OCTOBER 31st 1517: LESSONS FROM REFORMATION HISTORY Pt.24

Aside the persecution of the Anabaptists that claimed over 4,000 lives, it is sad to know that there was a bloody war that ensued between the Catholics and Protestants in the 16th century. Historians called it World War I before World War I. The war left 8 million dead. Germany lost 30% of its people all because of “who gets to interpret the Bible”, a theological war. Funny, isn't it?

The war started after protestant nobles angrily threw two Catholic priests out of a castle's window, a 70 feet distance from the floor. The trigger for the anger against the two Catholic priest was because the Catholic Emperor Ferdinand II banned protestant churches in Bohemia, modern Czech Republic.

That very act of throwing priests down the window sparked a war that lasted 30 years. All of Europe picked a side and hell was unleashed by both the Catholics and protestants. Though the priests survived by landing on a dung, that did not stop the war.  Catholics said their survival was a “miracle”. Protestants said “dung saved them”.

*ARE WE NOT FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER TODAY*?

In the body of Christ today, there is another ongoing "war", though not with sword and gun but with words and the spirit of "I am of Paul while you are for Apollos". It is a war of "we" versus "them". If some preachers have the opportunity to take out those they see as opponent, they could, judging from the bitterness that ooze out of their sermons.

I have seen some pastors take another pastor to the cleaners in their sermons. Some will intentionally preach or teach a message against what another preacher said not necessarily to correct doctrine but to damage his reputation and ministry. It has become a personal war.

The unfortunate thing about this is that these preachers have raised followers who dishonour and disrespect any preacher that is not in their camp. As long as you are not on the side of their pastor, you are heretic.  There are believers who won't attend any other church in a new location where their church doesn't have a branch. They have been raised to think they are the only church that is right, all others are wrong.

Do I believe in apologetics&polemics? Yes, I do. However, polemics should be issue-based not an attack on the personality of fellow brethren.  Attacking their personality and talking down on their ministries publicly shows you have moved from love to hatred. The will of God cannot be done that way.

Some have no message anymore. They use their pulpit to settle scores and launch a vendetta against the ministry of others. I am seeing something like "church activism" today. True believers cannot be raised that way. We raise strong believers to know the truth and stand for it only when we teach scriptures systematically.

We pray for revival and we wonder why we are not experiencing it? The reason is because of disunity among ourselves. We need to grow and be mature to the point where our doctrinal differences will not divide us. We cannot win the world in division. At least, we should be united on the fundamentals/ essentials. Why allow non essentials divide us?

What do you think would have happened If the body of Christ had come together as a united force with evangelism& mission plans some 30-40 years ago with the goal of soulwinning. Don't you think we could have taken over many unreached places by now? Unfortunately, everyone is "protecting" their own and growing their little empire.

Most of the things we argue about today in the body of Christ have been for a long time. Early church fathers argued about these things till they were hit by the sword of Jihad. As they argued, they forgot to win souls. Satan distracted them big time. The souls they neglected turned against them. Is history not repeating itself today?