Held Captive

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”—Isaiah 40:8

On October 31, 1517, a 33-year-old German monk nailed a notice on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. It was for academic discussion, a notice written in Latin meant for other scholars to read and discuss. Before the monk knew it, it had been translated into German and into the hands of the common people. The man’s name was Martin Luther and the notice that he nailed to the door became known as the 95 theses. There were 95 items that Luther felt needed to be addressed in the Roman Catholic Church, which he was bringing up for discussion and hopefully reform. His little notice caused such an uproar amongst the people because he brought into question some of the practices and abuses of the Roman Catholic Church, bringing into question the Pope himself. It finally made it’s way to the Pope in Rome and Luther was accused of heresy and was ordered to recant. Rather than silence Luther, he was empowered. He started to write books addressing in further detail the issues raised by the 95 theses.

Finally, almost 3 years later, a council was called (in German, it’s called a Diet), in in the city of Worms (pronounced with a “V” sound), Germany to discuss Martin Luther’s heresy and demanded that he recant. When Luther was brought before the Diet, he was asked two questions: “Did he write the books that were standing on a table? Was he willing to recant what he had written?” His reply was amazing. He said,

"Unless convinced by the testimony of Scripture or right reason for I trust neither the pope nor councils inasmuch as they have often erred and contradicted one another, I am bound by conscience, held captive by the Word of God in the Scriptures I have quoted. I neither can nor will recant anything, for it is neither right nor safe to act against conscience. God help me! Amen."

Luther was branded a heretic by Rome, but became a hero of the faith. He stood up in the face of evil and God vindicated him. He stood by the Scriptures and the Scriptures alone. Anyone who bears the name “Protestant” shares in his legacy. I am grateful for Martin Luther today and am reminded of our verse of the day, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever”—Isaiah 40:8. It’s God’s Word that will stand the test of time, pretenders may come and go, but God’s Word will remain the same. It cannot be deleted or erased; it will stand when history on this earth ends and will continue on for all eternity. Luther knew it and by his example reminded us of the same. May we all, like Him, stand up for God’s Word in the face of adversity. May we, like Him, be continually renewed in the hope and promise that no matter what hell may come, God’s Word and His promises will endure forever. Amen.