This year is the 500 anniversary of the reformation

When you grow something – it requires life, the right amount of water, the temperature light and protection.  It is never one thing – but a series of elements which need to be present to grow and bloom. The same is true the reformation.   Besides the primary need of the blessing of the Holy Spirit – we need a bold reformer that would preach the truth, but we also need a civil magistrate that will protect and promote the true religion.

This year is the 500 anniversary of the reformation.  Particularly we remember Martin Luther’s great bold stand nailing the 95 theses to the wall of Nuremburg.  This was a very important event – but what followed and surrounded this event made reformation possible.   

Let us consider a principle found in the scripture and that is that no great reformation has occurred in the Bible with the cooperation of the civil magistrate in the cause of reformation.   That is what has always accompanied great reformation is the government allowing, protecting and promoting the true religion. 

Let us consider several powerful examples comes from the Bible: 

• the reformer King Hezekiah. Hezekiah carried out reforms to destroy false worship and returned the people back to obeying God’s Word.

• When the repentant king of (a heathen king of a heathen nation) Nineveh called the nation to fasting, prayer, and humility before God.  
  

• Nehemiah a governor, had the city gates closed against vendors on the Sabbath and drove away those which traded along the wall. 

What was needful for the Reformation is that God placed Frederick II of Ernestine Saxony, commonly known as Frederick the Wise in power at the time of Luther’s troubles.   He stayed the hand of Rome by protecting him from assassination and provided a place for the reformation to flourish. 

This is part of what is missing in our day.   We have civil magistrates which declare a false neutrality before God.  They stand before the people like Pontius Pilate, declaring themselves neutral, and washing their hands.   The government can not be neutral - we are either for God for against God.   Since government is ordained by God they are a duty to profess, protect and advance the true religion in their sphere of influence.  

So on this 500th anniversary, please join me in praying that God would raise up Godly preachers and also Godly government leaders which will fear God more than man - and profess, protect and advance the true religion in our day.