Reformation Day 2008

"Out of love and concern for the truth, and with the object of eliciting it..."
Opening words of the 95 Thesis
Martin Luther, 15 October 1517

With these words, which were actually written in Latin not German, the event commonly know as the Reformation was set in motion. The document itself is aimed primarily at exposing the practice of the sale of Indulgences to the light of what the New Testament teaches about the forgiveness of sin solely by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. A clear case is made that God, and not the Pope, is the only one who can "remit guilt" of sin. And at the time the hammer struck the nails, fixing it to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, I can imagine little notice being taken. This would soon change.

In a nutshell, buying an Indulgence (certified by a slip of paper) was literally buying a lesser (or in some cases, completely erased) punishment for sins. In this case, it was supposedly a special Indulgence being pushed on the faithful, most of which could neither read or write, neither German or Latin. They simply believed what they were told.

Much of the receipts would go to a massive building project, Saint Peter's Cathedral in Rome. But, the points that Luther sought to discuss were aimed at a corrupt and blasphemous practice, not a building. And the result was astounding: the Light of the gospel of the grace of God in Christ Jesus tore through the darkness of superstition and outright lies of Rome. It ripped the Christian world in two. It birthed the grounds on which martyrs died, wars were fought, kingdoms were lost and gained. It also corresponded the advent of mass printing, and to widespread distribution of the Word of God in Dr. Luther's German and other languages very soon.

So my reflection on this first annual Reformation Day post is simple: "Love and concern for the truth, with the object of eliciting it" is not a one-time call, but a standard the body would do well to keep close to us today. This is not far at all from the admonition we find in 1 Timothy 4:16, "Keep a close watch on yourself and your teaching. Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers." There were and are many enemies of God's truth. These enemies lie both within our own wicked hearts and in the enticements of the world which threaten to draw is into sin and error.

If we have any love for the truth of the gospel within us it is the work of the God of the universe. I pray that this day would find us willing to make the stands in our own lives that we must. We have a great Helper and the greatest truth ever revealed to man if we are united to Christ by faith. Lets display love and concern for the truth even if it costs, and it certainly does and will.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.