Thoughts on Reformation Day

October 29, 2009

November 1 October 31 is Reformation Day. For Pentecostals like me, that usually means nothing.

However, having graduated from a Lutheran seminary, I know slightly more about this guy named Luther and am thankful for his life and example. This was his testimony facing a trial in 1521:

Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason …, I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.”

May I be bound by Scripture. Sola Scriptura.

5 responses

Gary Zimmerli

October 29, 2009

I’ve always been a little frustrated that we don’t celebrate Reformation Day in the United Methodist Church, either. (At least in the one’s I’ve attended.) Just because we lean towards Arminius doesn’t mean we should ignore the Reformation.

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P G Lokken

October 31, 2009

October 31 is Refromation Day. November 1 is All Saints’ Day.

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apprentice2jesus

November 1, 2009

DOH! See, I STILL have a lot to learn!

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Steve West

November 2, 2009

I scratched my head a bit at Gary’s statement, “Just because we lean towards Arminius doesn’t mean we should ignore the Reformation.”

Since Arminius himself was a reformer (Dutch) he and his work could be easily celebrated on Reformation Sunday. He was all for reformation. His issue was with the Reformed Theology of John Calvin, not with the much broader Reformation Movement.

At least that would be how I understand it.

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apprentice2jesus

November 2, 2009

I think with the Methodists it would be more toward Calvin. Maybe that’s the sum total of why they wouldn’t observe it.

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