Whitewashed Heroes: A Reckoning with the Reformation

Whitewashed Heroes: A Reckoning with the Reformation

As we approach the 506th anniversary of the Reformation, the Protestant church still remembers the courageous men and women who stood for biblical truth against the abuses and errors of the Roman Catholic Church. The names of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli still evoke awe and admiration for their bravery, brilliance, and faithfulness to the gospel.

But as we look back at the history of the Reformation, we must also reckon with the dark side of these heroes. Their flaws and failures, which have been whitewashed or ignored for centuries, can no longer be brushed aside or rationalized. The truth is that the Reformers were not only champions of the gospel, but also sinners in need of grace, and their sins had consequences that still affect us today.

What is a Hero?

Before we examine the sins of the Reformers, we need to clarify what we mean by hero. In our culture, a hero is often someone who is admired for his or her achievements, courage, or moral character. We celebrate heroes who overcome obstacles, fight for justice, or sacrifice themselves for others. We elevate them as models of virtue and inspiration, and we name streets, buildings, and monuments after them.

However, the Bible has a different view of heroism. In the Old Testament, heroes are not always paragons of righteousness. They are flawed and fallible human beings who are chosen by God for a specific task or role. Some of them, like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David, have moments of great faith and obedience, but also moments of doubt, disobedience, and sin. Others, like Samson, Jephthah, and Saul, have more flaws than virtues, and their stories are cautionary tales of what happens when we trust in our own strength and wisdom.

In the New Testament, the heroes are even more surprising. They are not warriors, kings, or prophets, but ordinary people who follow Jesus. They are fishermen, tax collectors, women, slaves, and Gentiles who are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and become witnesses to the gospel. They are not perfect, but they are forgiven, and they live by faith, not by sight.

The true hero of the Bible is not a human being, but God himself. He is the one who saves us from sin and death, who reveals his glory and goodness to us, who gives us his Spirit and his word, and who empowers us to live for him. He is the one who deserves our worship, our gratitude, and our obedience, not because he needs them, but because he is worthy of them.

The Sins of the Reformers

With this perspective in mind, let us now consider some of the sins of the Reformers, starting with Martin Luther. Luther is famous for his stand against the corruption and legalism of the Catholic Church, his translation of the Bible into German, his hymns, and his theology of justification by faith alone. However, Luther was also a man of strong passions, sharp tongue, and violent temper. He wrote scathing polemics against his opponents, calling them names like "asses," "pigs," and "devils." He used vulgar language and made crude jokes. He condoned the persecution of the Anabaptists and the Jews, and his writings were later used by the Nazis to justify their anti-Semitic policies. He also had a troubled relationship with his wife, Katharina von Bora, whom he married after leaving the monastery. He sometimes treated her harshly and criticized her appearance and behavior.

John Calvin, the second most influential Reformer, was known for his systematic theology, his defense of predestination, and his leadership of the Reformed churches in Geneva. However, Calvin was also a man of strict discipline, intolerance, and cruelty. He expelled and excommunicated those who disagreed with him, such as the Libertines and the Servetus. He approved of the execution of Servetus, a Spanish theologian who rejected the doctrine of the Trinity and criticized Calvin's views on predestination. He also supported the use of torture and capital punishment for other crimes, such as adultery and blasphemy. He even had a man put to death for striking his father, which many considered excessive and unjust.

Ulrich Zwingli, the third most prominent Reformer, was the leader of the Reformation in Zurich and a defender of the Swiss Confederation against the Habsburg Empire. Zwingli emphasized the authority of Scripture, the centrality of Christ, and the importance of the Lord's Supper. However, Zwingli also had a reputation for being contentious, arrogant, and intolerant. He denounced the Anabaptists as heretics and ordered their execution or banishment. He quarreled with Luther over the interpretation of the Lord's Supper and accused him of being too soft on the Catholics. He also had a secret affair with a woman named Anna Reinhart, whom he impregnated and later married after her husband died. This scandal damaged his reputation and caused him to lose support among his followers.

The Consequences of Sin

Why do these sins matter? Why can't we just focus on the good things that the Reformers accomplished and overlook their flaws? The answer is that sin has consequences, both personal and social. Sin corrupts our hearts and minds, distorts our relationships, and harms our witness to the world. Sin also affects our legacy and our influence on future generations. As Paul says in Galatians 5:9, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump."

The sins of the Reformers had several negative effects on the Protestant church and on society as a whole. First, their sins undermined their credibility and integrity as leaders and teachers of the gospel. If Luther can call his opponents "pigs" and "devils," and if Calvin can burn a man at the stake for his beliefs, why should we trust them to interpret the Bible and guide us in our faith? If Zwingli can preach against adultery and fornication, and yet engage in a secret affair, why should we listen to him about sexual ethics?

Second, their sins divided the church and created new conflicts and controversies. The Reformation, which began as a movement for unity and renewal, soon became a source of division and strife, as different Reformers disagreed over doctrine, worship, and church government. Luther and Zwingli, for example, could not agree on the nature of Christ's presence in the Lord's Supper, and this disagreement led to a break in fellowship and a weakening of the Reformation's witness to the outside world. Calvin's severity and legalism also alienated many of his followers and contributed to the rise of Arminianism and other forms of dissent.

Third, their sins distorted the gospel and hindered its spread to other cultures and nations. The Reformers, despite their emphasis on the authority of Scripture and the importance of preaching, often imposed their own cultural biases and assumptions on the gospel message. Luther, for example, was a strong advocate of the German language and culture, and he rejected the use of Latin and other languages in worship and education. This preference for vernacularism, while understandable in its context, has had the unintended consequence of limiting the reach and impact of the Reformation in non-Germanic countries and cultures. Calvin, for his part, was a product of the Renaissance humanism and the emerging modernity of his time, and his theology reflects this intellectual and cultural milieu. While Calvin's insights and arguments are still relevant and valuable today, they may not be as effective or persuasive in other cultural contexts.

The Grace of God

Does this mean that we should reject the Reformation and dismiss the Reformers as unworthy of our admiration and gratitude? No, it does not. The Reformation was a necessary and providential event in the history of the church, and the Reformers were instruments of God's grace and truth. Without their courage and faithfulness, we would not have the Bible in our own languages, the hymns that express our worship and devotion, the doctrines that clarify our understanding of salvation and sanctification, and the churches that proclaim and embody the gospel.

But we need to remember that the Reformation was not just a human achievement, but a divine intervention. It was God who raised up the Reformers, who inspired them with his Spirit, who preserved and spread their message, and who continues to use their legacy for his glory and our good. It was God who forgave their sins, who redeemed their failures, who corrected their errors, and who sanctified their souls. It was God who made them heroes, not because of their merits, but because of his mercy.

The true hero of the Reformation, therefore, is not Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, or any other human being, but Jesus Christ. He is the one who fulfilled the law, defeated sin and death, reconciled us to God, and gave us new life. He is the one who deserves all honor, glory, and praise, not only in this world, but also in the world to come. He is the one who invites us to follow him, to learn from him, and to be transformed by him. He is the one who makes us heroes, not because of our achievements, but because of his grace.

Conclusion

As we look back at the Reformation and the Reformers, let us not idolize them, nor demonize them, but see them as they were: human beings who were called by God, used by God, and redeemed by God. Let us acknowledge their sins, their flaws, and their limitations, but also their gifts, their insights, and their contributions. Let us learn from their example, their mistakes, and their achievements, but also from their failures, their conflicts, and their divisions. Let us honor their memory, but also keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Let us be heroes, not in our own strength, but in Christ's power and for his glory.