The Social Context of the Protestant Reformation

Social Change and Economic Makeover in the Late Medieval Christendom

Aug 5, 2009 Edwin Vargas

For the Protestant believer, there was at this point in time a special work of Divine Providence in that corner of the world known back then as Christendom. Here was the finger of God rearranging the social landscape for the Reformation to become a mighty movement in His hands that would soon recover the old time gospel of Christ lost under the shadow of darkness caused by the departure of the Medieval Church from the biblical faith.

It was the right time (the 16th century) just at the right place (Western Europe) for the right men (Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, John Knox, among others) to do the right thing – the reformation of the Christian religion by divine appointment.

A Context of Social Change and Economic Makeover

Against the backdrop of the Black Death that ravaged Europe between 1347 and 1351, a radical reorganization of the economic system and its consequent impact on European society put into place the needed social climate through which the Protestant Reformation emerged as a formidable force that eventually shattered the papacy’s ecclesiastical supremacy in Western Christendom and signaled the beginning of modern times. At the very least, four symbols of social change come to mind in this regard.

• The Growth of Towns and Cities – With the growth of towns and cities, Europe was on its way to rise from the ashes of the great population and economic losses caused by the Black Death, economic dislocation, social upheaval and increased crime and violence that characterized the late Medieval Age. These growing cities became centers for development, social change and innovative ideas providing a platform for the Protestant Reformation to spread its cause.

• The Progress of Capitalism – Having initially emerged through the Renaissance and the Lombard cities in Italy, capitalism developed further during the Reformation, most particularly in its Calvinistic expression, inspiring trade and industry. As church history professor David Calhoun notes, “No longer did prestige depend entirely upon one’s name and ancestors. One’s income now played a role in status. That change produced new centers of influence, namely banks and bankers. They grew to play an important role in the history of Europe.”

• The Art of the Renaissance – The Renaissance also gave birth to a new kind of art that was instrumental for the propagation of the gospel of the Reformation. Rather than depicting a spiritual ideal typical of a medieval painting and sculpture, Renaissance portraits reflected reality while maintaining respect on their classical heritage. This served as an important vehicle to further inspire the desire for social change. This desire for change in every aspect of life was expressed aesthetically in artistic experimentation and innovation.

• The Invention of the Printing Press – One that has been given special attention by historians in relation to the Protestant Reformation was the invention of the printing press. It was the culprit, so to speak, that was mainly responsible for the sudden spread of the cause of the Protestant faith in such an unprecedented speed. Had it not been due to Guttenberg’s printing press, Luther’s 95 Theses would not have been distributed to a great mass of people. Had it not been due to this very important invention, the Reformation would not have shaken the very foundation of the Church of Rome. Had it not been because of this technology, the writings of Luther and the other reformers in the common language of the people would never have impacted the European nation-states that eventually broke with the Church of Rome to establish their own national churches.

Such a social setting mentioned above along with the political context of the day in such a divinely appointed moment in history gave the Protestant Reformation a friendly environment to accomplish its God-given mandate to recover the light of the old-time gospel of Christ to dispell the darkness caused by the Medieval Church's departure from the biblical faith.

Sources:

• Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church Volume VII. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.
• Reformation." Encyclopædia Britannica. Ultimate Reference Se. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009.
• "Reform and Renewal in the Christian Church.” McKay, John P., Bennett D. Hill and John Bucker. A History of Western Society Volume 1. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991.