To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, what could be better than assemble-your-own Reformation snack mix? With a little help from my friends, I came up with this recipe and lesson for an upcoming church children's program. If we are feeling really festive, we'll wash it down with some (root) beer.
Pretzels
Pretzels were invented in the Middle Ages (more than 500
years ago) in Roman Catholic monasteries. Before he came to understand the
teaching of the Bible, Martin Luther was a monk in a German monastery. Maybe he
ate some of the first pretzels!
Relics (Lucky Charms cereal)
As Martin Luther studied the Bible, God helped him to see
that some of the practices of the Roman Catholic church were not biblical. One
of those was the practice of honoring “relics” or things that had belonged to
famous Christians in the past. People wrongly thought that viewing or touching
those relics would give them favor with God.
Indulgences (chocolate chips or chocolate coins)
Another practice that Martin Luther learned was not biblical
was the practice of paying “indulgences.” The Roman Catholic church wrongly
taught people that if they gave money to the church, it would help them (or
their family) to get to heaven.
95 (Reese’s Pieces) Theses
Martin Luther wrote a list of the teachings of the Roman
Catholic church that were unbiblical. He had 95 things on his list, and the
list came to be called the 95 Theses. One day in October, 1517, Martin Luther
nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Roman Catholic church in Wittenburg,
Germany. That day is what we consider the beginning of the Reformation—when
people like Martin Luther worked to help the church to do what God says in the
Bible and not what people just think for themselves is a good idea. *Reese’s
Pieces have peanut butter in them, so if you are allergic to nuts, you should
not take any of these!*
Diet of Worms (gummi worms)
Because of the 95 Theses and the other things Martin Luther
was teaching about how the Roman Catholic church was wrong, many people were
angry with him. The Emperor, Charles V, summoned Martin Luther to a meeting at
a town called Worms (pronounced “verms”). At the meeting, the powerful emperor
told Martin Luther he should change his mind about the things he had been
teaching from the Bible. Martin Luther refused to change his mind, and said to
the emperor, “Here I stand. I can do no other.” This meeting was known as the
Diet of Worms.
Goldfish
Katharina Von Bora was a Roman Catholic nun, living in a
convent in Germany. She and several other nuns became convinced of the Bible’s
teaching that was being explained by godly Reformers like Martin Luther.
Katharina wrote a letter to Martin Luther asking him to help her leave her
convent. He sent Leonhard Köppe—the man who delivered fish to the convent kitchen—and
he helped Katharina and the other nuns to hide in his wagon among his fish
barrels and escape. Katharina joined Martin Luther at Wittenburg and eventually
married him.
Scottish Oats (Cheerios cereal)
Oats grow very well in the cool, wet climate of Scotland and
Scottish people have eaten oatmeal for hundreds of years. These oats remind us
that the Reformation did not just happen in Germany. All over Europe, people
began to study the Bible for themselves and learn what it said. In Scotland,
one of those Reformers was a minister named John Knox. John Knox was born in
Scotland, but once he began to teach and preach the truth of the Bible, he had
to flee Scotland several times. Once, he was even captured and made a slave on
a boat where he was put in chains and forced to row. Perhaps while he was
rowing he dreamed of eating a familiar bowl of oats!
Dried “Cranmer”berries
Another important person in the Reformation was Thomas
Cranmer. When King Edward VI was the king of England, Thomas Cranmer helped to
write “The Book of Common Prayer” which gave the Church of England directions
for a more biblical way of worshiping God. Like Martin Luther, he wanted to
eliminate unbiblical practices like saying ministers couldn’t get married,
using pictures in worship, and worshiping saints.
Sola Granola
Today, when we think about the Reformation and the many men
and women who worked hard to make sure other people could know true teaching
from the Bible, we see five things that those Reformers taught again and again.
These five things became known as the 5 Solas of the Reformation:
Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our
highest authority.
Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of
God alone.
Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved by grace through
faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our
Lord, Savior, and King.
Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for
the glory of God alone.
Enjoy!
