Remarks From the Reverend

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2Timothy 3:16-17)

October is a time of when farmers are harvesting their crops, kids are at school and many people are preparing for the holidays, including the birth of Jesus Christ. However, there is one other event in history that took place that is rarely celebrated.

On Oct. 31, 1517, a devoted Roman Catholic monk, Martin Luther, nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg Chapel in Germany, and in doing so; he unwittingly triggered the Reformation.

Many people during the time of the Reformation came to realize that what they had been taught by their religious leaders was error; in fact, much of what was taught was contrary to the Word of God, the Bible containing the Old and New Testaments. Out of this realization, a motto was coined. It was a Latin phrase, Sola Scriptura, which means "Scripture Alone." This Reformation cry reflected a change in the way people thought concerning the source of truth. It changed for the good what Christians believed in doctrine and in life. No longer would the superstitions, opinions, commandments of men rule over many of the people who had been brought into bondage by the religious leaders and man-centered thoughts of that day, but rather began to submit to the truths and the way of salvation and righteousness, which are revealed in the Bible alone by the only True and living God; who is the Creator of all there is and the only Redeemer of sinners, like you and me.

Today, there are many religious leaders that still stubbornly teach the traditions and opinion of men and society, requiring adherents to submit themselves under the commandments of men. There are even many people of various academic disciplines, such as science, philosophy, and even religion, who are seeking to discredit the Bible in order to elevate their opinions above the voice of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Many of the churches have lost sight of the Reformation cry, "Sola Scriptura."

So we might ask ourselves, during this Reformation season, "Whose voice am I listening to?" Are you listening to those who have mixed their opinion in with Scripture, where the truths that are revealed in God's word are twisted to fit a man-centered political or religious agenda; listening to the opinions of men to discover truth? Or, will you listen to the voice of God, who is speaking to us in His word, the Bible?

Rev. Richard Stetler, of Hartley, is the CEO and founder of Reformation Gospel Ministries. Visit http://www.reformationgospelministries.org for more information.

Editor's Note: Rev. Stetler's column will run in the last newspaper of each month starting with this edition of the Sentinel-News.