Today, I want us to take a look at some lessons from history—specifically, from the days before the Reformation. Back then, the church made some big mistakes, and if we’re not careful, we can slip into those same errors today.
When Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses, he was responding to things like the selling of indulgences, but he started with something much deeper. His very first point was this: “When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said ‘Repent,’ he meant that the entire life of believers should be one of repentance.” He was quoting Matthew 4:17, which says, “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Luther realized that the old Latin Bible had misunderstood Jesus. It said, “do penance,” but what Jesus really meant was a complete change of heart and life—not just a one-time act, but an ongoing transformation.
Luther later wrote to a friend, Staupitz, and said, “I venture to say they are wrong who make more of the act in Latin than of the change of heart in Greek!” In other words, he saw that true repentance isn’t just something you do once, but a way of life.
Now, friends, I think we’ve lost sight of that. We need to remember how central repentance is—not just when we first come to Christ, but every day. If we look around, we see a lot of changes in the church over the last few decades. Some things that used to be standard teaching are now considered outdated or even wrong. But if we look even further back, we might see the same kind of darkness that covered the church in the Middle Ages starting to creep back in. Let’s look at five ways this is happening.
Repentance
First, repentance. These days, it’s often treated as a one-time thing—something you do when you first become a Christian, and then you move on. But the Bible teaches that repentance is a lifelong journey. When we treat it as a single event, we risk missing real transformation. Instead of growing in godliness, we look back to a moment and think that’s all there is. But true faith means a life that keeps turning away from sin and toward God.
Mysticism
Second, mysticism. More and more, people are looking for a “Spirit-inspired” word apart from the Bible. They want to hear God’s voice in new ways, sometimes even more than they want to hear His Word in Scripture. This was a problem in the medieval church too. Back then, they believed the Spirit spoke outside of Scripture, and that led to confusion and darkness. But the Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” We must always go back to the Bible as our final authority.
Sacred Powers
Third, the idea of sacred powers. In the Middle Ages, people believed that special individuals could bring God’s presence through rituals. Today, we see something similar when folks look to certain leaders or events for a special experience of the Holy Spirit, sometimes shown by outward signs or miracles. But the real sign of God’s work is the fruit of the Spirit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). We should be more impressed by godly character than by flashy displays.
Spectator Worship
Fourth, worship has become more of a show. In many places, worship is about what we see and feel, rather than hearing and responding to God’s Word. There is nothing wrong with good music or creativity, but if we focus on entertainment, we miss the point. True worship is about meeting with God, hearing His Word, and responding from the heart. Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Let’s make sure our worship is centered on God’s truth, not just on the experience.
Bigger Means Better?
Finally, there’s the idea that bigger is better. In the Middle Ages, church leaders built huge cathedrals, but often neglected the real work of the church—sharing the gospel, caring for the poor, and building up believers. Today, we can fall into the same trap, thinking that success is measured by the size of our church or the number of people attending. But God is more concerned with the depth of our faith than the size of our buildings. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Real ministry is about following Jesus, not about numbers or popularity.
So, church, let’s learn from history. Let’s keep repentance at the center of our lives. Let’s hold fast to God’s Word. Let’s look for the fruit of the Spirit, not just outward signs. Let’s make worship about meeting with God, not just about putting on a show. And let’s measure success by faithfulness to Christ, not by size or numbers.
May God help us to be a church that shines His light in a dark world.
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