The 5 Pillars of the Reformation ~ God's glory alone
Soul Snack 26/14 ... Mimic the Thief.
The fabric of the human soul is not woven with chords of humility.
Within 400 years of Calvary, the Christian church had begun to elevate martyrs. Canonization of humans multiplied through the ensuing millennia, while the qualities to become 'a saint' were diluted. Man gave glory to man.
The reformers would not permit the glorification of humans to remain unaddressed.
A Roman Church buttressed by its own self-honoring habits was further assaulted.
Martin Luther described this Roman Catholic behavior as the “theology of glory”. The glory for a sinner's salvation could be attributed partly to Christ, partly to Mary and the saints, and partly to the sinner himself.
The Roman Church enshrined the monastic division of life from the common - into the sacred versus the secular. There was now a class of the spiritual elite. The reformers saluted no such division to life either. Life's entirety is dwelt under Christ's Lordship, as all draw breath through His rule. Those who remained in cities and villages enjoyed Christ's identical claims as those in cloisters or caves. All are to live for His glory alone.
In 1647 The Westminster Shorter Catechism asked; "What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever."
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God; (1 Corinthians 10:31)
So I return to where I have begun. Has the last Reformation become the lost reformation?
"Today, the Catholic Church teaches the same essential perversions of truth; and much of Protestantism has seen a regress to many of the same corruptions, in many circles and denominations. It is a pressing need for Christians everywhere to reaffirm and champion anew the “five solas” which underlay and gave impetus to the Protestant Reformation." ~ anon
Pulpits are jockeyed for, titles are claimed before names, and letters appear after names.
Both secular and ecclesiastical careers are honed, preaching is preened and the proud inner man continues unsubdued. Buoyed by a reformed learning, the confidence within the pews grows past mere back-slapping. Preachers are unduly honored, even as they speak of their own achievements.
Jesus rescued us for God's glory not ours. We are too to live daily before the face of the Lord, not our mirrored reflection.
One of two thieves upon Calvary, a burglar of infant faith, sought no self-glory but did seek He who faced glory. This bandit found and received glory. His 2000 year old glow is merely the reflected shine of his nailed mate.
The glow I seek must be a reflection from the master's glory. It must not be of me, for only then can I mimic a thief.
Today's Soul Snippet:
Humility is an aphrodisiac to worship.
READ the INTRODUCTION to The 5 PIllars of the Reformation
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