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| Visiting the Reformation Wall in Geneva, Switzerland. |
Today is the 502nd Anniversary of the Reformation.
We were thankful to actually have been there in Wittenberg, Germany two years ago for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation when 250,000 people descended on Wittenberg’s Town Center for the celebration, an area whose normal population is around 2000.
There is a lot that flowed forth from that spark of revelation Martin Luther experienced regarding the grace of God.
We saw a few of those things on this present trip: We were able to stop along the way and see the Reformation Wall in Geneva, Switzerland, as we are currently in Europe having just ministered in France and England. We have been blessed to experience the Holy Spirit moving powerfully as we have gone along and blessed to continually learn and experience more about the Reformation as we travel here.
The Reformation Wall
The Reformation Wall is a unique exhibit showing the trajectory of the Reformation and some of its influence on certain people and parts of the world, including the birth of a little nation called America…hmm, seems to have done ok so far in light of the fact that some of its original inhabitants were fleeing persecution!
A couple of interesting figures and movements follow in this brief article and you can also see some videos we’ve made about them.
John Knox
One person prominently displayed at the Reformation Wall is John Knox, who was taken captive by the French when they laid siege of the Protestant city of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Taken captive because he was Protestant (as the French persecuted Protestants heavily during this time) he was forced to work as a slave on a French galley ship and when the French soldiers tried to force him to worship a statue of the Virgin Mary, he instead got up and took the statue and threw it overboard.
Instead of being punished, the soldiers were taken aback at his boldness and left him alone after that.
Once freed, he spent time in Geneva and later returned to Scotland as a leader of the Reformation there.
The one who became known later as the Thundering Scot because of his powerful preaching, trembled in fear early on when first called upon to give a sermon! Overcome by anxiety and fear, he wept in terror. God uses the weak things and the foolish so that no one may boast before Him (1 Cor. 1:27-28).
He takes the anointing and turns someone with nothing in the natural that would stand out, into someone powerfully used and unique in His Kingdom!
Another Feature at the Reformation Wall
A revival movement that came out of the Reformation were the Puritans in England. While they were grounded on the New Testament fundamental of salvation by grace through faith, they also said that faith must be something that touches the heart through the power of the Spirit, mere head knowledge isn’t sufficient.
Spurred on by the Great Commission, many came to the New World not only to have freedom to worship as guided by the Bible, but to plant the Christian Faith.
In fact, that original group that sailed on the Mayflower, stated in their Compact as they landed, which is also featured on the Reformation Wall in Geneva, that they undertook this endeavor “for the glory of God and the expansion of the Christian Faith!”
Again, God took those in a state of weakness—persecuted believers who were not accepted by the mainstream in England—and started something unique with them!
Praise God and Happy Reformation Day!
Video links:
- John Knox and the Scottish Reformation: https://youtu.be/uVIrO6BKm2s
- Plymouth's Pilgrims and their Christian Faith: https://youtu.be/xRM3-jqexe0
