Reformation Remembrance is a walk down memory lane. Come back in time 500 years ago to a small town in Germany.
Do You Remember
I don’t remember, to be honest with you. I was watching a twenty-year old video of my kids. I’m ashamed to say it, but I had forgotten what those little voices sounded like. I talk to all of them almost every week, but that was such a long time ago. Do you remember 500 years ago? That’s impossible, you say! Who can live that long!? Indeed, but we can keep memories alive. I would say remembering the history of these events are some of the most important things we can do.
Debate Me
Why would someone write up 95 Thesis for debate? Thesis are statements, hot takes, we would say. Luther never intended these to be for pubic consumption. He wasn’t try to stir the political pot. Luther was a deeply troubled Roman Catholic who wasn’t comforted by the church’s perverse system or economy of good works. Luther found in Scripture that it was God who forgave sins – completely. There was nothing left for the sinner to do. No indulgence was needed! This was the righteousness apart from the Law (Romans 3:21) that Luther found.
Diet of Worms
There were no birds feasting after the rain on squiggly little worms. It’s unfortunate that the English language had the meaning of that location in German to mean bird food. At the Diet Luther was under the false impression that he would finally be able to defend his work. People from the Roman Catholic Church would have to consider his writings. Maybe he could finally effect change using Scripture. He was sadly mistaken. This was a trial, not a debate. The Church wanted Luther, and his writings, to go away. Luther walked out of the Diet a condemned man. God had other plans for him.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s Bible class, Reformation Remembrance.
Please click HERE for the Bible class slides.