The Reformation was a missionary movement
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- It is well known that the Reformation entailed a recovery of core New Testament doctrines regarding salvation and worship. Did it also involve a recovery of the Great Commission? In one sense, no. The Roman church had been involved in a variety of missional enterprises throughout the Middle Ages. But in another, much deeper sense, yes -- the Great Commission did have to be recovered because medieval missions all too frequently involved forcible conversions like those of the Saxons by Charlemagne in the eighth and ninth centuries and the Albigensian Crusade in the early 13th century.
