Hammer of the Reformation - 1.25" Pin

(Launching soon. Will update with final images prior to launch.) 

This beautiful 1.25" enamel pin was designed by our own DVLP brother Rev. Jonathan Hansen with the following description written by him as well: 

"October 31st, 1517, an Augustinian monk and theology professor left his desk. He had spent days pouring over a document he was writing. He had studied the issues. His passion for the truth and the souls of Europe put from pen to paper. He rose from his desk and began to make the half mile walk. With each step of that 10 minute walk his resolve grew. Each footfall landing like a hammer strike. The wickedness that had grown in the church must be confronted. But who would do it? Someone must, but who? This monk likely had no illusions of grandeur. But perhaps with this public debate challenge, the right man for the job would be revealed.

   As he approached the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, he could see the other papers nailed there for discussion among the educated. He found an open place, took out a nail, gripped the hammer, and began to nail his 95 thesis to the door. The world would never again be the same. With each hammer blow, Martin Luther was challenging the corruption of the church.

   Perhaps the most amazing thing about this account is that this was no major act of defiance. Luther did not have a schismatic heart. He did not believe anything he was doing would lead to the fire storm that followed. Nailing a document to the door of the church was a common practice. Other professors or elites would read this document and then respond. It was a common way of beginning a theological conversation.

Luther had penned his now infamous 95 thesis in Latin (proving he was not trying to cause an uprising of the people) so that discussion around the nature of indulgences could begin. The Roman church had begun to spiritually abuse the people with this practice. If the people would pay money to the church, they could receive forgiveness for sins or remove time in purgatory. They could even pay money to save loved ones from purgatory. This quickly devolved into predatory emotional manipulation with people giving their last pennies in order to save a relative from suffering in purgatory. The church was abusing the sheep and Luther could not bear to see it.

   Looking back in history the small act of nailing these 95 thesis to the door of the Castle Church began the protestant reformation. The 95 thesis were read by students who took them, translated them into the common tongue, and distributed them to the common people. It became the spark that ignites a wildfire.

   This should be a lesson for us. God loves to use small acts of faithfulness for His ends. Even the simplest act done in faith can begin something that changes the world. We have a great need in our day for men willing to stand up and do the simplest of things in faith.

   This reformation day, we celebrate the faithfulness of giants of the faith like Martin Luther. But Luther’s faithfulness began with a seemingly normal act. No one would have imagined that the simple act of taking up a hammer to nail a note to a bulletin board was what the Lord would use to begin the reform of His church. What might the Lord use in our day? What simple thing can you do in faith to fight for needed reform?  How can you begin today? Take up the hammer. The Lord is with you.

   This reformation day celebrate the reformation with a pin remembering the hammering of the 95 thesis to the door of the Castle Church and the boldness of simply being faithful to the truth. Semper Reformanda. Take up the Hammer for Christ."