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Bold Reformer: Celebrating the Gospel-Centered Convictions of Martin Luther
On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed the ninety-five theses to the castle door in Wittenberg. One act of courage sparked a theological firestorm in Germany that set the world ablaze in a matter of days. Spreading like wildfire, thousands were introduced to the gospel which is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
"Bold Reformer: Celebrating the Gospel-Centered Convictions of Martin Luther" takes readers on a journey through a remarkable period of church history. It will challenge contemporary readers to learn the lessons of courage, and perseverance. It will inspire a new generation of people to follow Jesus, obey Jesus, and worship the Savior with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. It invites a new generation of Christ-followers to recover the gospel in their generation and make their stand as a bold reformer.
"Bold Reformer: Celebrating the Gospel-Centered Convictions of Martin Luther" takes readers on a journey through a remarkable period of church history. It will challenge contemporary readers to learn the lessons of courage, and perseverance. It will inspire a new generation of people to follow Jesus, obey Jesus, and worship the Savior with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. It invites a new generation of Christ-followers to recover the gospel in their generation and make their stand as a bold reformer.
190 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 30, 2017
It’s amazing to think that 500 years ago, on October 31, 1517, a simple German monk unwittingly turned the world upside-down when he took some initiative and boldly posted a list of concerns he had about the church, 95 to be exact. David Steele‘s brief book entitled Bold Reformer looks back to the life and example of Martin Luther, whom God used to reform a corrupt and unbiblical religious system.
The author contacted me through GR and asked me if I’d read and review his book, sending me a free copy when I agreed. I initially thought Bold Reformer was a biography of Martin Luther, which it really isn’t. While it contains some biographical elements, the purpose of the book is primarily to bring forth helpful instruction and encouragement from the life and character of Luther to those who want to make a difference in the church today. For just as the 16th century church of Rome needed to be corrected and reformed, so the 21st century church of Christ needs a reformation.
The word "reform" is defined as the act of bringing about change for the better; to improve. Steele gives the definition of a reformer as “a catalyst to bring change… A reformer is not content with the status quo.” Looking around at what calls itself “Christianity” and organizations that label themselves as “churches,” there can be no doubt that change and improvement is much needed. Steele first identifies some of the areas in which the church needs to be reformed, then looks at some of the qualities and qualifications one needs to have in order to be a reformer for the benefit of Christ’s kingdom.
Dr. Steele observes three areas in which today’s church desperately needs reformation:
1. Our view of God
2. Our view of sin
3. Our view of the Gospel
With these serious needs existing within the church comes the need for courageous leaders like Luther who are willing to speak the unadulterated, unwatered-down truth of God’s Word with power and without compromise – men and women who are willing to take risks and to be condemned and labeled as “intolerant bigots” or old-fashioned, close-minded fundamentalists.
God has become more and more a creature of man’s making, molded after the imagination and image of man, rather than the holy and sovereign God we read of in both the Old and New Testaments. Steele summarizes the solution by stating, “We need to recover our vision of God’s greatness, our thirst for God’s holiness, our passion for God’s glory, and our holy fear of [a holy] God.”
In order to effectively bring about reform, Steele points out that compromise must not be tolerated. Compromise takes place gradually, as the people of God begin to bend towards society’s mindset and to place more importance on feelings, comfort, and opinions (which change with each year and each generation), than on what God’s Word says (which never changes). Steele writes,
"Compromise is ungodly. It is man-centered. It placates and caters to the flesh. It is opposed to the things of God. In our generation, compromise is viewed as a strength instead of a vice…Compromise may look right, but if left unchecked it always leads to disaster."
He observes that we can see the harm that has come from compromising the preaching of God’s Word, theology, the church, morality, among other areas. As compromise infiltrates and erodes the church, ultimately it becomes more like the world. In fact, it appears that the goal of many churches is to be like the world. Christ however taught that we are to be in the world but not of it, that as His followers we are to be separate and different from the world (John 15:18-19). Sometimes not being a compromiser may mean that you will find yourself swimming upstream, against the cultural tide. It will require commitment and risk-taking, as the first century apostles, Martin Luther, and other “bold reformers” through the centuries demonstrated by their lives.
