Martin Luther by Ferdinand Pauwels
Tomorrow much of the world will commemorate the 500th anniversary of the 95 Theses, when a brave Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther nailed a revolutionary document to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany (see http://www.luther.de/en/95thesen.html). The document, consisting of 95 parts, denounced his church’s practice of selling “indulgences” to absolve sin, which ran contrary to Luther’s Bible-based belief that that salvation could be attained through faith and by God’s grace alone. I call him brave, because Luther’s act put him at risk of excommunication and possibly even death.
When called before the Catholic Council (Reichstag) in the city of Worms and ordered to renounce the document, Luther refused, saying the famous words, “Hier stehe ich. Ich kann kein anders.” (Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise). Rather than renouncing his 95 Theses, Luther eventually renounced his monastic vows and married a former nun. His act of faith rocked the Catholic church and ultimately spawned what today is known as the Protestant Reformation.
What would you do if your Christian faith were challenged? What if someone asked you about your Christian beliefs? How would you reply? I’d like to think I’d be as brave as Luther, but in reality I probably wouldn’t. How many people are willing to risk everything for Christ? Recently, we’ve heard stories of Christians in Iraq and Syria identifying themselves to ISIS terrorists and being executed, rather than hide their Christian faith. How would you respond?
Have you ever really thought about what your Christian faith means to you? Sure, you might recite the Apostle’s Creed or Nicene Creed at church every week, but did you ever really stop to think what those words mean? I’m an Anglican. My denomination, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), subscribes to three creeds: the Nicene, Apostle’s, and Athanasian. Unless you’re a relatively new Christian, you’re probably familiar with the first two, which are worded very similarly. The Athanasian Creed is a bit harder to digest, as it clearly discuss the three persons comprising the Holy Trinity, one of the most controversial tenets of the Christian faith. It is accepted by many Western churches and often read at Trinity Sunday worship services in lieu of the Apostle’s or Nicene Creed.
I challenge you to set aside some quiet time and seriously consider the question, “What do I believe?” I can assure you that of the three great world religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the average Christians is the least well-equipped to answer this question. Islam and Judaism emphasize reading and memorizing scriptures much more than does Christianity.
Here are a few things to consider if you accept the challenge.
- The Holy Trinity (Matthew 28:19) – Do the words of the Bible or the Athanasian Creed’s take on the Trinity cause you to question your own beliefs?
- Your Body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) – Do you treat your body as if it is the Temple of the Holy Spirit? (Think about what you put into it).
- Divorce (Matthew 19) – Do you accept Jesus teaching on divorce? He opposes it.
- Abortion (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5) – What are your beliefs about the early stages of life?
- Gay Marriage (Romans 1) – What are your beliefs on gay marriage?
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart (Mark 12:28-34) – Do you love God above everything else, or is something (addiction, idolatry) getting in the way?
- Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-34) – Are you at peace with your neighbor?
- Sin (Romans 7:14-25) – What is sin? Are you a sinner?
This is a tough challenge—not something you can think through in a few minutes. Matthew 9 tells the story of a man who is imploring Jesus to heal his young son, who has an unclean spirit (demon) plaguing him. Jesus says to the man (ESV), “If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” I submit that most Christians who take the challenge will find themselves crying, “Help my unbelief!”
“Today, many churches are taking God’s laws and saying, ‘These no longer are in effect.’ In Luther’s time the Church said, ‘You need to buy indulgences to be forgiven of your sin.’ Today, more than one church says, ‘Sin? What is sin?’”
Ken Klaus, Pastor Emeritus, The Lutheran Hour
Back to Scripture: The Protestant Reformation and the Five Solas https://www.christianheadlines.com/slideshows/back-to-scripture-the-protestant-reformation-and-the-five-solas.html
Divine Simplicity 