Acts 15:18 *Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world*.
*SAD PART IN REFORMATION HISTORY: THIRTY YEARS WAR (1618-1648)* (c)
The thirty years war was a needless war. At the end of thirty years, there was no winner because everyone lost. Calvinists, Lutherans and Catholics all decided to stop fighting over theology. This decision came when they saw that no one had a upper hand. It was more like a stalemate.
The agreement to sue for peace is what is known as peace of Westphalia in 1648. Luther, in 1517 said, “Here I stand, I can do no other” but the Westphalia 1648 slogan is “Here we stand, we can do no more fighting.” Everyone decided to stop fighting. That changed Europe forever.
After the war, there was religious freedom. Catholic, Lutheran, Calvinist all became legal in Holy Roman Empire. No more “convert or die”. People became free to choose without fear of being persecuted. That was the beginning of religious tolerance.
Also, the peace of Westphalia gave sovereignty to European nations. Before Westphalia, Emperors and Pope claimed power over all Europe. Today, that is no more. Each nation is self governing in the order of “Westphalian system” which has been adopted in international law.
Another benefit of the Westphalian peace was that it helped the church to stay away from politics. Churches stopped running armies though state leaders and soldiers belonged to churches of their own choice but their activities were not controlled by the Popes or Bishops.
The thirty years war shows that no one wins a theological war. Instead of fighting one another, it is better to take the battle to the gates of the enemy in intercession, evangelism and missions than to face one another in bitterness over petty issues. The truth is that we all won't agree on the same thing in the same way but we can stand for peace and do the work of the Lord on a common ground that we share.
The war was a huge set back in world history because it afforded Islam to establish itself using the sword to conquer and take lands. That conquest gave them the motivation to take more Christian dominated lands. In church history, whenever the church fathers fight over doctrine, Islam spread. That was how North Africa was over run and has remained so till date.
May we not fail God in our generation.