Reformation Day 2014

We got convicted and quit doing Halloween several years ago. You can read that "Evil" post here.
We continue to be amazed with how God directs our lives. We felt no need to replace Halloween (even though we all love dress-up and candy) but God lead us to begin to learn about church reformers and after several years of saying, "we need to know more about that," we finally did.

In our Bible Study we've been studying how God raised up judges and prophets to lead His wayward people back to Him. And studying church history reminds us that He hasn't stopped. The Catholic church was HUGE and overcome with greed and false teaching. Then God raised up men like John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others to lead His people, the church, back to Himself.

Many men risked their lives to confront the Catholic church and point out their unbiblical doctrines and practices. And thus, the Protestant church was birthed through long hard labor.

"Through faith alone in Christ alone" was their united belief, and thanks to them we can celebrate having a Bible in our own language, and understanding that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men that we need. He is our Great High Priest. And because of His sacrificial love for us, we, through faith in Him, are a royal priesthood and can come before the throne of God ourselves and receive forgiveness and grace.

THAT is worth celebrating!

On October 31, 1517 (497 years ago) a monk and professor, Martin Luther, nailed a theses to the door of a church in Germany, strongly suggesting that perhaps the church was wrong about some stuff (particularly papal bulls and indulgences - look it up) and inviting anyone who wanted to come debate about it.
He was quickly tired and convicted as a heretic, which carried a death sentence, so he hid in a friends attic and translated the New Testament into German.

Thus, October 31st has been dubbed Reformation Day. Let the celebrating commence!

Decorations; bottom picture is "Luther's Rose"

The Mama did a LOT of research - so with the help of MANY websites (pinterest and google) and blogs  by other mamas we had a big history lesson on Thursday, then on Friday, after lessons and lunch we gathered in the living room (the other end of the school room) and had a review. The who, what, when, and where's.

Then we partied like it was 1517!

We read together (all 95 points of Martins theses) then "nailed" (with tape) our theses to the door (cardboard that Mama drew on).


We repaired stained-glass windows that had been damaged in the riots (we colored). And other fun stuff. Just see for yourself:

Josiah "nailing" is theses to the door; Lora and Jorja decorating placemats; Alex at the "Baptismal Apple Dunking"

Top:Match-a-Sola (I'll explain this below); Alex and Brent sitting at tiny desk coloring the Solas;
Bottom: Josiah, Ava, Autumn & Jacob coloring; Elijah coloring

Victuals: We had communion (pitas and grape juice - for educational purposes) lead by the Daddy.
We had apple cider and our "Diet of Worms"
(that was the name of the council that convicted Luther - ours was "dirt" with gummy worms in it).

Next year I'd like to have more German foods and actual Wassail.

Luther burned the Papal Bull that declared him excommunicated from the Catholic Church - he thought it was just a bunch of  worthless bull. So we did likewise. - Our "bulls" even had a copy of the seal of Pope Leo X from 1517.
Boys like setting things on fire. 

We sang Hymns and spiritual songs. Including "A Might Fortress" - cause Luther wrote it. 

To sing what we sang go here to my Reformation Day playlist on YouTube.
We also sang some fun songs. I'll put those at the bottom (with the Solas).

The Door after all the Theses were nailed to it;
The pretty red runner Grandmother gave me for my birthday with hymns and bulls on it;
and the movie.

To finish up we attempted to watch the 1953 version of Martin Luther. Several actually made it through the whole movie, others went to play ("this is boring"), the Mama slept through it.

We may try the more recent version next time (have to preview it first).

We all want to do it all over again next year! Only we want to invite others to join us. I can foresee this becoming our recurring "fall party."

Look for Ava's second "Miss Modesty" post coming sometime today. She's worked hard again this week and is discussing real love. I'll link it here when she's done.

Love ya!
Mama

One resource called the "5 Solas" the Pillars of the Reformation:

Sola Gratia 

- by grace alone

Sola Fide 

- through faith alone

Solus Christus 

- in Christ alone

Sola Scriptura 

- according to Scripture alone

Soli Deo Gloria 

- for the glory of God alone

Fun Songs:
from here

Reformation Carol

By Anne & Tom Lipe of Damascus, MD
(to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer)

There was a monk named Luther,
As devout as he could be.
You couldn't find a better
monk in all of Germany.

All of the other friars
used to laugh and call him names.
They never dreamed that God would
lead him down the path to fame.

Then one cold October morn
God's call came to him:
"Luther, I think you are right;
I want you to lead my fight."

So then he wrote his theses;
tacked them up for all to see.
And now the Reformation
will go down in history...."

Martin the German

Chris P. Matthy
(to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman")

Martin the German was a sorry, mixed up soul,
'Cause he thought it odd that a loving God
Would condemn him straight to hell.

Martin the German even took a sacred vow
When a lightning strike nearly took his life
But St. Anne stepped in somehow.

It must have seemed like magic when
Old Habbukuk he found,
'Cause when he read God saves by faith
He began to dance around.

O, Martin the German felt reborn again that day,
And he spread the word from old Wittenberg
All the way to Rome, they say.

Thumpitty thump thump, thumpitty thump thump,
Nail them to the door;
Thumpitty thump thump, thumpitty thump thump,
Hear those Theses roar!

© CPM 2006.

The Reformation Polka

by Robert Gebel
[Sung to the tune of "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious"]

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter's profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints' Bull'tin board:
"You cannot purchase merits, for we're justified by grace!
Here's 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!" Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
"Are these your books? Do you recant?" King Charles did demand,
"I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!" Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting "George" as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin's model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Let's raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that 'catholic' is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!