where the chiasm begins.
LPC
"The Free Gift is where the chiasm begins."
The battle is always enjoined right there.
Paul to the Galatians and his kind words(ha!)for the Judiaizers.
"The Free Gift is where the chiasm begins."
AMEN! This is classic, Kuya! I'm gonna use that as a "catchphrase".
Thanks Bro A.S.
I have thought about you, you must be busy with all that lawyer stuff. ;-)
Kuya Lito
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