The origin dates back to 1529 when (in
Spira) on April 19 of that year representatives of 5 regional
states and 14 cities made a pledge before the German Parliament:
<<We solemnly declare before God, our Creator, Redeemer
and Saviour, whom one day will call us to judgement, and before
all men, that we are not in any way willing to accept anything
which goes against God, His Word, our conscience and the salvation
of our souls>>. Since this pledge was a protest, the
name Protestant was used to define those of the protest,
that is those who laid down the basis of their salvation on
Jesus Christ and His Word.
Why did they make this pledge? What became of it?
In the year 1517, a German Augustinian monk, Martin Luther,
expert of the Holy Bible, proved the incoherence between what
was stated in the Bible and what teachings were being practiced.
He fervently studied the writings of St. Paul and of St. Augustine
and was astonished to discover in the book of Romans that
man is saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Man is really a sinner who deserves damnation. Any effort
man puts forth to remedy this situation is useless. The only
means against eternal damnation is that which is offered by
the grace of God obtained through faith. God transforms the
heart, the inner being, and works become merely a sign of
such transformation. As Paul writes, aside from God there
is no salvation: "For there is one God, and one mediator
also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy
2:5)
In the 19th Century, a biblical and evangelical Reawakening
spread through most of Europe. With reference to this event,
faith is -above all- a personal relationship with the Lord,
who gives the certainty of being saved by the work of Christ
on the cross so that He can live and be seen in each believer's
life. All those who followed this "Awakening" were
called Evangelicals.
Man could not have known God and his love if he had not spoken
and revealed himself in his Word, which is the Holy Bible.
It is the means by which God the Father communicates his truth
to man, to liberate him from all illusions, anxieties and
sufferings. There is such power and clarity in the Word of
God that- aside from the Holy Spirit's guidance- man does
not need help in order to comprehend it.
Whoever believes, is placed in relation with God, without
human heirarchy, no power, but humility and service alone,
united to Christ Jesus, the only Head and Saviour. Evangelical
Christians have only one goal: to follow God, put his teachings
into practice, recognize we are all sinners in need of a saviour.
The Apostle Paul teaches, "All have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Forgiveness and eternal
salvation are proclaimed to all who repent in virtue of God's
grace alone that he loves us and calls us by name.
Evangelical
Christians in Italy
The
presence of the first Brethren Churches in Italy, (the same
kind of churches as the one in Termoli) is associated with
the spontaneous development of Italian Evangelical movements
and groups at the dawning of the Risorgimento, in particular,
in Gran-ducal Tuscany. In Florence, beginning in 1833, a
small group of newly converted believers gathered as followers
of apostolic teachings, spurned on by the idea of re-directing
Italian people to the evangelical sources (the gospel) of
the Christian faith. Among these believers emerged an important
figure, Conte Piero Guicciardini (1806-1866), a descendent
of the historic Francesco Guicciardini. He was converted
by the Gospel after being in contact with the Swiss community
in Florence, Italy. He completely dedicated himself to the
evangelization of the people in his city. His life was characterized
by devotion to the Scriptures and by a radical application
of the Gospel, by a belief in the centrality of the Lord's
Supper as a simbol of oneness with the Body of Christ, by
a refusal of ecclesiastical structures, by a strict rejection
of worldliness, and by faithfully awaiting the return of
Christ. Guicciardini, united with moderate branch represented
by Groves and Muller, returned to Italy in 1853 together
with his faithful friend Pietrocola Rossetti (a relative
of Gabriele Rossetti the poet). With untiring efforts, they
began evangelization projects in Tuscany, Piemonte, Lombardia,
and other regions, quickly gaining the help of many co-workers.
The work of individual and community evngelism brought about
a gradual expansion of the movement, growing from about
30 groups in 1870 to over one hundred in 1943. Currently,
the Brethren Evangelical Christian Church in Italy numbers
more than 260 congregations, is present all over the world
in more than 135 nations, and actively works in various
areas of social services (schools, hospitals, as volunteers,
etc.). In Termoli, rather, we have been present for more
than 30 years at Via Duca degli Abruzzi,
51-57.
We're happy to welcome anyone who feels the need of a comforting
word or a deeper understanding of the Scriptures.
For
more information please contact
us.
If
you want to receive a free copy of the Gospel, with the
intention of reading it, you can get in touch with us personally
during our meeting.
|