Along with recognizing the need for reform and being will to be uncompromising with the truth, what else does it take to be a “bold reformer”? Here are some of the things Steele exhorts believers towards:
- Focus on the plan of God by being prayerful, watchful, and sober-minded
- Trust in the promises of God as found in His Word
- Rest in the sovereignty of God
- Rejoice in the hope of the Gospel
- Resolve to proclaim a strong Christ-centered Gospel message, including the necessary warnings, in a systematic way
- Stand firm (resolute) in the faith with like-minded people of God who are committed to reformation
Dr. Steele quotes Charles Spurgeon (1834-92) from his Autobiography:
"This is an age in which truth must be maintained zealously, vehemently, continually. Playing fast and loose, as many do, believing this today and that tomorrow, is the sure mark of children of wrath; but having received the truth, to hold fast the very form of it, as Paul bid Timothy to do, is one of the duties of heirs of Heaven."
Words that certainly hold true as much today as they did almost 100 years ago! David Steele’s book is not meant just for pastors, church leaders, evangelists and missionaries. It’s for anyone who desires to see the Gospel infiltrate and change individual lives, families, communities, and societies. He expresses his desire by saying,
"May God raise up a new generation of bold reformers who draw clear lines; people who are convinced of the truthfulness of Scripture; leaders who refuse to back down. This world desperately needs to hear from bold reformers who refuse to compromise the truth!"
The author contacted me through GR and asked me if I’d read and review his book, sending me a free copy when I agreed. I initially thought Bold Reformer was a biography of Martin Luther, which it really isn’t. While it contains some biographical elements, the purpose of the book is primarily to bring forth helpful instruction and encouragement from the life and character of Luther to those who want to make a difference in the church today. For just as the 16th century church of Rome needed to be corrected and reformed, so the 21st century church of Christ needs a reformation.
The word "reform" is defined as the act of bringing about change for the better; to improve. Steele gives the definition of a reformer as “a catalyst to bring change… A reformer is not content with the status quo.” Looking around at what calls itself “Christianity” and organizations that label themselves as “churches,” there can be no doubt that change and improvement is much needed. Steele first identifies some of the areas in which the church needs to be reformed, then looks at some of the qualities and qualifications one needs to have in order to be a reformer for the benefit of Christ’s kingdom.
Dr. Steele observes three areas in which today’s church desperately needs reformation:
1. Our view of God
2. Our view of sin
3. Our view of the Gospel
With these serious needs existing within the church comes the need for courageous leaders like Luther who are willing to speak the unadulterated, unwatered-down truth of God’s Word with power and without compromise – men and women who are willing to take risks and to be condemned and labeled as “intolerant bigots” or old-fashioned, close-minded fundamentalists.
God has become more and more a creature of man’s making, molded after the imagination and image of man, rather than the holy and sovereign God we read of in both the Old and New Testaments. Steele summarizes the solution by stating, “We need to recover our vision of God’s greatness, our thirst for God’s holiness, our passion for God’s glory, and our holy fear of [a holy] God.”
In order to effectively bring about reform, Steele points out that compromise must not be tolerated. Compromise takes place gradually, as the people of God begin to bend towards society’s mindset and to place more importance on feelings, comfort, and opinions (which change with each year and each generation), than on what God’s Word says (which never changes). Steele writes,
"Compromise is ungodly. It is man-centered. It placates and caters to the flesh. It is opposed to the things of God. In our generation, compromise is viewed as a strength instead of a vice…Compromise may look right, but if left unchecked it always leads to disaster."
He observes that we can see the harm that has come from compromising the preaching of God’s Word, theology, the church, morality, among other areas. As compromise infiltrates and erodes the church, ultimately it becomes more like the world. In fact, it appears that the goal of many churches is to be like the world. Christ however taught that we are to be in the world but not of it, that as His followers we are to be separate and different from the world (John 15:18-19). Sometimes not being a compromiser may mean that you will find yourself swimming upstream, against the cultural tide. It will require commitment and risk-taking, as the first century apostles, Martin Luther, and other “bold reformers” through the centuries demonstrated by their lives.
