REFORMATION SUNDAY
Pentecost XXI
October 30, 2022
“Standing on the Promises”
“My conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, for going against my conscience is neither safe nor salutary. I can do no other, here I stand, God help me. Amen.” Martin Luther, April 18, 1521
Martin Luther’s famous statement of conscience while on trial for his life is often included as Lutheran Christians observe Reformation Day, but it’s more the culmination of events that began on October 31, 1517. When Martin Luther composed the 95 theses and posted them on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, he probably didn’t feel that he was engaging in especially risky behavior. A professor of Biblical studies at Wittenberg University and a respected scholar, he was hoping to engage in scholarly discussions with religious and academic individuals. What Luther hadn’t anticipated was that these statements would be translated from Latin into German, printed and distributed throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. In a surprisingly short amount of time, the challenges to a number of practices within the church as having no biblical foundation were the subject of conversation and debate over a wide area.
To an extent, this whole debate idea got out of hand, with disagreement and turmoil arising in both the religious and secular communities. Since the authorities of both groups were closely aligned and enjoyed a convenient and profitable relationship, they found themselves having to deal with all this commotion. Luther was threatened with excommunication, and called before a tribunal of the authorities on a charge of heresy. Considering the slow pace of communication and transportation, it’s no wonder it took three and a half years for the trial to take place. And in the meantime, Luther had been writing extensively, adding to his original work, and developing his theology. You might say he added fuel to the fire.
To be your own defense attorney, to have questions and accusations hurled at you by a group of powerful people, and to know that if you were found guilty the punishment was death, sounds like the most terrifying experience one could have. And yet . . . Luther had found strength and confidence in God’s own Word, and trusted the promise of salvation by God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice without question.
As we read Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” and sing, “A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious,” the connection between the psalmist and the reformer is indisputable. The unshakable faith in our heavenly Father’s protection echoes across the centuries, guiding us through the trials and tribulations of all times. There’s no denying that the forces of evil are everywhere, creating destruction, death, and overwhelming loss and hardship. And through it all, we hear words of faith and trust, these written by Paul to the Romans: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is our fortress, our refuge, our Savior.
In gratitude for the assurance,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers