Rescuing the Gospel: The Story and Significance of the Reformation
The Riveting Story of the Reformation and Its Significance
Today
The Reformation unfolded in the cathedrals and town squares of
Europe--in Wittenberg, Worms, Rome, Geneva, and Zurich--and it is a
stirring story of courage and cowardice, of betrayal and
faith.
The story begins with the Catholic Church and its desperate need
for reform. The dramatic events that followed are traced from John
Wycliffe in England, to the burning of John Hus at the stake in
Prague, to the rampant sale of indulgences in the cities and towns
of Germany, to Martin Luther nailing the Ninety-Five Theses
to the door of the Castle Church in 1517, to John Calvin's reform
of Geneva.
Erwin Lutzer captures the people, places, and big ideas that fueled
the Reformation and explains its lasting influence on the church
and Western Civilization.
From the Back Cover
A riveting account of the Reformation--and why it matters
today
The Reformation unfolded in the cathedrals and town squares of
Europe--in Wittenberg, Worms, Rome, Geneva, and Zurich. The story
begins with the Catholic Church and its desperate need for reform.
The dramatic events that followed are traced from John Wycliffe in
England, to the burning of John Hus at the stake at the Council of
Constance, to the rampant sale of indulgences in the cities and
towns of Germany, to Martin Luther nailing the Ninety-Five
Theses to the door of the Castle Church in 1517, to John
Calvin's reform of Geneva.
In prose that captivates as it informs, Erwin W. Lutzer captures
the people, places, and big ideas that fueled the Reformation. He
explains its lasting influence on the church and Western
civilization. And, perhaps most importantly, he shows why the
actions of passionate believers five hundred years ago still matter
today.
"At the Reformation's five hundredth anniversary, Erwin Lutzer
reminds us not only why the Reformation is one of the most
significant events in Western history but also why it still holds
important lessons for the church today. As Lutzer demonstrates in
this book, the theological convictions of Luther, Zwingli, and
Calvin need to be recovered as an antidote to the watered-down
gospel proclaimed from many Protestant pulpits in our day. Every
Protestant needs to recognize the incredible theological debt we
owe to the Reformers. Let this book introduce you to their lives,
their ministries, and, most importantly, their theology."--R.
Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary
Top Highlights
“Wycliffe’s greatest contribution to reform was to popularize the Bible.” (source)
“To study church history is to study the ways of God; it is to appreciate His providential guidance of His people. We forget that the better we understand yesterday, the better we will understand today.” (source)
“Think this through: if the lifestyle of the priest is unrelated to the efficacy of the sacraments, what about the lifestyle of the parishioner who receives the mass? The church answered that as long as the recipient had no mortal sin on his or her conscience, he or she can also benefit from the sacraments—even without a change of heart—though, of course, people were encouraged to have ‘a good inner motive.’ Repentance was not necessary to benefit from the sacrament.” (source)
“At the Diet of Augsburg in 1555, a religious settlement gave legitimacy to the basic rule that the ruler or prince (not the emperor) determined the religion of a region. This Diet reversed the unfair law instituted at the second Diet of Speyer. Thus Lutherans were now on equal footing with Catholics. For the first time in the Christian West, two confessions, the Catholic and the Lutheran, were given equal legal recognition.6 The religion of a given territory was still determined by its ruler, but the people were free to immigrate to whatever territory they desired.” (source)
“Though Wycliffe was slated to be killed, he collapsed while speaking and died a few days later on December 28, 1384. Hence, he cheated the ecclesiastical powers by denying them the privilege of killing him. However, over thirty years after his death, at the Council of Constance (see discussion below), the decision was made to dig up his bones, burn them, and throw the ashes into the Swift River. The superstitious belief was that if his bones were destroyed, it would spoil his chances at a resurrection.” (source)
Product Details
- Title : Rescuing the Gospel: The Story and Significance of the Reformation
- Author: Lutzer, Erwin W.
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2016
- ISBN: 9781493401604
Erwin W. Lutzer (BTh, Winnipeg Bible College; ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is pastor emeritus of Moody Church in Chicago. He has led tours to the sites of the Reformation in Europe including Wittenberg, Worms, Geneva, and Zurich. He is the ECPA Gold Medallion Award-winning author of Hitler's Cross as well as many other books, including The King Is Coming, and When a Nation Forgets God. He is the featured speaker on three radio programs, including Running to Win. Lutzer and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area.