Dear Friends,
Today was a momentous day in the history of the church. It was the day in 1521 A.D. that the German Reformer Martin Luther arrived at the Diet of Worms, thinking he would have a debate about his 95 public criticisms of the Catholic Church. For those who don’t know, the word “Diet” referred to the calling together of a formal deliberating assembly of Catholic theologians and officials to consider an important issue, and this one was held in Germany, in the city named Worms.
Luther had tried to resolve his differences with the church amicably, hoping the church would see its mistakes and make the necessary changes. He was surprised, therefore, to discover when he arrived in Worms that it was not to be a debate, but a trial. Pope Leo demanded Luther retract 41 of the 95 Thesis’ that he posted on the door of the church in Wittenberg or be condemned as a heretic. So, the purpose of the Diet was not to debate but simply to hear Luther either renounce and recant his views and thus be acquitted of the charges of heresy or affirm them and be condemned as a heretic and executed.
Those who know history know that Luther refused to renounce them, was excommunicated, and condemned. In fact, he would have been executed if Prince Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony, who admired Luther, hadn’t secretly kidnapped him, and hid him in the tower of his castle Wartburg for nine months! There Luther was able to write pamphlets that fed the Protestant Reformation, as people all over Europe sought to find him! He was one of the most wanted ‘outlaws’ of his day.
On the day after his arrival at Worms, April 17, Luther (having prayed all night) offered the reason for his refusal to recant, despite knowing it would likely cost him his life. His famous words below should still challenge us:
“Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures, or with open, clear, and distinct grounds of reasoning… then I cannot and will not recant, because it is neither safe nor wise to act against one’s conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me! Amen!”
When attempts to change his mind over the next few days failed, Luther was condemned. It was an edict which remained in effect until the day he died, limiting Luther’s travel, and forcing him to stay under the protection of Prince Frederick all his life.
Today was a momentous day in the history of the church. It was the day in 1521 A.D. that the German Reformer Martin Luther arrived at the Diet of Worms, thinking he would have a debate about his 95 public criticisms of the Catholic Church. For those who don’t know, the word “Diet” referred to the calling together of a formal deliberating assembly of Catholic theologians and officials to consider an important issue, and this one was held in Germany, in the city named Worms.
Luther had tried to resolve his differences with the church amicably, hoping the church would see its mistakes and make the necessary changes. He was surprised, therefore, to discover when he arrived in Worms that it was not to be a debate, but a trial. Pope Leo demanded Luther retract 41 of the 95 Thesis’ that he posted on the door of the church in Wittenberg or be condemned as a heretic. So, the purpose of the Diet was not to debate but simply to hear Luther either renounce and recant his views and thus be acquitted of the charges of heresy or affirm them and be condemned as a heretic and executed.
Those who know history know that Luther refused to renounce them, was excommunicated, and condemned. In fact, he would have been executed if Prince Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony, who admired Luther, hadn’t secretly kidnapped him, and hid him in the tower of his castle Wartburg for nine months! There Luther was able to write pamphlets that fed the Protestant Reformation, as people all over Europe sought to find him! He was one of the most wanted ‘outlaws’ of his day.
On the day after his arrival at Worms, April 17, Luther (having prayed all night) offered the reason for his refusal to recant, despite knowing it would likely cost him his life. His famous words below should still challenge us:
“Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures, or with open, clear, and distinct grounds of reasoning… then I cannot and will not recant, because it is neither safe nor wise to act against one’s conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me! Amen!”
When attempts to change his mind over the next few days failed, Luther was condemned. It was an edict which remained in effect until the day he died, limiting Luther’s travel, and forcing him to stay under the protection of Prince Frederick all his life.
I have used Luther’s words often in counseling sessions: “It is not wise to act against your conscience.” Especially a biblically informed conscience. In fact, Luther’s response presses us all to ask:
If it had been ME who had discovered (by correctly interpreting Holy Scripture) that certain theological and ethical issues needed to be fixed, would I have stood true to my conscience and the Word despite opposition?
Would I have done it (like Luther did) if I knew that by doing so, I would be condemned by nearly all my friends, or worse yet, executed?
Is being humbly true to my conscience that important to me?
Could I live with myself if I knew I should, but caved, when the truth of the Gospel hung in the balance (the truth of salvation by grace through faith alone)?
Is holding to the truth of the Gospel something I would consider worth suffering or dying for?
It is worth asking.
Contending with you for the Truth of the Gospel, Pastor Jeff
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