Lessons from Martin Luther's protest. (Preached in Newtownabbey FPC on Reformation Sunday by Rev Ivan Foster). What happened in Wittenberg, nearly 500 years ago is still, by the mercy of God, having an impact upon the world today. In 1517, Martin Luther was a copmparatively young convert to the cause of Christ. Yet though a young convert, he was already challenging the errors of Rome through his lectures on the Psalms, Romans and Galatians in Wittenberg University where he had been appointed a professor in 1511. In his lectures, he sought to expound the simple teaching of the Bible. Where this cut across the official teaching of Rome, he said so. One matter in particular he opposed. It was the sale of "indulgences." This practice by Rome basically involved the selling of pardons for sins whereby souls could be the earlier released from purgatory. Pope Leo X was seeking funds for the completion of the new basilica of St Peters in Rome which had been started by Pope Julius II but had lain in the very early stages of construction for some time. Leo's method of raising the money was by the sale of indulgences. A Dominican monk, Tetzel, was chief amongst the Pope's salesmen. He came near to Witteburg and Luther raised his voice in opposition. As well as preaching against Tetzel and his sales, Luther decided on a challenge to a debate on the issues wherein he saw the Church of Rome differing from the Bible in her teachings. His challenge took the form of 95 thesis, which he nailed up on the church door at wittenberg on October 31st 1517. Thus the greatest move of the Spirit of God and the greatest spiritual, moral and social renovation of nation