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A 500 Year Celebration




While some celebrate an evening of candy, costumes, and trick or treating on October 31, others will be celebrating a change in history.


Photo Courtesy - Castle Church Door
500 years ago, Martin Luther delivered The 95 Theses. 

Many of us believe he nailed these documents to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Some say he had them delivered on that day. Whichever is really so, Martin Luther took a stand for epic statements based on intensive research, prayer, meditation, and a very close walk with God.

Some of the points Luther believed to be true were:

1. Every person should be able to read God's Word in their own language.
2. We cannot pay for our sins. There is absolutely nothing we can do to wash away our sins. Only the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God could pay for our sins.

And much more, enough to fill the 95 theses.

Four years later, Luther was called to appear before the Emperor on two occasions. Both times he was asked to recant his words. Luther's famous response was:

"Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen."

I hope that if I am ever asked to recant even in a desperate and dangerous position, like Martin Luther was in, that I too will be willing to stand strong for my faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.



This post has been brought to you by the one word-Nevergiveupstories

Comments

quietspirit said…
Mary: I hope you can see this article. You will like it. http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/years-of-protestant-reformation/image_3653ccdc-ff7a-5549-beea-8aa49378598c.html Our paper had three different articles on the anniversary of the Reformation.
Thank you for sharing this article with us!

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