Does the Reformation Still Matter?

Last updated on: January 21, 2017 at 8:53 am by Roger E. Olson

Does the Reformation Still Matter? 2017-01-21T08:53:20-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

2017 is the commemorated 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. As I noted here earlier, however, that date—1517—is a bit arbitrary. Somehow, I’m not sure when, who or how, Luther’s nailing of his “95 Theses” to the Cathedral Church door in Wittenberg, Saxony, Germany on October 31 became for Protestants around the world “Reformation Day.” Of course, as any church historian knows, there were already Protestants in Europe—in the theological sense—long before that signal event in Luther’s life and the life of the church.

Still and nevertheless, this year, 2017, will be celebrated by Protestants of all tribes around the world as the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

The question I want to pose and answer here is whether the Protestant Reformation still matters. To put it more personally: I consider myself Protestant but why? During my lifetime many changes have occurred in the Catholic Church. Do they erase the reasons for remaining separate from it?

Also during my lifetime many notable Protestants have joined the Catholic Church. One example is, of course, Lutheran theologian Richard John Neuhaus (1936-2009). I could name many more. The “bridge” has not been as populated the other direction—from Catholic to Protestant. At least not for notable Catholics.

*Sidebar: The opinions expressed here are my own (or those of the guest writer); I do not speak for any other person, group or organization; nor do I imply that the opinions expressed here reflect those of any other person, group or organization unless I say so specifically. Before commenting read the entire post and the “Note to commenters” at its end.*

One question worthy of considering and answering (in such a discussion as this question invites) is whether a Protestant who joins the Catholic Church thereby becomes something other than a Christian. I will answer that for myself with a definite “no.” (This assumes, of course, that the hypothetical Protestant-turned-Catholic was a Christian at the time of his or her “conversion” to the Roman Catholic Church.

A second question, however, is whether such a conversion signals a serious step away from biblical Christianity into something else. Many especially evangelical Protestant colleges and universities draw a line for their professors in terms of church affiliation. Often that line is between recognized Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church or one of its non-Roman Catholic offshoots (of which there are several most of which agree with the RCC about almost everything except the infallibility of the bishop of Rome). Faculty members of such evangelical Protestant institutions of higher learning are often expected to remain members of approved Protestant churches. Some who have joined the RCC have been fired. The most notable example during my lifetime in American evangelicalism was Thomas Howard, English professor at evangelical Gordon College who, in 1985 converted to the RCC and was forced to resign.

Since 1985 many evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics have found much common ground and even comradery in their traditions’ opposition to secularism, nihilism, relativism, etc. I won’t go into all the details (or all possible the examples) but the formation of the organization “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (ECT) in 1994 signaled a sea change for many American evangelical Protestants’ attitudes toward the RCC. I participated in ecumenical dialogues between Protestants and Catholics in both Europe (University of Munich) and America (ecumenical dialogue events hosted by Lutheran theologians—both then living in Minnesota—Carl Braaten and Robert Jenson). I have invited RCC priests and theologians to speak to my classes at all three evangelical Protestant institutions of higher learning where I have taught over the past thirty-five years. Often I, and many of my students, have found greater harmony between them and us than between speakers from some Protestant traditions.

Of course, as a moderate Baptist and Free Church evangelical, I find myself in as much theological tension with many Protestants as with the official theology of the RCC. For example, were I to find myself living in a remote mountain village somewhere where the only two churches within traveling distance were a RCC and a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod I would have trouble deciding which to attend for worship (if either one).

My point is that my Protestantism, while informed by Luther, Zwingli, Bucer, Calvin and other 16th century “magisterial reformers, is decidedly free church and radical. For me, the magisterial reformers did not go far enough with their key Protestant insights (viz., sola scriptura, sola gratia et fides, and the priesthood of every believer). Nor did they realize the necessity of separation between the powers of the “magistrates” (rulers) and the churches.

All that is to say that, while I will commemorate this year—2017—as an important anniversary of a valuable event in church history, I will personally celebrate 2025, God willing, as the real 500th anniversary of the birth of my Christian tribe—the Free Church Tradition.

So, from where I sit (or stand), while Luther’s recovery of the gospel and reformation of the church (that led to a division) was very important and valuable, paving the way for my Christian tradition to be born and develop, I recognize a great gulf still existing between many of those in the magisterial Protestant traditions (viz., sacramental and creedal) and my own faith tradition.

When I read about and study the birth and development of “Protestantism,” my heart is not warmed until I come to the radical reformers such as Balthasar Hubmaier and Menno Simons.

So, for me, there are two gulfs so far still fixed, theologically, among Western (for now I am leaving to the side the Eastern churches) Christian traditions—one between Protestants and Catholics and the other between Free Church Protestants and those Protestant churches that descend from the magisterial Reformation and still hold onto sacramental spirituality and confessionalism (functionally treating some extra-biblical statement of belief as equal in authority with Scripture itself).

By no means are these “gulfs” unbridgeable in terms of Christian fellowship, cooperation, even harmonious worship together. But they are fixed for me in terms of church membership. For me, speaking only for myself, of course, belonging to an evangelical church in the Free Church tradition of Radical Reformation Protestantism is just as important as being Protestant.

So, back to the question: Does the Reformation still matter? Yes, as a historical series of events it is much to be commemorated if not celebrated. I celebrate some of the great insights of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. However, for myself, as an evangelical Free Church Protestant, I look forward even more to 2025—the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Radical Reformation which I consider the real restoration of the New Testament church—even if not perfectly or completely (something I doubt ever can happen perfectly or completely).

What I wonder is how many of my fellow evangelical Free Church adherents will celebrate 2025? I fear that the influence of the heirs of the magisterial Reformation traditions have largely determined how even we, heirs of the Radical Reformation, regard church history. In my opinion, baptists (to use James McClendon’s “small b” term for our common tribe of Protestant Christians) should nod toward Luther and Zwingli this year—in commemoration of 1517—but celebrate 2025 as the real 500th anniversary of the birth of the renewal and restoration of the New Testament church (however imperfectly).

It was, of course, in 1525 that Zwingli’s followers in Zurich launched the Free Church tradition and the Radical Reformation. All baptists should look back to that year as that renewal and restoration of New Testament Christianity in greater fullness if not completeness or perfection.

*Note to commenters: This blog is not a discussion board; please respond with a question or comment solely to me. If you do not share my evangelical Christian perspective (very broadly defined), feel free to ask a question for clarification, but know that this is not a space for debating incommensurate perspectives/worldviews. In any case, know that there is no guarantee that your question or comment will be posted by the moderator or answered by the writer. If you hope for your question or comment to appear here and be answered or responded to, make sure it is civil, respectful, and “on topic.” Do not comment if you have not read the entire post and do not misrepresent what it says. Keep any comment (including questions) to minimal length; do not post essays, sermons or testimonies here. Do not post links to internet sites here. This is a space for expressions of the blogger’s (or guest writers’) opinions and constructive dialogue among evangelical Christians (very broadly defined).

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 20, 2017

A Day I Cannot Celebrate: Inauguration Day, 2017

Next Post

January 24, 2017 I Do Not Watch "Sister Wives," but...What's Wrong with Polygamy

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I was made a watchman for the house of Israel. If I failed to warn the wicked, whose blood would be required?

Select your answer to see how you score.

No one's The people's The watchman's The wicked person's