reformation

MESSAGE FROM THE GROSSMUNSTER

In Switzerland Nancy and I visited the Grossmunster church which I had heard much about. It was built around 1100. The weird name means “great minister.” Truly it had a “great” ministry in Zurich and Switzerland during the Reformation. Here is why it important today.

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Zwingli, the pastor in the early 1500’s, became convinced this Catholic church should abandon icons, images, holy relics, mass, indulgences, celibacy, and fasting. He opposed mandatory fasting rule for lent by distributing smoked sausages during lent of 1522. This became known as the Affair of the Sausages and is considered the beginning of the Swiss Reformation. You might say Luther started with his 95 thesis while Zwingli did it with smoked sausages.

Zwingli wanted a return to the clear teaching of Scripture like Luther did in Germany. Until that time few people had bibles. The church taught a works salvation through the mass rather than salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. In other words he wanted a return to the Gospel.

Walking into the church prior to 1500 you would have seen statues, icons, crucifix, altars, and other glitter. Zwingli stripped the building plain of these things as well as the organ, and singing even though it is said he played twelve instruments. He also removed the pews and anything that he thought would hinder a focus on the teaching of the Word of God.

Nancy looks to where the wide pulpit once had been.

Nancy looks to where the wide pulpit once had been.

The inside as it is today with pews and the side pulpit that replaced the central wood one Zwingli used.

The inside as it is today with pews and the side pulpit that replaced the central wood one Zwingli used.

For one event he ordered a new wide pulpit be made for the center of the platform rather than to the side as in most churches. Being central emphasized the centrality of the preaching of the Word of God. This is why ours is central. The pulpit was made of wood from altars previously used in the mass. Therefore as Zwingli preached he was trampling under foot the theology of the mass that repeatedly put Christ on the cross. He made his point with every step he took. Sadly, when we visited, the wide pulpit was gone being removed in 1865 and a side mounted round one was built.

During this time bibles had begun to be printed and people were learning to read thanks to the concept of schools which John Calvin had initiated in Geneva. As people read the Bible they began to understand their sinfulness, repentance, and God’s simple plan of salvation. This revolutionized Zurich and other parts of northern Switzerland and spilled over into other countries.

Once you have traveled you begin to see how the true gospel of free grace affects cultures beyond church walls. My son Caleb noted that in reformation countries the churches are more plain and the society is more concerned for cleanliness, order, and beauty because of having a biblical view of life. Northern Switzerland is like this with tidy streets, beautiful flowers, little graffiti and a rail system that runs like a Swiss watch.

On the other hand in non reformation areas you are more likely to find extravagant temples with elaborate gold leaf, many images etc.. But the surrounding society lives in a more rundown situation, more graffiti, and less care each other. This is obvious in other places in Switzerland or Malta where the reformation did not happen. The message of the Grossmunster is clear. When the bible is clearly proclaimed it affects people, how they live, and society for generations.

Before we left we climbed the 187 ancient stairs to the top of one of the twin steeples. We saw a breathtaking view of the modern city that has largely forgotten the Gospel. But it still is beautiful and orderly like a Swiss watch because of what happened in the 1500’s.

Climbing one of the twin steeples. Reminded me of lighthouse duty which is what ministry really is. :-)

Climbing one of the twin steeples. Reminded me of lighthouse duty which is what ministry really is. :-)

View from the top of the steeple in Zurich.

View from the top of the steeple in Zurich.

It is good for us to understand history of places like this and how God worked through imperfect people to spread the gospel for the generations to come. So pray for the churches there today to be gospel focused.

Pastor Mark

Men don’t forget our monthly 8 AM Men’s Discipleship is moved to the 4th Saturday this month. If any of you guy have not joined that group in the Community then please do so you can get the automatic updates.







REFORMATION CELEBRATION AT WITTENBERG

“No good deed goes unpunished.” That is how I felt after arriving in Wittenberg, Germany for the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation right were Martin Luther lived.   

Opening session of conference in the overflow hall where German was translated to English for us.  Over 1,000 church leaders from Europe and around the world attended.

Opening session of conference in the overflow hall where German was translated to English for us.  Over 1,000 church leaders from Europe and around the world attended.

Nancy and I left early Monday while Chris and Ruth followed on a separate flight.  Then our flight out of DC was cancelled so we had to rebook on a longer route.  After 27 hours of travel we arrived. But one of our bags didn’t. Not easy to fill out lost baggage forms or rent a car when your German is rusty. 

But there were also unexpected blessings like the Irish couple, John and Cricket, who also waited in line with us for 90 minutes to get new tickets. They were youth leaders in an Anglican Church in Ireland who were concerned to see the Gospel go out more clearly. We prayed together before separating. There was also Liz, a middle-aged Catholic lady, who heard I was a pastor and began to ask good spiritual questions. We invited her to dinner between flights. Discussion continued and we had a chance to explain the gospel and give her the De Roo tract. We found she was a medical doctor with some fears but was open to God’s word.  Before parting she insisted on paying for our dinner, hugged us and said she felt like God brought us to her like angels.  We hugged and departed with joy.

Another bump in the road was a mistaken lodging reservation for a city of a similar name but different by one letter and three hours away.  We tried unsuccessfully to cancel.  A local hotel clerk found another lodging only 7 miles from Wittenberg in the middle of beautiful farm country with grazing horses, rolling wheat fields and a forest background. It was overwhelming how good God was to lead us to such a restful and absolutely quiet place.

The first few days here have been powerful as many scholars taught us the story of the Reformation in great depth. The life of Luther had perhaps more impact on the past two thousand years than anyone else except Christ. Now, 500 years later, his influence continues. He was a mixed up Catholic monk who was trying to gain righteousness by his works but was plagued by his conscience with no peace.  But his study of Romans led him to challenge the selling of indulgences to build a Catholic church. He wrote down 95 complaints and nailed them to the door of the church he taught in. He thought this would be helpful to the Pope but he was wrong and became a marked man. 

Chris and I were allowed to actually stand in Luther's pulpit in the church that changed from Catholic Church that changed to follow the Scriptural teaching of salvation that Luther rediscovered in 1517.

Chris and I were allowed to actually stand in Luther's pulpit in the church that changed from Catholic Church that changed to follow the Scriptural teaching of salvation that Luther rediscovered in 1517.

Romans 1:17 led him to rediscover the simple Bible teaching that man can only be saved by the grace of God alone without any works.  He had to flee but continued to proclaim these truths.  We must also proclaim the doctrine of Christ’s simple salvation to a lost world. 

At the Luther Oak on the edge of town where later Luther burned the Papal Bull (Decree against Luther) and other documents that opposed reformation truth.  This was the site of the hospital at the time where bodies of the dead were burned.&nbsp…

At the Luther Oak on the edge of town where later Luther burned the Papal Bull (Decree against Luther) and other documents that opposed reformation truth.  This was the site of the hospital at the time where bodies of the dead were burned.  See Chris or my facebook for more pics.

We have also had some amazing opportunities to stand where this happened. Chris and I were given special privilege to actually climb the steps and stand in Luther’s church pulpit (by special permission). We walked in the garden area of his home and all of us had the privilege of standing at the foot of his grave in the Castle Church where he taught. Both churches turned from Catholicism to become churches which taught the word without compromise. Luther hit the nail on the head…ninety-five times. May we do the same. 

Pastor Mark with Chris, Ruth and Nancy on scene in Wittenberg, Germany