The Reformation and Calvinism.

This year (2017) marks 500 years since the Reformation.
Over the coming months, we will cover the events leading up to October 31 1517, the date Martin Luther nailed his ‘post’ to the church door in Wittenberg. This event is in many ways symbolic of the beginning of the Reformation.
But are the details behind the Reformation still important for Christians to know about today?
The answer is yes. In fact, our everyday lives as Christians in 2017 are in countless ways built on the foundation laid by the events of the Reformation. What we have now is because of what happened then.
So what exactly was the Reformation? When did it happen? Who was involved? And what difference does having ‘reformed theology’ really make in our lives?
Throughout this year we will be answering questions like these so that you can learn why, even in 2017, the Reformation matters. - to continue reading pls click HERE.

Read the whole Article HERE - http://www.ets.ac.uk/engage/

"The Reformation is often dated to 31 October 1517 in Wittenberg, Saxony, when Luther sent his Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences to the Archbishop of Mainz. The theses debated and criticised the Church and the papacy, but concentrated upon the selling of indulgences and doctrinal policies about purgatory, particular judgment, and the authority of the pope. He would later in the period 1517–1521 write works on the Catholic devotion to Virgin Mary, the intercession of and devotion to the saints, the sacraments, mandatory clerical celibacy, monasticism, further on the authority of the pope, the ecclesiastical law, censure and excommunication, the role of secular rulers in religious matters, the relationship between Christianity and the law, and good works.
Reformers made heavy use of inexpensive pamphlets as well as vernacular Bibles using the relatively new printing press, so there was swift movement of both ideas and documents.
MAGISTERIAL REFORMATION
Parallel to events in Germany, a movement began in Switzerland under the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli. These two movements quickly agreed on most issues, but some unresolved differences kept them separate. Some followers of Zwingli believed that the Reformation was too conservative, and moved independently toward more radical positions, some of which survive among modern day Anabaptists. Other Protestant movements grew up along lines of mysticism or humanism, sometimes breaking from Rome or from the Protestants, or forming outside of the churches.
After this first stage of the Reformation, following the excommunication of Luther and condemnation of the Reformation by the Pope, the work and writings of John Calvin were influential in establishing a loose consensus among various groups in Switzerland, Scotland, Hungary, Germany and elsewhere.
The Reformation foundations engaged with Augustinianism; both Luther and Calvin thought along lines linked with the theological teachings of Augustine of Hippo.[citation needed] The Augustinianism of the reformers struggled against Pelagianism, a heresy that they perceived in the Roman Catholic Church. In the course of this religious upheaval, the German Peasants' War of 1524–1525 swept through the Bavarian, Thuringian and Swabian principalities, including the Black Company of Florian Geier, a knight from Giebelstadt who joined the peasants in the general outrage against the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Zwinglian and Lutheran ideas had influence with preachers within the regions that the Peasants' War occurred and upon works such as the Twelve Articles. Luther, however, condemned the revolt in writings such as Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants; Zwingli and Luther's ally Philipp Melanchthon also did not condone the uprising. Some 100,000 peasants were killed by the end of the war." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation
CALVINIST  the Movie by Les Lansphere will be AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2, 2017. Calvinist is a film about a generation that rediscovered an ancient Big-God theology. Join teachers like R.C. Spoul, Paul Washer, and Shai Linne in a Biblical journey to uncover the truth about who God is and who we are.


Watch the official trailer for Calvinist, a documentary about an unexpected generation of the church being overtaken by an old, and often misunderstood theology. They've become obsessed with reading difficult theology books and trying to convince their friends of some seemingly offensive things.

Featuring: R.C. Sproul, Paul Washer, Ligon Duncan, Kevin DeYoung, Voddie Baucham, James White, Joe Thorn, Jeff Durbin, Tim Challies, Steven Lawson, Carl Trueman, Shai Linne, R. Scott Clark, TImothy Brindle, Scott Oliphint, Michael Horton, and many more.




The Story of Calvinism by Phil Johnson
The Christian doctrine of 'Election' has caused more difficulties to believers than any other. It is indeed one of the most frequently misunderstood of all Biblical teachings. Many have been distressed by what they think this teaching means. But rather than causing Christians concern, this doctrine is actually one that should fill believers with comfort and a much better grasp of the great and sovereign God that they serve.

In the first message Phil introduces us to this doctrine, and begins by dispelling the myth that election was an addition to the gospel invented by the Apostle Paul, and which cannot be found in the teaching of Christ. But as Phil shows us, this is simply not the case, and he then goes on to explain what election is really all about, directly from the teaching of Christ.

The second message provides a very helpful overview of Calvinism and its history, which actually sets the doctrine of election in the context of the Biblical teaching with which it is most commonly associated. Once correctly understood, election is seen to be actually a demonstration of the Lord's love for his people. These two recordings will be a great help to those who are struggling to understand this most difficult, yet wonderful, doctrine.





"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent." 
 John Calvin