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Protestants know the Reformation opened the door to freedom within Christianity. Although it may seem unbelievable, lay people at one point in history could not read nor have the Scriptures in their own language.
The Reformation emphasized Sola Scriptura, or scripture alone. The great reformers emphasized the divine inspiration, infallibility, and authority of the Word of God. Protecting the sacred Scriptures remained the key to the Reformation, a hill several believers were willing to die on. Of course, the reality is that even before the movement, believers suffered for the Word’s sake.
Church Historian J.H. Merle D’Aubigne shared one story:
A pious woman having heard or read words directed against the Divine authority of the Scriptures, laid both her hands immediately on the Bible, which was lying before her, and cried aloud [I heard her], “This is my Bible!—this is my Bible!—my God has given it to me!—no one shall take it from me!”[1]
Granted, our culture and society have developed with so many impressive technological advances, and the public’s love of reading continues to be challenged and unprioritized. Still, if we maintained the same admiration and love of the Scriptures as this woman, our world would look much different.
While unbelievers and even some labeled Christians may not prioritize or acknowledge the divinity of the Scriptures, they continue to lay the foundation of the faith and the written communication of the Lord for our present days.
In the Scriptures is the message of forgiveness, hope, and freedom from sin. If anyone so desires to know how and why to please their Creator, rest assured that they will find the answers in the Bible.
The message of salvation is at the core of the Bible, and those familiar with their theology know quite well that the redeeming message of Christ starts at the beginning of the Word and continues to the end.
D’Aubigne further challenged his readers, “Let your obedience to the Word of God be absolute and lively.”[2] While doctrinal differences separate Christians today, the Word of God should not. The message of salvation, by faith alone, is no controversial tenet. Christians should adhere to the Bible and the Bible alone. When the world challenges biblical norms or commands, do not panic yet remain faithful, always placing the same reverence for the Scriptures as the reformers did before.
D’Aubigne said it best, “The Word will never fail us, if we fail not in regard to the Word: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”[3]
[1] J.H. Merle D’Aubigne, The Authority of God: Four Discourses, (Harrisonburg: Sprinkle Publications, 2008), 115.
[2] Ibid., 116.
[3] Ibid., 117.
