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10/28/2008
We are coming up fast on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. In 1517, a Catholic monk of the Augustinian order, Martin Luther, nailed some papers to the large oak door of the castle church. Posting notices for discussion was a medieval way of bringing issues to people's attention. Luther wanted others to read his "95 theses" for discussion and disputation. He believed the medieval Roman Catholic Church was in error and losing its way and in serious need of self-mending--repentance and new conformity to biblical teaching.
Instead of merely correcting the false teaching and abuses of the Catholic Church, he ignited the fuse that set off the greatest explosion of spiritual light and power since the days of Christ's Apostles. What became known as the Protestant Reformation is now nearly 500 years back in the rearview mirror of history. But the doctrinal insights and practical outworking of those insights are still with us today. What became slogans of the Reformation still capture what was the Reformers saw with great clarity at that time, against the fog of false teaching and the barnacles of human tradition which were smothering the medieval church: SOLA SCRIPTURA (the Scriptures alone are the authority of the church); SOLA GRATIA (salvation is by grace alone); SOLA FIDE (salvation is by the grace of God alone through faith alone); SOLA CHRISTI (salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone) and SOLI DEO GLORIA (salvation and all things are to the glory of God alone).
Probably you have already decided what you are doing for your Reformation celebration in your church, your home, your Bible study, your home school curriculum. etc. But if not or if you would like advance help for next year, this blog post is for you!
VIDEO HELP ON THE REFORMATION
MARTIN LUTHER (1951 edition)--black and white movie done with the
cooperation of the greatest Luther and Reformation scholars of the
mid-20th century. What it lacks in production values (color, staging,
etc) it makes up for in accurate history and theology.
LUTHER (2003 edition)--a color movie now on video, this does a better
job of capturing the feel of the times and the culture without as much
theological discussion as motivation for what Luther, his friends and
his enemies did. A good movie though.
MARTIN LUTHER (PBS presentation)--a good attempt at capturing Martin
Luther and what he thought and taught and what happened as a
result.
ENTRY LEVEL BOOKS ON LUTHER AND THE REFORMATION
S. M. Houghton, SKETCHES FROM CHURCH HISTORY; Banner of Truth--
the best church history book for laymen and the uninformed.
Superbly done with great pictures, photos and diagrams. Make history
come alive. The section on the Reformation is quite helpful.
Richard Newton, HEROES OF THE REFORMATION; Solid Ground--Newton
was a master at making truth come alive for children. This is one of
his classics.
Jim Cromartie, A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD; Evangelical Press--a
modern, readable and insightful biography of the great Reformer,
showing why truth and doctrine matter for life and eternity.
Stephen Nichols, MARTIN LUTHER; P & R--great introduction to Luther,
his times and what he taught that was so explosive
Stephen Nichols, THE REFORMATION (How a Monk and a Mallet Changed
the World); P & R--great introduction to the broad sweep of the
Reformation and the principal players.
Stephen Nichols, MARTIN LUTHER'S 95 THESES; P & R--read the
document that changed Europe and the world.
Martin Luther, BORN SLAVES (The Bondage of the Will simplified and
modernized); Grace Publications--the document that separated the
reforming scholar, Luther, from the criticizing scholar, Erasmus.
Luther believed the Bible taught that people are born slaves to sin
and need God's grace to repent, believe or anything. Erasmus was a
moralist and did not believe as Luther did.
R. C. Sproul, JUSTIFIED BY FAITH ALONE; Crossway--great booklet on
the central issue of the Reformation--how is a sinner brought into a
right relationship with God?
R. C. Sproul, BY FAITH ALONE; Baker--a great explanation of this central
tenet of the Reformation with application for today
Ray Rhodes, Jr., FAMILY WORSHIP FOR THE REFORMATION SEASON;
Solid Ground Christian Books
Joel Beeke, REFORMATION HEROES; Reformation Heritage Press--big
book with pictures and artwork and great thumbnail discussion of
the various Reformers.
Dolina McGuish, LUTHER AND HIS KATIE; Christian Focus--meet the
person who most impacted Luther's life and whom he called, "Kitty,
My Rib".
MORE ROBUST (yet still readable) TREATMENTS OF THE REFORMATION
Roland Bainton, HERE I STAND (A Life of Martin Luther); Abingdon--after
more than 50 years of being in print, it is still the most readable and
reliable of Luther biographies. Gives one the feel of the times and the
issues in beautiful prose with appropriate Reformation era woodcuts.
James Packer, ed., THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL; Revell/Baker--Packer's
great edition with a great introduction of Luther's classic,
T. M. Lindsay, HANDBOOK ON THE REFORMATION; Banner of Truth--still
one of the best though published 100+ years ago.
T. M. Lindsay, MARTIN LUTHER; Christian Focus--excerpted from
Lindsay's two volume classic on the Reformation originally published
by T. & T. Clark.
Gary Johnson, et al., eds, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE REFORMATION?
P & R--evangelical and Reformed leaders of today recount why we
need a return to the Reformation teachings.
Robert Godfrey, REFORMATION SKETCHES; P & R--high quality highly
readable coverage of the great Reformation and its leaders.
May these get you started in setting the Reformation back in its proper
place as one of the great works of God in history and may the doctrines of the glory and work of Christ which were recaptured at that time again be preached with power and authority and clarity and love.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 10:49:03 AM :: permalink :: discuss ::