Rome's Counter-Reformation Tactics #6 Indoctrination - Baroque Art

Over the centuries, since 1517, Rome has employed many different tactics and strategies. Sometimes she has been like a ravenous wild beast devouring all before her. At other times she has been as subtle as the devil himself in administering the wine of her fornication to deceive gullible Protestants. All with the aim of destroying and reversing the Protestant Reformation.

Strategy Six - Indoctrination - Baroque Art.
Romanism decided at the time of the Council of Trent that the 'Arts' should be employed to combat the spread of Protestant truth. Included in the degrees of the Council of Trent were pronouncements on the use of the 'Arts' for religious purposes. After all, the Catholic Church was a leading 'Arts' patron across much of Europe. Areas where Catholicism predominated, such as, architecture and painting, and to a lesser extent music, would be used to reflect Counter-Reformation goals.

The 'Arts' it was degreed should therefore propagate the beliefs and practices of the Church. To the fore in this strategy were individuals such as Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Francis de Sales and Philip Neri.

'Catholic Biblical Art' was therefore developed to highlight the theological differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, by focusing on the mysteries of the faith, as well as the roles of the Virgin Mary and the Saints.

Rome's Counter-Reformation Tactics #5 Insurgence Part 3

Over the centuries, since 1517, Rome has employed many different tactics and strategies. Sometimes  has been like a ravenous wild beast devouring all before her. At other times she has been as subtle as the devil himself in administering the wine of her fornication to deceive gullible Protestants. All with the aim of destroying and reversing the Protestant Reformation.

Strategy Five - Insurgence - cont'd

Part Three - The Catholic Conspiracies Against Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was possibly England’s greatest monarch. She came to the throne of a country deeply divided, economically bankrupt and devastated by the persecutions and oppression of her half sister, Bloody Mary Tudor.

Rome's Counter-Reformation Tactics #5 Insurgence Part 2

Over the centuries, since 1517, Rome has employed many different tactics and strategies. Sometimes she has been like a ravenous wild beast devouring all before her. At other times she has been as subtle as the devil himself in administering the wine of her fornication to deceive gullible Protestants. All with the aim of destroying and reversing the Protestant Reformation.

Strategy Five - Insurgence -

Part Two - The Netherlands and England up to the days of Bloody Mary.

The Netherlands - Reformation truth had come down the Rhine from Germany in those heady days of Luther and was received with great fervour by the people. Later it was Calvinistic doctrine that was believed and practiced more than Lutheranism.

Rome's Counter-Reformation Tactics #5 Insurgence Part 1

Over the centuries, since 1517, Rome has employed many different tactics and strategies. Sometimes she has been like a ravenous wild beast devouring all before her. At other times she has been as subtle as the devil himself in administering the wine of her fornication to deceive gullible Protestants. All with the aim of destroying and reversing the Protestant Reformation.

The tactics and strategies which Rome has employed over the centuries are:

#5. Insurgence - To counter the Protestant Reformation Rome turned to the use of political and military force. Where natives in new lands in South America or people in European nations needed "convincing" to become Catholic or to return to Catholicism, Catholic rulers such as Phillip II of Spain and later the Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II, used political and even military coercion, either to enforce Catholicism on all in a given area or to force those who wanted to remain Protestant to leave altogether. 

There were the religious wars in Europe, including what was known as The Thirty Years war. There were numerous Catholic Conspiracies against Protestant nations including England and particularly Queen Elizabeth I, 1558–1580. 

Across Europe from 1560-1715 there was the Age of Religious Wars. It is reckoned that between 1560 and 1715, Europe witnessed only thirty years of any semblance of peace. Romanism was being threatened on every hand, not only by the doctrines of Lutheranism but also by those of Calvinism. Biblical truth was spreading even into Catholic nations and Rome was not happy. Her answer was to wage war to the death upon Protestants, in Germany, Bohemia, France, Netherlands, England and Scotland.

