Mini Blog #28: Reformation Day

Today is not only Halloween, but also Reformation Day--the day each year when the Protestant Reformation is remembered and celebrated. My view of that event can be summed up in two equally hard-hitting words: tragic necessity. Tragic because Christ's desire, as seen in His prayer in John 17, is that His followers be one so that the world may know that the Father sent the Son. If I may be so bold, I think celebration of such a flagrant violation of Christ's will is completely out of line. Necessity because I do affirm that the late medieval Roman Catholic Church had become horribly corrupted and desperately needed restoration. Were I alive then I doubt I could have, in good conscience, remained within the Catholic fold. Yet because an action had justification doesn't imply its innate good; in legal terms, being proven not guilty isn't the same as being proved innocent. Regardless of where the fault lies, schism within the Body of Christ should never be celebrated. A more appropriate tone would be solemn appreciation, somber reflection, repentance that our sins have defiled the Bride of Christ, mourning that those sins have turned many in this needing world away from her, and hopeful prayer that some day there will be full reconciliation.