When many of us were in our youth, there was a popular national literacy movement called Reading is Fundamental (RIF). It was a drive to promote reading and literacy among the children of our nation that they may be able to take full advantage of the educational opportunities afforded to them. Many of us were beneficiaries of RIF, and are thankful for it.
However, long before the literacy movement of the 60s and 70s there was a literacy movement in the 1500s. It was called the Reformation. We tend to only think of the Reformation as a theological movement. It was that, but it was also much more. The Reformation was also a literacy movement. As one scholar has said, “The Reformation was a triumph in literacy…” Karl Holl, a German theologian and historian wrote concerning the literacy emphasis of the Reformation, “Everyone was to be put into a situation where at the very least he could read the Bible, and without help take instruction from it.” In other words, reading was fundamental to the Reformation.
One of the more important ongoing legacies of the Reformation is reading. Consequently, of all people Protestant Christians should be readers. This is particularly true for black Christians. With our history marred by the denial of educational opportunities, black Christians should embrace, as well as any, the legacy of reading left to us by the Reformation. The Reformation encourages us to be avid readers. Here are a few important reasons to consider:
- The Bible is a Book to be Read. The fact that the principle revelation of God to his people is the written word should not be lost to us. The will of God is first and foremost a written revelation and if we are going to faithfully seek and understand his will we are going to have to be readers of God’s word. Luther’s translation of the Bible into the language of the people was key in making sure the Reformation would continue past his generation.
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SOURCE: The Front Porch
Tony Carter