Rome's Counter-Reformation Tactics #3 Intransigence - The Council of Trent

Over the centuries, since 1517, Rome has employed many different tactics and strategies. Sometimes she has been like a ravenous wild beast devouring all before her. At other times she has been as subtle as the devil himself in administering the wine of her fornication to deceive gullible Protestants. All with the aim of destroying and reversing the Protestant Reformation.

The tactics and strategies which Rome has employed over the centuries are:

#3. Intransigence

Pope Paul III initiated The Council of Trent as an act of intransigence and defiance to the teaching of the Reformers. The Council of Trent [depicted] has been described as the embodiment of the Counter-Reformation. It met over the years 1545 - 1563. It actually sat in session during the years 1545-1547, 1551-1552, 1562-1563.

Its purpose was to reaffirm Catholic teaching. In doing so the Council of Trent issued condemnations of what it defined to be ‘heresies’ committed by Protestantism. In addition key statements and clarifications were issued stating the Church's position on various doctrines including that of Scripture, the Canon of Scripture, Sacred Tradition, Original Sin, Justification, Salvation, The Sacraments, The Mass and the Veneration of Saints.

Rome's Counter-Reformation Tactics #2 Inquisition

Over the centuries, since 1517, Rome has employed many different tactics and strategies. Sometimes she has been like a ravenous wild beast devouring all before her. At other times she has been as subtle as the devil himself in administering the wine of her fornication to deceive gullible Protestants. All with the aim of destroying and reversing the Protestant Reformation.

The tactics and strategies which Rome has employed over the centuries are:

#2. Inquisition - The office of the Inquisition was re-established in 1542. Its purpose was to persecute, even unto death, those who disagreed with the doctrines and traditions of the Roman Church. The Inquisition was a bloody attempt to crush the faith of Protestants. Ten of thousands of Protestants were put to death as a result of the Inquisition.

The use of the Inquisition is one of the more infamous methods used to stop the spread of Protestantism. The Inquisition was a tribunal, or court hearing, designed to suppress heresy. These heresy trials had begun in Spain in 1479, under Ferdinand V and Isabella.

Pope Paul III established the Roman Inquisition in 1542 at the suggestion of Cardinal Caraffa, who had witnessed the effectiveness of the Spanish Inquisition in suppressing dissent. Thus a new agency of obedience was created, namely the Roman Inquisition.

Rome's Counter-Reformation Tactics #1 Institution - The Jesuits

Over the centuries, since 1517, Rome has employed many different tactics and strategies. Sometimes she has been like a ravenous wild beast devouring all before her. At other times she has been as subtle as the devil himself in administering the wine of her fornication to deceive gullible Protestants. All with the aim of destroying and reversing the Protestant Reformation.

The tactics and strategies which Rome has employed over the centuries are:

#1 Institution - The Jesuits
The Order of the Jesuits was instituted in 1540 to counter the teachings and influence of Protestantism. The Jesuits were the Gestapo of Rome. They form the secret army of the Papacy. Their purpose is quite simple. The Jesuits seek to convert the world to Roman Catholicism. And in order to achieve this goal, they have not hesitated to use every means, both fair and foul. They have not hesitated to lie, cheat, commit murder, or use revolution, if need be, to further their aims. At the very top of their priorities has always been the destruction of Protestantism.

The Jesuits were founded by a Basque nobleman called Ignatius of Loyola. He was a soldier who turned to be a priest after a French cannonball mangled his leg in Pamplona in 1521. They were first known as ‘the Company of Jesus’ from 1534. It was not until 1540 that the society secured papal approval. Ignatius of Loyola and six of his students took vows of poverty and chastity. They wanted to travel to the Holy Land but as this was not possible because of the Turkish wars, they travelled to Rome and offered their services to the pope for apostolic work. At Rome Ignatius [pictured] knelt at the feet of the Pope in September 1540 and received from Pope Paul III the charter of the Jesuits. The Jesuits would combine the ideas of traditional monastic discipline with a dedication to teaching, preaching and proselyting.

The Jesuit order went on to play an infamous role in the Counter-Reformation and eventually succeeded in converting millions around the world to Catholicism.

