This new year 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. There are many reasons why commemorating this historic event is important. One such reason relates to Italy and ministry in Italy. Italian believers in the present owe it to Italian believers in the past to remember that which never took place in Italy. Sadly, the Reformation never truly set root in Italy. Sixteenth century Italian history reveals the presence of reformers but not a reformation. There were several good men in Italy during this epoch of rebirth and reform who embraced the Gospel and, more precisely, the newly rediscovered biblical doctrine of justification by faith. Preaching and writing resulted that focused on Christ, justification, faith, and the Bible. A conversation that crossed the Italian peninsula from north to south began. Its content consisted of reform. Its conviction compelled those in conversation to change the church principally, that is the Roman Catholic Church. As with its counterpart movement in northern Europe, reform not only envisaged the Roman church but society in general. At the helm of this reform and reformation was theology. In other words, the propelling force for change was the conviction that truth mattered; doctrine mattered enough to risk all… for the sake of. In fact several of the Italian reformers were eventually forced to leave Italy in order to pursue their theological convictions. Others faced a more tragic fate. Talk of reform in Italy for these others turned into martydom. The Papal inquisition and the counter-reformation made sure that whatever winds of change had reached Italy from abroad should without haste be suffocated out.
Commemoration in Italy of the Reformation is in this regard all the more vital. Men whose cause and commitment never came to fruition should be remembered by the church in Italy today. Moreover, local bible believing churches in Italy at the present have the duty to renew the cause and commitment of such men from the past. Theology and doctrine communicated through the regular exposition of the Word from local church pulpits must once again herald forth. Precision in proclamation must once again be the priority of the church in Italy. The call in Italy in 2017 then is for churches throughout the country to commit their men to theological and pastoral training. This is exactly ITA’s pulse. This is also our prayer. Please join us in seeking the Lord to that effect for the upcoming training year.
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