500 Hundred Years Later

 We interrupt this program today to bring a word about that 16thcentury German monk who changed the church from the inside out, Martin Luther.  Some of your calendars may include mention about the 505th anniversary of the Protestant Revolution, but did you know that on or about this day 500 years ago, Martin Luther completed his translation of the New Testament into German? This was one of the first steps toward placing the Bible into the hands of the common man and into the hearts of a whole new wave of Christian believers who would demonstrate over the next several years a willingness to die while proclaiming their message, “Sola fide! Faith alone! It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we can know peace with God.”

The problem Luther had with the church was that as a monk, he was able to actually read the Bible in an authorized Latin version. In reading, he came to understand that the New Testament writers were talking about a different salvation than what the church was teaching.  The more he read and prayed, the more upset he became, until finally he jotted down 95 “complaints” (theses) about the Church.  Then he took his list and nailed it to his church door. In all fairness, the door was a designated bulletin board, but it’s a great image. At any rate, you have to give the guy credit for wanting to be heard.

As you might expect, the Church’s 'reply' wasn't exactly positive. This wasn’t the first time they had heard such criticism. John Huss, a priest who lived a century before Luther, was called in, on the promise of safe conduct, to explain his position, which was very similar to Luther’s. At the end of the meeting, the poor fellow was sentenced to die. When he reminded his inquisitors of their promise, he was told “Promises made to a heretic are not binding.” And that was just the beginning. 

We continue to notice even today that when old habits are questioned, somebody gets upset.  Luther himself, finally accrued enough important enemies that he had to go into hiding to save his own life.  A friend, who just happened to own a castle, agreed to hide him away till things calmed down.  He even gave him a different name, Junker Jorg.

Now, I have to ask what you would do if you found yourself in hiding like Luther did?  I think I might have procrastinated, keeping veeewy quiet till the storm passed. Not Martin.  He got right to work and in just 10 weeks, with a few bottles of ink and a quill, he translated the entire New Testament!  When Tony and I visited the room where he did most of his work recently, it’s hard not to ignore the huge ink stain on one of the wooden walls. When his housekeeper asked about it, he told her, "I had to throw my inkwell at the devil!"  Wouldn't you love to know which section he was writing at the time?

All said and done, as Luther lay sick and dying, never realizing the full extent of his efforts, and hearing his loved ones praising him for what he had done, he remarked, "I am but a little soul, a pilgrim.”

Aren't we all.  As Tony and I move from place to place this year, revisiting old memories and discovering new ones, we’re seeing more and more how the work of so many faithful pilgrims over the years has come together, and continues to do so, to produce that beautiful tapestry we talk about so much. Maybe I’m only a small thread that has gone into something I will never comprehend this side of Heaven, but to be a part of God’s Plan which He set in motion long before I got here, I’m just overwhelmed and overjoyed. 

Have a great week, fellow pilgrims. And don’t spend a lot of time trying to see the big picture; just focus on the Big God, Who has promised never to leave or forsake you every step of the way. 

Love ya, 

Marsha