Another small (this time an extremely small!) preview of part of the ongoing work in our Luther Exhibition. With just over one month to go until 'Opening Night,' one special door was 'hung' this week. ... Now where did that huge list of 95 Theses go? ... ... Time for some further debate ... .
Please free up some space at the mural: there’s yet another ecumenical figure standing impatiently in the queue who wishes to add his layer of wash to the “whited wall” that is now the public memorial to Martin McGuinness. Patrons of the same cheap paint shop from which so many other apologists have emerged in recent days, these clergymen and religious commentators have struggled through last week with huge compressors and fake pigments in order to airbrush history and create their own alternative canvases. By the time their works of art were completed, gone was the true likeness of Martin McGuinness and in its place stood a portrait of the apostle Paul. • Rev. David Latimer was not the only
Appearances can be deceptive. ... Extremely deceptive. It may appear from the photos on this page that Jim, Ian and Peter have been sitting too long on the job – but this is them taking a brief time out after a morning and afternoon of work at various parts of the Reformation Room. Between staining wood panels, constructing a door, wallpapering, sawing reels, there isn't much that this trio will not tackle. If you were looking for a selection of odd jobs to be done, they would come with a high recommendation ... however, you'll need to hire someone else because these three will be tied up with our Luther Exhibition for a few weeks yet. Meantime, we'll do what those reels won't do any more ..
During the era of the Protestant Reformation, certain Roman Catholic clerics employed the practice of “auricular confession” (confessing sins into the ear of a priest) to enhance their own financial welfare and that of the Church. It was commonly taught (and still is) that through the “confessional,” relief from guilt, and release from eternal punishment, may be obtained. At the same time, it was believed that the sinner still will be required to bear the penalty of temporal punishment. This punishment will be extracted either in this life, or in purgatory. The people who subscribed to this dogma (which is totally without biblical support) thus sought relief from the anxiety of the prospect
On 26th/27th March 1555, nineteen-year-old William Hunter, a silk-weaver's apprentice, was burned at the stake in Brentwood, Essex, for heresy. His story is told in John Foxe's Book of Martyrs and you can read the chapter on Hunter online at http://www.exclassics.com/foxe/foxe275.htm, but here is brief overview: William Hunter was an apprentice to silk-weaver Thomas Taylor in London when Mary I came to the throne. After refusing to attend mass and receive communion at Easter 1554, he was threatened with being hauled before the Bishop of London. It was at this point that his master, Taylor, dismissed him, "lest that he should come in danger because of him, if he continued in his house." Hunte
Some more 28mm figures have made it through the palettes this week: 1. a hunting party (for use outside the Wartburg Castle – linking into a famous story about Luther and his attempts to preserve the life of a rabbit), 2. some of Frederick the Wise's soldiers (these protected Luther during his time in the Wartburg Castle), 3. and a few guys at the forge.
Another couple of components vital to our Reformation Room project have arrived. These drum reels will reappear in an unfamiliar form. But not for at least a few weeks yet. Until then, they will be given some good 'drying time' in the Martyrs' garage.
‘The Doctrine of Justification’ by James Buchanan At the end of last year I was asked to read and review this book for a Christian paper. There can be no doubting the importance of the subject – and its significance for 2017 –but just who was James Buchanan? Born in Paisley in the West of Scotland in 1804, Buchanan studied at the University of Glasgow before going on to hold parish ministries in Leith and Edinburgh. At the Disruption of 1843, he aligned himself with the Free Church of Scotland. He was soon appointed to the Chair of Apologetics in New College, and later to that of Systematic Theology, a post he occupied for 21 years prior to retirement due to ill-health in 1868. He died in 18
It's not every day that eight monks arrive at my house. ... But yesterday was an exception. I stayed at home all morning – and part of the afternoon – in order to receive them. And when they appeared, a full half hour earlier than scheduled (that's how to keep appointments!), I was delighted to welcome them. One, two, three, four ... eight: yes, all present. Since my wife wasn't at home I was extremely happy that none of these monks required food. Not because they wouldn't eat because of some strict observation of a Lenten day, but simply due to the fact that none of them could eat ... All eight of these characters were rendered in pewter – 28mm figures that will become excellent additions t
Many parents who have young children have recently found themselves watching 100 minutes of plastic bricks animated with stop-motion magic: the block-buster ‘Lego Movie.’ Other fans of the little bricks have put their collections of figures and bricks through various permutations in recreating scenes that represent key events in the life of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. After all, Lego was invented in the Lutheran country of Denmark, so it seems appropriate that this creation should be put to this kind of purpose in marking this 500th anniversary year. You can access a gallery of photos of these Lego reconstructions at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wunztwice/sets/7215762271
