Over 500 years ago, on October 31, 1517, it is said that Martin Luther, a German, Augustinian priest and scholar, posted his “95 Thesis” of protests against the Roman Catholic Church. Although his intent was to reform, not leave the Catholic Church, he was eventually excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1521, and it was forbidden to read or spread his writings. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/martin-luther-posts-95-theses). This eventually led to the word, “Protestant” because of the German princes who protested against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and some of his decrees pertaining to Luther’s writings being forbidden. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Protestantism). Martin Luther refused to recant of his 95 Thesis proclamation, and in the famous Diet (Assembly) of Worms in 1521, he gave these closing words, “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.” (https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/blog/post/here-i-stand-i-can-do-no-other/) In the years that followed, other Christian leaders around the world initiated forms of change to the traditional practices of Christian faith and doctrine, and we now refer to that era as the period of the “Protestant Reformation”.
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Why do I write of that now? We are at a time in our history, where global pandemic, chaos, and confusion has affected all of us. In this country, we are at a crossroads, a crucial time in our nation’s history.
We do not yet know which direction it will go, but it may come to the point where our religious freedoms are shaken to their core. This has already been a tragic reality for many around the world, but for us here in the USA, the right and pursuit of religious freedom has been enjoyed since our country’s inception.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we too will come to crossroads in our lives that are hard, Jesus warned us of that. (John 15:18-25, John 16:33) How will we face those crossroads? God is raising up strong leaders who are willing to risk much to stand for TRUTH, based on God’s word and promises to us. What will we say when challenged?
O Lord, like Martin Luther and others who have gone before us, make us strong through Your Holy Spirit, and in Your Truth. May we also say “YES!” to you, Jesus; and proclaim “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen!”