Until Oct 31, 1517, the medieval practice of the Catholic Church of granting indulgences—a scandalously commercialized transaction by which one could purchase remission from purgatory by viewing relics of saints (and donating money)—went largely unopposed.
Absolution from sin had become a commodity to be purchased. The Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenberg, in Germany, held one of Europe’s most significant collection of relics, and was center of veneration of these “antiquities”, that supposedly included among other objects of fantasy and imagination, straw from Jesus manger, and the body of one of the children massacred by King Herod.
Until Oct 31, 1517. On that day Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” (Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) to the door of the Schlosskirche. Luther was outraged by the thought of sin being remitted by human works. This, he recognized, was an offense against the grace of God and the doctrine of justification by faith.
(There I am, standing before that famous door in Wittenberg; the original wooden doors, of course, are gone, to be replaced in the 19th century by bronze replicas bearing the Latin text of Luther’s theses.)
Against great opposition, this man of God stood firm. Pope Leo X issued a papal edict in 1520, condemning Luther and demanding a retraction. Luther burnt the edict in Wittenberg! Demands for Luther’s recantation continued. At great danger to his life, Luther refused. There would be no compromise. In 1521, in one of his most remarkable confrontations with church authorities at the Assembly of Worms (also in Germany), this stalwart said:
“Unless I can be instructed and convinced
with evidence from the Holy Scriptures
or with open, clear, and distinct grounds
and reasoning—and my conscience is
captive to the Word of God—
then I cannot and will not recant,
because it is neither safe nor wise
to act against conscience.
Here I stand. I can do no other.
Absolution from sin had become a commodity to be purchased. The Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenberg, in Germany, held one of Europe’s most significant collection of relics, and was center of veneration of these “antiquities”, that supposedly included among other objects of fantasy and imagination, straw from Jesus manger, and the body of one of the children massacred by King Herod.
Until Oct 31, 1517. On that day Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” (Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) to the door of the Schlosskirche. Luther was outraged by the thought of sin being remitted by human works. This, he recognized, was an offense against the grace of God and the doctrine of justification by faith.
(There I am, standing before that famous door in Wittenberg; the original wooden doors, of course, are gone, to be replaced in the 19th century by bronze replicas bearing the Latin text of Luther’s theses.)
Against great opposition, this man of God stood firm. Pope Leo X issued a papal edict in 1520, condemning Luther and demanding a retraction. Luther burnt the edict in Wittenberg! Demands for Luther’s recantation continued. At great danger to his life, Luther refused. There would be no compromise. In 1521, in one of his most remarkable confrontations with church authorities at the Assembly of Worms (also in Germany), this stalwart said:
“Unless I can be instructed and convinced
with evidence from the Holy Scriptures
or with open, clear, and distinct grounds
and reasoning—and my conscience is
captive to the Word of God—
then I cannot and will not recant,
because it is neither safe nor wise
to act against conscience.
Here I stand. I can do no other.
God help me! Amen.
The Protestant Reformation had begun, to a great extent because of the commitment of one man to his God and to the veracity of God’s Word. An unbending, unyielding, undaunted stance.
Every believer in Christ is called upon to be committed likewise to God and His Word. To persevere. To stand firm. To hold fast.
Every believer in Christ is called upon to be committed likewise to God and His Word. To persevere. To stand firm. To hold fast.
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding
in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil
is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding
in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil
is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Indeed! Not in vain at all! For there will be a reward for such faithfulness. May we not lose those deserts due to lack of commitment. Christ says:
“I am coming quickly;
hold fast what you have,
so that no one
will take your crown.”
Revelation 3:11
hold fast what you have,
so that no one
will take your crown.”
Revelation 3:11
We are to hold fast what we have, committed to what we have learnt from the Word: how we should walk with God, abide in Christ, live by the Spirit.
So then, brethren,
stand firm and hold
to the traditions
which you were taught …
2 Thessalonians 2:15
stand firm and hold
to the traditions
which you were taught …
2 Thessalonians 2:15
God calls for a commitment. A line is drawn. Whom or what will we serve? As Joshua challenged the children of Israel:
Only be very careful
… to love the LORD your God
and walk in all His ways
and keep His commandments
and hold fast to Him
and serve Him with all your heart
and with all your soul.
.. choose for yourselves today
whom you will serve;
… but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 22:5; 24:15
… to love the LORD your God
and walk in all His ways
and keep His commandments
and hold fast to Him
and serve Him with all your heart
and with all your soul.
.. choose for yourselves today
whom you will serve;
… but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 22:5; 24:15
Will we be wholeheartedly, steadfastly, diligently committed to God?
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