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)