Reformation: A Tragic Necessity
Matthew 22:37, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
The essence of Christianity is found in the heart and love for God; the more a person comes to the knowledge of Christ, he/she can then implement actions and daily praxis corresponding to his teachings (John 14). Unfortunately, the Church infrastructure prior to the Reformation adapted into rigid praxis, leading people into fear and penance that did not correlate to Scripture (2 Timothy 1:9). The Reformation was a tragic necessity as the Church had to return to a simple, foundational love for God as the driving force of all subsequent action. The Church needed to return to the supremacy and dependency on the work of Christ.
According to Steven Ozmen in his book, The Reformation in the Cities, many of the questions priests would ask children or adults had to do with actions based on their daily/weekly praxis (23-24). Examples of questions pertained to the superficiality of exterior behaviour such as removing their hat during communion or if they threw snowballs at others (Ozmen, 23). Though the intentions underlying the questions may be good and in line with Scripture, unfortunately, the confessional guides predominantly focused on outward works and actions rather than the inner heart of the behavior.
In addition, orders from the father or church authority (penance) were taken to extremities, and unparallel with Scripture as Martin Luther famously responded with his 95 theses to the acts of penance. Church authority was known to order what was best for them rather than what Jesus Christ commanded.
If the Church states that it is founded upon Jesus, then the following praxis must be centered on his life, death, and resurrection. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works," we are saved. However, based on the readings and confession guides as stated by Ozmen, our human efforts and works seem to be emphasized much more than the work of Christ for us.
Love must be the motivating factor to subsequent action and discipleship. I believe if the Reformation did not occur, the Church might have the propensity to focus more upon the human works to obtain salvation. Therefore the Reformation was a tragic necessity. It reprioritizes the saving grace through Jesus Christ, not based on our actions but alone on his sacrifice.
According to Steven Ozmen in his book, The Reformation in the Cities, many of the questions priests would ask children or adults had to do with actions based on their daily/weekly praxis (23-24). Examples of questions pertained to the superficiality of exterior behaviour such as removing their hat during communion or if they threw snowballs at others (Ozmen, 23). Though the intentions underlying the questions may be good and in line with Scripture, unfortunately, the confessional guides predominantly focused on outward works and actions rather than the inner heart of the behavior.
In addition, orders from the father or church authority (penance) were taken to extremities, and unparallel with Scripture as Martin Luther famously responded with his 95 theses to the acts of penance. Church authority was known to order what was best for them rather than what Jesus Christ commanded.
If the Church states that it is founded upon Jesus, then the following praxis must be centered on his life, death, and resurrection. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works," we are saved. However, based on the readings and confession guides as stated by Ozmen, our human efforts and works seem to be emphasized much more than the work of Christ for us.
Love must be the motivating factor to subsequent action and discipleship. I believe if the Reformation did not occur, the Church might have the propensity to focus more upon the human works to obtain salvation. Therefore the Reformation was a tragic necessity. It reprioritizes the saving grace through Jesus Christ, not based on our actions but alone on his sacrifice.
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