Series: Our Reformation
Sermon: Our Reformation
Speaker and Writer: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Ask God for understanding through the Holy Spirit.

​Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-4:8 (The Message). As you read the paraphrase, note 1–3 insights or questions.

Reflection: Why did the Church react so horribly against Luther? Where they really upset about his questions and ideas? Was there really no space 500 years ago to follow the counsel given by God in Isaiah 1:18? God is not afraid of questions or of dialogue. In fact, He encourages us to be engaged in the process of asking questions. So why did the established Church react so horribly to the issues raised by Luther? 

Unfortunately, the Church has not really improved much in the past 500 years—nor has society as a whole. We really struggle with new ideas, or any ideas that are different from our own. We love to say we are “inclusive,” but our inclusivity has to be in manageable doses.  We love food and music from other countries as long as those other countries don’t overwhelm our country and our culture. We love cars from other countries as long as ours still flourish. We love talking about other faiths as long as ours is unquestionably correct in its beliefs. We love hearing each other’s questions so long as the questions are easily satisfied by our own answers. No one wants to change. Reformation—change—is hard. I suspect that the Catholic/Protestant divide was not originally intended to be divisive, became so because of the human need for power and control. Once ordinary people were taught that salvation did not require payment—not for themselves and not for their dead relatives—offerings to the Church decreased and that became a problem. Anything affecting finances affects who directs the mission. And that is power.

Furthermore, when someone raises an idea or concern that questions authority and power, they inevitably touch a raw nerve. Look at the example of Jesus. The religious leaders could handle a fair amount of non-traditional behavior from Him—to a point. John 11 recounts an incident in which it is clear that He has touched a raw nerve. He actually claimed to be directly connected to God! He said that He, unlike any other leader, could call on the name of God and summon the dead from their graves. This obviously indicated that He was more in touch with the God of Israel than they were. It was then that the religious leaders vowed to make sure that Jesus was killed.    

To raise a concern is one thing. To raise a concern that confronts the power in control is a whole other question.  

Recalibrate: What power over your life do you need to confront?

Respond: Pray for freedom in Jesus. 

Research: Read Dean Cordian’s article called “Remembering the Reformation: Important Lessons for the Adventist Church” or watch it online.