Rome's Counter-Reformation Tactics

Rome’s response to the Protestant Reformation was swift, brutal and lasting. Instead of acknowledging the truth of what Luther and others were saying about the corruptions and false teaching prevalent in the Roman Church, the Church hierarchy responded with what has become known in history as ‘The Counter-Reformation’. ‘The Counter-Reformation’ was a long and bloody war waged against the truths rediscovered by the Reformers and against those who received and taught these truths.

This Counter-Reformation is usually understood to have begun during the papal reign of Pope Paul III, who held the office of the Papal See from 1534-1549. This Counter-Reformation continued on for years, and in truth is still continuing at the present time in various guises. Romanism, to this day, is still working to counter the effects of the Protestant Reformation.

Over the centuries, since 1517, Rome has employed many different tactics and strategies. Sometimes she has been like a ravenous wild beast devouring all before her. At other times she has been as subtle as the devil himself in administering the wine of her fornication to deceive gullible Protestants. All with the aim of destroying and reversing the Protestant Reformation.

The tactics and strategies which Rome has employed over the centuries are:

Reformation Commemoration

Special Reformation Commemoration meetings were held in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church where the relevance of the Reformation for today was considered.

Sermon Three: The Need to Continue Contending for Reformation Principles. Preached by Rev Michael Patrick, Retired Minister.

Reformation Commemoration

Special Reformation Commemoration meetings were held in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church where the relevance of the Reformation for today was considered

Sermon Two: Private Interpretation of the Scriptures - The Great Blessing of the Reformation. Preached by Rev Gordon Dane, Minister in Crossgar FPC and Deputy Moderator of Presbytery. 

Reformation Commemoration

Special Reformation Commemoration meetings were held in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church where the relevance of the Reformation for today was considered

Sermon One: Ecumenism - The Attempt to undo the Reformation
Preached by Rev Ivan Foster, Retired Minister

Luther's Conversion in his own words

An account of Luther's own conversion is to be found in Luther's Works Volume 34, pages 336-337. It reads:

Meanwhile, I had already during that year [believed to be 1519] returned to interpret the Psalter anew. I had confidence in the fact that I was more skilful, after I had lectured in the university on St. Paul's epistles to the Romans, to the Galatians, and the one to the Hebrews. I had indeed been captivated with an extraordinary ardor for understanding Paul in the Epistle to the Romans. But up till then it was not the cold blood about the heart, but a single word in Chapter 1, "In it the righteousness of God is revealed," that had stood in my way. For I hated that word "righteousness of God," which, according to the use and custom of all the teachers, I had been taught to understand philosophically regarding the formal or active righteousness, as they call it, with which God is righteous and punishes the unrighteous sinner.

J A Wylie's Account of Luther's transformation from Monk to Reformer

James A. Wylie wrote the classic known as "The History of Protestantism". In Book Five entitled "History of Protestantism in Germany to the Leipic Disputation, 1519" and Chapter Four entitled "Luther the Monk becomes Luther the Reformer" Wylie describes the transformation that took place in Luther's life.

Chapter Four of Book Five is reproduced here:

Chapter Four summary

Staupitz – Visits the Convent at Erfurt – Meets Luther – Conversations between the Vicar-General and the Monk – The Cross – Repentance – A Free Salvation – The Dawn Begins – The Night Returns – An Old Monk – "The Forgiveness of Sins" – Luther's Full Emancipation – A Rehearsal – Christendom's Burden – How Delivered

Reformation Day - in Commemoration and Celebration of the Event that went on to shake the World

Martin Luther is known as 'the Monk who shook the world'. The event that set off this religious
earthquake was his nailing of his 95 Thesis against the sale of indulgences to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. The subsequent tremors were felt across the nations of Europe for decades and centuries to come.

Selling Indulgences

The selling of salvation by the means of the hawking of indulgences around the nations of Europe in order to increase ecclesiastical wealth was a growing scandal in the Roman Catholic Church. In particular the selling of a 'Jubilee Indulgence,' authorised by Pope Leo X to pay for the rebuilding of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, infuriated Luther and stirred him to take action.