Martin Luther said, "When I feel that I have become cold and joyless in prayer because of other tasks or thoughts I take my little psalter, hurry to my room, or if it be the day and hour for it, to the church where a congregation is assembled." We will follow Luther's example this morning for there is no better way to start a season of prayer than by singing a psalm; Psalm 40:1-5. On this morning of prayer that has been specially convened by our Presbytery we have assembled for the twin purposes of praying for: 1. Our Easter Convention Services on Friday 14th April, 8.00pm; and Monday 17th April, 3:30pm and 7:00pm. 2. To pray for the arrangements in regard to the 5ooth Anniversary of the Pro
Dr Albert Mohler, the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was travelling to preach at the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. His subject was Luther’s hymnody. His flight was experiencing problems because of the weather. Dr Mohler was spending some time doing some reading Luther. The flight attendant noticed this and asked, “Why are you reading about Luther?” Dr Mohler explained that he was travelling to speak on Luther’s contribution to hymnody. She then went on to tell how she had grown up in East Germany during the Communist era recalling how her grandmother sang Luther’s hymns to her. She said, “My parents weren’t Christians but as my grandmother sang I learned
Meantime, in a 'welding shop' outside Portadown, another man (Phil Hartin) is busy getting a substantial base ready for our fly press – the core of our reproduction of the old Gutenberg Press. It is our plan that each person who visits the Reformation Room will be able to stamp out their own message, for example, "Thank you for visiting the Reformation Room. 'The Just Shall Live By Faith' Romans 1:17."
Yesterday witnessed a push in the Reformation Room(s) wallpapering programme: both anterooms that are adjacent to our main Reformation Room received some treatment. Jim Lockhead and Ian Jenkinson added their wallpapering talents to those of Peter Lunn that were already in play in recent days, resulting in a few 'stone' and 'wood panelled' walls taking on serious shape. We are delighted to see another step forward in the Luther exhibition at Martyrs.
Further recommended reading on this subject: 1. A discussion on the appearance of "salvation by grace" in the Old Testament Scriptures: 'Grace in the Old Testament' by Art Farstad: http://faithalone.org/magazine/y1991/91oct1.html 2. A hymn jointly authored by Philip Doddridge and Augustus Toplady, 'Grace 'Tis A Charming Sound.' 1 Grace, ’tis a charming sound, Harmonious to mine ear; Heaven with the echo shall resound, And all the earth shall hear. 2 Grace first contrived the way To save rebellious man; And all the steps that grace display Which drew the wondrous plan. 3 Grace first inscribed my name In God’s eternal book; ’Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb, Who all my sorrows took.
On 15 March 1517, Pope Leo X authorised a plenary indulgence (essentially a payment for sin) in order to finance the building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It was the brazen hawking of this indulgence that outraged Dr. Luther and inspired The 95 Theses, which sparked the Protestant Reformation.
This video by Premier Travel Media may be less than 5 minutes in length, but it opens the door to those places where the life of Martin Luther was played out. Whether you’re planning a trip to Germany to follow the footsteps of the great Protestant Reformer, or simply looking for a short pictorial summary of his life, this little compilation is worth watching. [ For Video and Further Information check: http://religioustravelplanningguide.com/take-your-group-to-germany-for-the-500th-anniversary-of-the-reformation/ ]
This is one of the most striking images to be seen among the vast number of broadsheets directed by the Reformers against the Roman Catholic church. The image of the Devil perched on the shoulders of a monk, whose head forms the bagpipe and through whose ears and nose he "plays his tune,” is pungent: the idea that monks were the instruments of the Devil was a common one and resulted in numerous woodcuts showing them as thinly disguised monsters. Scribner has commented that the enormous popularity of these prints must be associated with a proverb linking monks with the Devil which was in current use before the Reformation: "Misfortune has broad feet, said the peasant, as he saw the monk comin
On this 500th anniversary year of the Protestant Reformation, Roman Catholicism is once again demonstrating the key role it plays as the creator and maintainer of Mary worship. One of six statues of Our Lady of Fatima, blessed by Pope Francis at the beginning of the year, is today concluding its tour of Northern Ireland. The Irish News notes how, “In a celebration of 100 years since the Virgin Mary appeared to three children in the Portugese village, the three-foot-high statue started its journey in Armagh. A series of services will take place across Ireland to mark the jubilee year of the apparitions. It was brought to Ireland from Rome by the Alliance of the Holy Family International with
