Archive for the 'Faith and Luther' Category

LUTHER AND FAITH

Saturday, September 30th, 2006

The deepest problem that faces the church today is what is meant by faith. Salvation by faith was the catch cry that came out of the Reformation and, to this day, it is supposedly the Gospel that is preached the length and the breadth of the land. Luther is the man that most claim to be responsible for steering Christianity back to where it ought to be, anchored on scripture, preaching a gospel of faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. But what we must ask ourselves however is, "Is this really the case?" Did Luther really steer the church back from where it had strayed? Has the church through his reforming zeal arrived back to mirror the faith that was visible in the early church? Do we look back at the Protestant beginnings and feel a sense of awe because of the mighty working of the power of God, or do we see a man bravely standing against the might of a powerful corrupt church, giving others the courage to break free from the chains of oppression and to begin to look again at what is contained in scripture. A bit like King Josiah in the Old Testament rediscovering the books of the Law and then needing to consult the prophet as to what they meant.