Romanism based this corrupt practice on a verse in the Gospel of John, where Jesus gave the Apostles the authority to forgive or retain the sins of humanity, John 20:23: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. The Roman Church justified this practice of selling indulgences by citing that, although God released the offender from his heavenly obligation, he was still required to pay an earthly price for his sin.

Video clips of Rev Gordon Dane preaching at the Open-air at Belfast City Hall

Video - March of Witness

March of Witness & Open Air to commemorate the Reformation

Martin Luther believed in taking the battle for Protestantism into the 'public square'. He battled for truth, and contended with the enemies of the Reformation, publicly and openly. He didn't hide away in Wittenberg University, he boldly and unashamedly bore reproach and stood for God in the 'public square'.

Today, in commemoration of Luther's stand for truth and to mark the 500th anniversary of the commencement of the Reformation, a march of witness left John Knox Memorial Free Presbyterian Church and walked down into Belfast City centre and held an open-air outside the gates of the City Hall. Rev Gordon Dane, Deputy Moderator of the Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church, was the preacher at the Open-air.

There follows some photos of the March of Witness and Open-air

Reply to Mr Alban Maginness from Rev David McLaughlin

Rev. David McLaughlin, minister in Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church, has sent the following reply to the Belfast Telegraph in answer to Alban Maginness' comments about the Protestant Reformation.

How much they will print no one knows so it is published here in full.

As a Bible believing Protestant I sincerely respect the right of people to document their views and opinions. This principle of civil and religious liberty is enshrined within the great tenants of our favoured nation. But the freedom to express our opinion does not, in and of itself, immunise us from a thoughtful analysis by those who hold to a different interpretation and application of the subject that is being considered.

Mr Alban Maginness, a former barrister, MLA and Lord Mayor of Belfast, recently wrote in the Belfast Telegraph that the Reformation was "a tragedy that still divides us”. According to the Oxford dictionary the word ‘tragedy’ means , “An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress ..” What Alban Maginness is arguing for is that the Reformation caused great suffering, destruction and distress for the Roman Catholic Church from the 16th Century to the present day? From a Roman Catholic perspective the Reformation is viewed as a “tragedy”, because it exposed the Church’s intimidating system of ritual and penance to earn salvation, to be contrary to the Holy Scriptures. However, from the Protestant perspective the Reformation was neither “tragic nor an unfortunate misunderstanding”. In fact it was a glorious movement of the Spirit of God, because truth triumphed over error, light defeated darkness and the Scriptures exalted over manmade traditions.

The Reformation - A Blessing sent from God and no Tragedy

All this week, the Belfast Telegraph will be carrying a series of articles to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Today, Mr Alban Maginness, a former barrister, MLA and Lord Mayor of Belfast, writes that the Reformation was "a tragedy that still divides us" [click on the link to read his article]

Among a number of comments Mr Maginness makes, there is the impression given that the Reformation was a "tragic" and "unfortunate" misunderstanding and that "by today's thinking, much of the disputed issues are not considered that great a difference in Christian thinking".

Mr Maginness goes on to observe that "In particular, a common understanding about the doctrine of justification by faith has now been reached between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Churches and others."

In his mind "Some of those historic disputes now seem abstract and irrelevant today. That is not to say that these differences were not real 500 years ago, but rather that they have lost the passion and energy that they once inspired."

He is heartened by the fact that "… ecumenical growth over the past century has led to a healthy and mature reconsideration of the Reformation by all and an easing of the inter-Church tensions."

Luther at the Diet of Worms

In April 1521 Martin Luther appeared at the Diet of Worms and confessed his allegiance to the teachings of Scripture before the Emperor and Church hierarchy. It was here he made his famous statement: Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.

Some years ago I had the privilege of being in the city of Worms. There is a large monument to Luther and other Reformers in the centre of the city. This monument was erected to honour Luther and his fellow Reformers in Worms in 1868.

The monument bears witness to Luther determination to stand for Bible truth.