Dr Martin Luther (1483-1546), the German monk who was savingly converted to Christ while studying Paul's letter to the Romans, was deeply concerned about what was going on within the Church at that time, especially with regard to Indulgences, and the abuses that accompanied them.
Indulgences were certificates given under Papal authority which allowed people not to carry out the full penalty that had been imposed upon them because of their sins. When man sinned, the church could impose certain things that he had to do in order to atone for those sins. He had to bear a certain punishment in this life for this sins. But the church had taken unto itself the power to remit a certain portion of the sentence, and that was called an "indulgence." This developed on until it was realised by the Pope that this was his prerogative, not anyone else's.
So indulgences came to mean that the Pope had the power to lessen the punishment that those whose sins had been absolved should suffer in this world and in the next - in purgatory. Over the years, the church had accumulated a great store of grace and righteousness, which came partly from the Lord Jesus Christ, and partly from the lives of the saints (as understood by Rome). These 'saints' had lives such good lives and has gathered up so much righteousness that they had enough not only to cover their own sins, but those of others as well, a superabundance of righteousness; this activity came to be known within Romanism as their work of "supererogation." The Pope was in charge of this store of righteousness, which he could then dispose of as he pleased, sometimes for no cost, but often for money, which then went into the church's coffers.
Luther became enraged at the way the church was selling salvation, while at the same time increasing her own wealth. As a member of the church of Rome, and one of her accredited teachers, he believed in indulgences, but only if they were administered properly. It was the abuses that really got to him, so he posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, and in so doing issued a call to debate publicly these theses.
What is Luther saying to us today? First, that adding to Scripture in any way is wrong. This can be seen within all forms of Romanism with the adulation of the Virgin Mary, her immaculate conception, prayers to the saints, purgatory, and so on. Adding to the Scriptures always leads to falsifying the truth.
Second, deliberately misinterpreting the teaching of the Scripture leads in the same direction. This is done by adding religious tradition to the teaching of Scripture or by adding the opinions of men to the teaching of the Bible. Within reformed churches this is done when confessional correctness is insisted upon, irrespective of whether or not this 'correctness' agrees with the Scripture in all points.
Third, the onward march of the ecumenical movement and its support by all the mainline denominations. If Luther's teaching was so wrong so far as the church of Rome was concerned, then those who claim to hold to basically the same teaching must distance itself from every connection with the ecumenical movement. This movement deprecates doctrine and works on the basis of the lowest common denominator. This is clearly wrong, and those evangelicals who support this movement are clearly wrong. It is one thing for a minister to oppose at every opportunity this false religious movement, but it is quite another for him to live with it without challenge.
Fourth, Luther was honest. He did not pretend that all in the garden is rosy - he knew it wasn't, so he initiated this public debate about the wrongs within the church. Oh, that there were men in the churches today who had the same honesty! Men who able to see where the church is departing from the clear teaching of Scripture and who took courageous steps to correct it. Men who were prepared to pay whatever price for the sake of the Gospel. When the church departs from the clear teaching of the Bible on a matter as eternally important as the salvation of souls, then her Gospel ministers must be courageous enough to stand up and say so, whatever the personal cost.
Fifth, Luther put GOSPEL BEFORE CHURCH. This is not a popular thing to do, especially when it is the church that looks after you and your family. You do not bite the hand that feeds you, do you? But, conversely and equally true, you do not feed the hand that bites you! If the church is responsible for twisting the Scriptural teaching, then ministers of a reformed mind and heart must take a clear uncompromising stand for the truth of the Gospel, even if the church authorities do not like it. Luther did this, and was thrown out! The English reformers - Bilney, Latimer, Ridley, Cranmer, Hooper, Taylor, Bradford, etc, all gave their lives willingly for the sake and truth of the Gospel.
The Huguenots, those valiant followers of Christ and of Calvin in 16th and 17th century France, were tortured and driven out and exiled and done to death by the church of that day, why? For their faithfulness to the Gospel They put GOSPEL BEFORE CHURCH.
The Puritans out GOSPEL BEFORE CHURCH and were ejected from their pulpits in England under Archbishop Laud because they did not agree that it was right to do whatever the church demanded of them.
The Scottish Covenanters put GOSPEL BEFORE CHURCH for precisely the same reasons. They maintained the crown rights of King Jesus in the face of all comers.
It was GOSPEL BEFORE CHURCH. In fact, if the church opposes Gospel ministers, she has to that extent ceased to be the church of Jesus Christ; she may continue to be a denominational church, but she is not Christ's church. Where are the men of true grit in the churches today? They are so few in number that it is all but impossible to see them. You cannot hear then because their voice is muted. Their preaching is safe ad user-friendly, and DC (denominationally correct). They break no delph, and cut no ice; nor do they rock the ecclesiastical boat; but they are good servants of the church, upholders of the church's stance on, well, everything. So perfect and correct is their denomination that they still maintain they can give her their wholehearted support and still be men of the Gospel!
And do you know what? All the churches work to the exact same mantra? All their ministers are good men. Their church is the best of the lot. They do things the right way, unlike so and so. They are perfectly arrogant and filled with pride.
That's why there are no reforming spirits within the churches today - the churches are so just that they need no repentance. Were there more men like Martin Luther on today's churches, there would be much better churches. If there are, then let them identify themselves NOW!
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