Passing on the legacy of The Reformation (Pt 1)
Why are we called Protestants, and did you know that the word Protestant came from a protest in 1529?
Hold your breath because we are about to dive right into church history (or world history). Do you have your goggles? Okay.
In 1521, Emperor Charles V decreed the Edict of Worms (not those worms but Worms, Germany), banning the propagation of Martin Luther’s ideas and his execution. Fast forward to the Diet of Speyer in 1526, rulers were allowed “Cuius regio, eius religio” (Whose the region is, his religion), meaning that each Prince would choose how to proceed with the issues brought forth by Martian Luther. This led to slight emancipation of religion, allowing the ruler to dictate the religion of their people and the removal of the ban on Luther. Finally, we arrived at the Diet of Speyer in 1529! This Diet took leaps backward to reinstate the Edict of Worms banning Lutheran teachings and practices, leading to fierce protests. These protesters and the resulting waves would later coined Protestants.
Here I stand, I can do no other.
– Martin Luther
Something to ponder… After the Edict of Worms, Luther should have been executed, but he was protected by the Catholic ruler Fredrick the Wise.
