Posted by
peripheral on Saturday, October 31, 2009 6:19:01 AM
From My Perspective - - -
October 31st is usually thought of as Halloween or All Saints Day.
However, this day is significant for another reason. “On 31 October
1517, Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg,
accusing the Roman Catholic church of heresy and error. Some cite this
as the starting point of the Protestant Reformation even though men
such as John Wycliffe, John Hus, Thomas Linacre, John Colet and others
had already put their life’s work and lives on the line for same cause
of truth, laying the foundation of Reform upon which Luther now built.
Luther's action was in great part a response to the selling of
indulgences by Johann Tetzel, a Dominican priest. Luther's charges also
directly challenged the position of the clergy in regard to individual
salvation. Luther's views were condemned as heretical by Pope Leo X in
the bull Exsurge Domine in 1520. Consequently Luther was summoned to
either renounce or reaffirm them at the Diet of Worms on 17 April 1521.
When he appeared before the assembly, Johann von Eck, by then assistant
to the Archbishop of Trier, acted as spokesman for Emperor Charles the
Fifth. He presented Luther with a table filled with copies of his
writings. Eck asked Luther if he still believed what these works
taught…Luther apologized for the harsh tone of many of his writings,
but said he could not reject the majority of them or the teachings in
them. Luther respectfully but boldly stated, Unless I am convinced by
proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, ‘I
cannot and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do
anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help
me. Amen.’ On May 25, the Emperor issued his Edict of Worms, declaring
Martin Luther an outlaw.”
The Church of the Reformation moved forward with determination. It met
in modest and simple surroundings as it slowly progressed. The lavish
places of worship and ornate nature of them was a stark contrast to
monastic life. For several centuries, places of worship have been built
at great expense. Even in the Old Testament Scriptures, the description
of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the Temple of Solomon, give
evidence of the detail and lavishness of them. Equally intriguing is
the idea of Church Steeples. A study was shared in 2001 by Christian
History Journal on Church Steeples. The article stated: “Steeples are
inspiring, but they don't necessarily serve any practical architectural
purpose…they beg the question: Where did the idea come from? The spire
originated in the twelfth century, but America's steeples are descended
from those designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of
London in 1666. The fire began early on September 2, not far from the
famed London Bridge, overtaking everything in its path. Over four days
the conflagration destroyed most of the city. Many famous buildings,
including St. Paul's Cathedral and 86 other churches (not to mention
more than 13,000 homes), were destroyed, and the city smoldered for
months. The task of rebuilding many of these houses of worship fell to
Wren, a young architect. Noted for his Oxford background as a
mathematician and astronomer, Wren was commissioned by King Charles II
to rebuild St. Paul's Cathedral. In his design of St. Paul's and about
50 other city churches he included steeples, leading men and women to
turn their gaze toward God in his heavens. Wren's simple,
straightforward treatment of the steeple quickly caught on. They were
increasingly found on American churches, often with bells built in the
tops. These bells served dual purposes, calling worshipers to services
and summoning citizens for special announcements or emergencies.”
An anomaly is: “Deviation or departure from the normal…form, or rule.”
The ABC News Webpage includes a weather story: “Storms rolled through
the Mississippi Valley last night…and toppled over a Church Steeple in
Shreveport, Louisiana.” Steeples can be meaningful and attractive, but
what occurs beneath the Steeple is far more important. Jesus
demonstrated that truth in Matthew 21:12-14 [The Message]: “Jesus went
straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop,
buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the
stalls of dove merchants…My house was designed and designated to be a
House of Prayer; You have made it a hangout for thieves. Now there was
room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he
healed them.” You should not need a Steeple to cause you to “Keep
Looking Unto Jesus – the Author and Finisher of your Faith [Hebrews
12:2].” Consider these things with me!