Along with recognizing the need for reform and being will to be uncompromising with the truth, what else does it take to be a “bold reformer”? Here are some of the things Steele exhorts believers towards:
- Focus on the plan of God by being prayerful, watchful, and sober-minded
- Trust in the promises of God as found in His Word
- Rest in the sovereignty of God
- Rejoice in the hope of the Gospel
- Resolve to proclaim a strong Christ-centered Gospel message, including the necessary warnings, in a systematic way
- Stand firm (resolute) in the faith with like-minded people of God who are committed to reformation
Dr. Steele quotes Charles Spurgeon (1834-92) from his Autobiography:
"This is an age in which truth must be maintained zealously, vehemently, continually. Playing fast and loose, as many do, believing this today and that tomorrow, is the sure mark of children of wrath; but having received the truth, to hold fast the very form of it, as Paul bid Timothy to do, is one of the duties of heirs of Heaven."
Words that certainly hold true as much today as they did almost 100 years ago! David Steele’s book is not meant just for pastors, church leaders, evangelists and missionaries. It’s for anyone who desires to see the Gospel infiltrate and change individual lives, families, communities, and societies. He expresses his desire by saying,
"May God raise up a new generation of bold reformers who draw clear lines; people who are convinced of the truthfulness of Scripture; leaders who refuse to back down. This world desperately needs to hear from bold reformers who refuse to compromise the truth!"
August 19, 2017
This was a very good book. I thought it was going to be more on Luther but it was actually using Luther's life and ministry as a call to Christian leaders to be Reformers themselves. It is well written and recommended.
(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})
(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})
September 30, 2017
A Strong Call for Bold Reformers
David Steele issues a strong, theological call for bold reformers to stand up for truth in the 21st century as Martin Luther did in the 16th century. Luther was far from a perfect man (something Steele fully acknowledges), but he was a model of courage and leadership that many Christians can learn from today.
David Steele issues a strong, theological call for bold reformers to stand up for truth in the 21st century as Martin Luther did in the 16th century. Luther was far from a perfect man (something Steele fully acknowledges), but he was a model of courage and leadership that many Christians can learn from today.
November 3, 2017
Better-than-average assessment of Luther and his beliefs/actions during his lifetime. Most quotes within the book were Calvin-esque in both thought and origin and there were MANY quotes inserted from that side of the aisle. Reading this as a Confessional Lutheran, I found the author to be very comfortable with his own thought-processes as a Protestant and somewhat distant and removed from thinking-like-a-Lutheran. I came away being very much reminded that Confessional Lutherans are NOT Protestants.
October 24, 2017
If you're looking for a book centered on the historical context of the Protestant Reformation as particularly expressed in the life of Martin Luther, this book isn't it.
This book centers more on the current implications of the Reformation -- what it means for us to not compromise truth, hope in the gospel, and rest in God's sovereignty. While Steele does discuss Luther some, this aspect is almost a side note. For every one page on Luther's life and context, there are five (ten?) pages on what it means to be a Christian reformer in general.
This isn't bad for what it is. It just wasn't what I expected or hoped for. For material on Luther, you'll be best served elsewhere. But if you're looking for encouragement toward boldness and a reformation spirit in your own life, this may do well.
This book centers more on the current implications of the Reformation -- what it means for us to not compromise truth, hope in the gospel, and rest in God's sovereignty. While Steele does discuss Luther some, this aspect is almost a side note. For every one page on Luther's life and context, there are five (ten?) pages on what it means to be a Christian reformer in general.
This isn't bad for what it is. It just wasn't what I expected or hoped for. For material on Luther, you'll be best served elsewhere. But if you're looking for encouragement toward boldness and a reformation spirit in your own life, this may do well.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews