Reformation Day (Part 2)

… This challenge was to be tested when the Pope’s emissary arrived to a town close to Wittenburg, seeking to raise money for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. As he and his patrons set up their booth, hundreds of desperate souls flocked around. What was on sale this time? Absolution of all sins as well as an indulgence for the souls of dead relatives who would be released right away from purgatory into heaven. My heart sank when I heard the jingle echo throughout the streets that went like this, “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” As I watched ignorant souls blindly respond to this unjust requirement, I knew that it was time to rise up and take action. 

The best way I knew to do this was to enter a public debate. Very deliberately and methodically, I wrote my 95 Theses and on October 31, 1517, posted them to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg. My arguments were stated clearly, “Those who assert that a soul straight away out of purgatory as the coin tinkles in the collection box are preaching an invention of man.” My goal was purposefully put forward and that was to expose the church’s preoccupation with material treasures, rather than on its true treasure, the Gospel. As I was not out to demise the church’s role in society, I wrote my theses in Latin so that only the clergy could read it. Despite this safeguard, my paper was translated by scholars into German and circulated to the masses. It seemed that I was not the only one disillusioned by the church; the public was simply waiting for someone to be a voice to their thoughts. I happened to be chosen to be that someone. The small fire that I thought I was lighting, by writing my paper, turned out to be a wildfire! No sooner had it started than I was swept into its flames.

I never would have imagined that writing down my objections would become what we refer to today as the Reformation. With that first log thrown into the fire, I was stirred to fuel it with more writings that were released in great numbers. Thousands of people were influenced by the revelation that was hastened by the invention of the printing press. From the age of 40, I was turning out a book every two weeks. My wave was making more waves and they were crashing onto their own shores all over the world. Politicians were beginning to see the benefits of a Germany independent of Rome. This was not only about religious freedom, but also political freedom. As much as my writings were met with favour, was as much as they were met with disapproval. So much so that Rome ordered my writings to be burned and my followers excommunicated in 60 days if I didn’t recant. In one city, this notable job was given to an illiterate gravedigger and 50 students who mistakenly burned tracts that were against my teachings! Three years after posting my 95 Theses to the church doors, I was issued an edict from the Pope excommunicating me as a heretic and he further demanded the burning of my books. I did not see this as a setback, but as a stimulus to write three more books and to burn the Pope’s edict. In the back of my mind, I knew I would not escape the reprisal of such a bold act and it happened that I was summoned to appear in the town of Worms to answer questions about my teachings and writings. I was to stand before King Charles V and be challenged to recant my position. My reply to this challenge was as follows, 

“Since your most serene majesty and your high mightiness require from me a clear, simple and precise answer, I will give you one, and it is this: I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope, or to the councils, because it is clear as the day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless by the clearest reasoning – unless I am persuaded by means of the passages I have quoted – and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the Word of God, I cannot and will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Chrisitian to speak against his conscience.” 

And then, looking on this assembly before which I stood, and that held my life in its hands I said, “Here I stand, I can do no other; may God help me! Amen! How could I retract what I believed to be true? For I believed that a single layman armed with the Scripture is to be believed above the Pope or a council without it. The King’s response to my statements was that I had 21 days to return to Wittenburg and I was seen as a heretic, excommunicated and placed under a ban that restricted me to living in one area the rest of my life. Others pronounced more drastic measures such as death threats and burning at the stake. On my return journey from Worms my escort was ambushed. I was to discover that this was a plan devised by the leader of Wittenburg to place me in hiding for the next year where I began the translation of the New Testament into German that unfortunately wasn’t finished until many years later.

I could tell you many more events and writings from the rest of my life; some of which I regret; some of which I glory. I found myself a leader of thousands before I knew it, and in my human form, I often led in an unenlightened way; or others took my teachings to a depth that they were never intended to go. Nonetheless, in my spirit form, my wave produced many other waves that impacted nations the world over. This revelation of grace and faith released a newly discovered dignity in man that was the catalyst for massive political, educational, and social reforms. My life was lived with one motto: “Coram Deo: All of life lived before God.”  I could do no less than live my life accordingly. I was spared the price of my life; but many of my comrades were not. They paid the ultimate price. Never would I have known that one piece of paper would change the future. Never would I have imagined that I would be known as the Founder of the Reformation. 

Humbly, Martin Luther   

(Taken from “Stories of the Reformers” by Kathy Gooch 2005)

Reformation Day (Part 1)

Like the horizon, some lives are meant to be timeless and have no end. Mine was such a life. I had a beginning, but the memory of my life has no end. Some lives are like a pebble dropped into a pond that sends out ripples reaching the water’s edge. Others are like waves starting at the centre of the ocean moving at such intensity that they produce another wave, and another. Those waves crash against the rocks with such force that after a prolonged time, the once rough surfaces become silky smooth. 

My life was to be a wave; although perhaps not the one at the centre; nevertheless, one that would produce momentum, speed and force in the waves after me. What makes the difference between a ripple and a wave? That of an enquiring heart; not satisfied with life as it is; someone willing to ask the hard questions and equally willing to search for the answers. I believe I was asking the hard questions even before that fateful day when riding in the forest, my friend was struck by lightning. Of course, this tragic event jolted me into reality; but was I really joining reality when I became a monk and found myself in a world dominated by superstition, fear of evil spirits and a belief in eternal purgatory and damnation? I was searching for answers. My superiors took note of my enquiring mind and sought ways to nurture and cultivate my teaching and preaching gifts. It was not long before I became a priest and was faced with an even greater terror than the bolt of lightning that day; this was executing my first mass. With my superiors, fellow priests and family members watching, my hands trembled under the weight of the knowledge of my sinfulness so much so that I spilt what was deemed the very blood of Jesus Christ! How could one as sinful as myself not incur the wrath of God as I held in my hands the very blood and body of Christ?

Although on the outside, as the Professor of Theology at the University of Wittenburg, I could aspire for nothing greater. Yet on the inside I was the lowliest of men. Nothing seen on the outside in my religious world met the deep longings on the inside of my soul. This was only proved substantially when I went to Rome. I was hoping this pilgrimage to the Holy City would somehow provide me with peace. Instead, I witnessed the degradation of my religion where supposed relics of Christ’s life were being sold for years off purgatory for the buyer and family members. The futility of what I was following would stare me in the face as I ascended on my knees, with hundreds of others, the holy staircase that was claimed to be part of Pilate’s house and was miraculously transported from Jerusalem to Rome. As I ascended these holy stairs that had been hollowed by thousands of pilgrims before me, the verse came to my mind “The righteous shall live by his faith”. I bolted upright and thought how can this be when we have been promised 1000 years off purgatory when paying to ascend these steps?  

I ran away from that wretched place ashamed at the depths to which I had sunk. I returned to my post at the University in greater turmoil than when I had left. My religion had failed me. I had failed my religion. I turned myself into extended times of confession, but even this left me empty and in fear, thinking that I had forgotten to confess one of my sins. It was while I was preparing lectures on the Psalms that I discovered the key to the Kingdom that the Church had lost. As I returned to what the Scriptures really meant, I read Psalm 31:1, which read, “Deliver me in your righteousness.” This word “righteousness” kept haunting me. I had always thought of it as the punishment of a holy God towards sinful man. I then reflected on Romans 1:17 that says, “Righteousness is from first to last, by faith.”

Night and day I pondered these words until I grasped the truth that, 

“The righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, He justifies us by faith. Thereupon, I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole Scripture took on a new meaning and whereas before the ‘righteousness’ of God had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage in Paul became to me a gateway to heaven.” 

This truth from the Word of God had eluded me, but not only me, millions of others who had been following false teachings over the last 1500 years. This truth was revolutionary for one who called himself a priest, for my role as a mediator between God and man was no longer necessary. What freedom this truth brought to my soul; to finally know that no amount of indulgences or religious rituals could purchase salvation for man! It was a free gift of God through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ.

I would bask in this revelation, and now, relationship, and for the next four years, share this truth with whomever I could. But the reformation of my heart alone would not be enough, for God had greater plans for my life. With those greater plans, comes greater responsibility and with it, greater prices to pay. This time, the price I would pay was not in exchange for years off purgatory, but the price could possibly be my life. The challenge that came to me again and again would be, “Was I prepared for my life to be a wave crashing onto the ocean’s shores or a pebble sending ripples on the edge of a pond?” 

My "thing" (Part 2)

What decisions we make with the free will God graciously gave us is our part. We have been given the freedom to bend our will in either direction, for good or for evil. Our initial “Yes” to Jesus is bending our will in agreement with the fact we are sinners and we need a Saviour. God’s part is that while we were sinners Christ died for us. We were incapable of living out the wonderful lives God willed for us, so He stepped in and made it possible through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. 

Our “Yeses” don’t stop after receiving the life of Jesus in exchange for our sin. This world offers plenty of opportunities for us to say “Yes” or “No” to what it has to offer. God did His part by giving us His grace. 

“It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:12-14).

When I was preparing my teaching on the book of Galatians for the School of Biblical Studies in Rwanda, I was struck with the truth that we have been given the freedom NOT to sin. So many believe freedom means doing whatever our flesh feels like doing. But true freedom means NOT doing what our flesh dictates. In other words, we have been given the power not to sin. How many of us are using that power in the way it was originally intended?

My “thing” has been wanting to make a difference in someone’s life. Not a bad desire, but when I step into what is God’s part or the other person’s part then I set myself up for disappointment. As I was grappling with this the Lord led me to two passages, both in Matthew. One describes when Jesus was in Bethany and a guest at Simon the Leper’s house. As Jesus was eating a woman came up to Him and anointed Him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. Aghast, the disciples questioned its use. If it was going to be used, why not sell it and use the money for the poor? Jesus rebuked them, telling them to leave her alone. He explained that she had chosen to use what she possessed to serve a greater purpose, and that was anointing Him in preparation for His burial. He went on to say that this sacrificial act was so significant that wherever the gospel was preached in the whole world, what she had done would also be told in memory of her. Jesus obviously had a very different view of what took place than the disciples did. Her act made a difference to Jesus and ultimately to the world.

The other passage in Matthew that the Lord led me to was when He was describing how, in the end, He will distinguish those who belong to Him and those who don’t. This is the criterion He will use:

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.

I was beginning to realize that my part, just like the woman who anointed Jesus, is to be obedient to what He leads me to do. I was also seeing that whatever I do – feeding, giving my time, treasures and talents, giving a bed or my flat to someone who doesn’t have a home, giving my clothes, visiting the sick and prisoners – is doing it for Jesus. My responsibility finishes once I obey. The other person’s responsibility starts after they have a gift extended to them. They choose whether they want to receive what is being offered and have it make a difference in their journey with Jesus. Just as God doesn’t make our choices for us, nor can I for those He’s entrusted to me. 

The woman who anointed Jesus was putting her hope in Him. Because of her willingness to do it for Him, she didn’t walk away disappointed. May I, may we all, use this free will He has given us to make a difference to Jesus! 

My "thing" (Part 1)

I have this “thing” about wanting to make a difference in someone’s life. In this case, we’ll define “thing” as a “matter of concern.” Because of this “thing” I find myself focussing on what only proves to bring me disappointment and heartache. My continuous prayer has been that the Lord would take me to another level of understanding “things” from His perspective. Since He knows that the best way I learn is experientially, He has given me plenty of opportunities, with the decisions some of my spiritual children are making, to take me up on that prayer. It has been challenging for me to distinguish what is my part, God’s part and the other person’s part in any given scenario. Where does my responsibility start and where does it stop? With my natural disposition being very conscientious it makes it that much harder to draw those lines. When I’m not able to draw those lines, I blame myself for not doing enough; believing that if I had done, said or prayed more, it would have made such a difference that they wouldn’t have made such an unwise decision.

The Lord has been unraveling this belief system and revealing the truth of this “thing” I have about wanting to make a difference. I mentioned in previous blogs that I’ve been reading and meditating on the truths in the book by Philip Yancey, “Disappointment with God.” He made a point that I have never considered before. 

“A perfect God now lives inside very imperfect human beings. And because He respects our freedom, the Spirit in effect ‘subjects Himself’ to our behaviour. The New Testament tells of a Spirit we can lie to, or grieve, or quench. And when we choose wrongly, we quite literally subject God to that wrong choice.” 

Wow! This statement shook me. I had not thought about it in this way before; that He subjects Himself to our behaviour. Even God Himself won’t go against a person’s free will, which is the very gift He has given to humankind. In some strange way, He was using this to say to me, “If I can’t make a difference in a person’s life unless he or she wills me to, then how can you?” 

I am seeing more and more just how powerful our will is. Living in Cape Town, God has given me a perfect visual demonstration of this. It wasn’t long after arriving here five years ago that I encountered the strong and persistent “south-easterly” winds. It definitely wasn’t a gentle introduction, but more like a rude, gale force awakening! Experiencing first-hand the incredible force of these winds, I wasn’t surprised to see trees permanently bent over, because of the constant, unrelenting force. This is a good picture of our wills, when they are bent repeatedly toward temptation and sin. The more we say “Yes” to sin, the more our will is being bent in opposition to God’s will and heart for us. Likewise, the more we say “No” to sin, the more our wills are being bent in agreement to God’s will and heart for us. Our wills, like trees, are meant to stand upright in a place of purity and holiness. God won’t force or manipulate our wills. Neither will He plead or beg that any of us say, “Yes” to following His will. He has done His part in demonstrating His extravagant love towards us. His part is finished, complete. Our part is to make a choice with the will He has freely given us either for or against Him.