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].” He is always near! Consider these things with me!
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].” He is always near! Consider these things with me!
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