10 - The Reformation and the Modern Day Church

Introduction

When we mention 'The Reformation' it prompts different reactions, depending of course on ones tradition and background.

Whether we like it or not, the Reformation is etched in European History; it brought about the birth of religious freedom all across Europe, the UK and Ireland, and it ultimately changed the world.

The early development of the printing press and mass production of paper during this turbulent period would prove to be a fortuitous coincidence and would accelerate the spread of the gospel.

The subject of ‘The Modern Day Church’ is a comprehensive and multifaceted study and it is not our intension to give a full history on this timeline.

The church is universal and we will discover that the real church, the one that Christ said he would build, is not a building or an organisation; it is a living body which consists of every individual believer in Christ from every church and denomination across the entire world.

We have already noted that the simplicity and purity of the early church was progressively corrupted through Clericalism and Ecclesiasticism from as early as AD 300-500 through to the Reformation. We will also consider how the Protestant Church has been fragmented through Denominationalism.

There is ample information available on the internet regarding the origin of all the mainstream denominations. We recommend that the reader take time to research each denomination and its history as a separate and private study.

Given that this information is so readily available, there is little excuse for ignorance regarding our heritage.

History repeats itself. Today the evangelical church is facing the threat of censorship in relation to its public witness. Political correctness, racial discrimination and gender selection are cited as legitimate reasons for the introduction of censorship.

Many Schools and Universities across the UK and America are actively engaged in the promotion of censorship against evangelical Christianity. The religious freedom that was won through the Reformation is coming under increasing threat.

Regarding the Reformation and the Modern Day Church...

This timeline covers circa 6000 + years of human history and delves into a wide spectrum of subjects, some of which have proved to be controversial over many years. You might not agree with every detail.

It is my hope that you will be challenged to consider this subject and how it impacts your life both now and in the future. I hope that you will learn something new about 'The Reformation and the Modern Day Church' and perhaps be inspired to read the bible for yourself in order to shape your views on this interesting subject.

On this page we will discuss the following topics; The uniformity of the Catholic Church. The Reformation period and how it shaped history. The fragmented Protestant Church. The phenomenon of the Modern Day Church. The dangers of alcohol in the Church.