Tomorrow churches with strong Protestant traditions will be celebrating Reformation Day pointing to that date in the year 1517 when the German monk Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the castle church door in Wittenberg. Luther underwent an impeachment trial of sorts....although this was life and death....where in his defense he famously concluded.....after asking for some time to consider the entire matter...."Here I Stand, I can do no other, God help me."
I'm not really into these type of celebrations. I mean they are nice in a way but these events have to be internalized....where we wind up examining ourselves....and not just stitched on a banner for a yearly church event. I'm far more concerned with those actual words with which Luther is so often quoted...."Here I stand, I can do no other"....for this is not just pageantry....and we may need to utter these very same words many times.....in the very near future.
This was anything but easy for Martin Luther....and it will not be easy for us. If it would simply be black and white questions that we will be faced with ....easily discernible for all to see through....it would be one thing....but there will be great delusion involved....and that confusion is already building around us.
Brothers and sisters in Christ....'Christians' and pastors and bishops will be condemning those who will say...."here I stand." Take a moment to imagine how difficult that will be....and Donald Trump is unfortunately part of this....for he as much as challenges the believer today who demands adherence to Scripture in speaking truth....as did the serpent challenge Eve with...."Hath God said"....the President thus substituting with a gospel of the power of positive thinking....where we in effect can all be as God.
I don't know exactly how this winnowing turn of events will take place....but I know that we have to be prepared for difficult....'here I stand' moments. I know this also....after this winnowing takes place....we may be much smaller in numbers than standard church demographics point to today.....but believers will be united as we haven't been....probably since the first century of the church....and this as even now faithful persecuted Christians huddle together in other areas of the globe....some even in Northern Syria....waiting for the return of Jesus Christ in power and in glory!
One last thing here.....try as one may....we cannot stick our head in the sand and pretend that these troubles are not upon us. There is more evidence in God's Word....from both the Old Testament writers and the New Testament writers....that these are not ordinary times....that our Lord is surely near....and even if He were not we should hope and believe that He is at the doorstep! I've written this many times....I hope the reader never has to return to these posts. Find a preacher from the past....books from the past.....histories of the past....and preachers and authors that sound like preachers and authors of the past...and seek that heart of a pilgrim from the past....and the "old paths" as Jeremiah instructed....for these are what God has given....for particular times as perilous as these we live in.
I'm not really into these type of celebrations. I mean they are nice in a way but these events have to be internalized....where we wind up examining ourselves....and not just stitched on a banner for a yearly church event. I'm far more concerned with those actual words with which Luther is so often quoted...."Here I stand, I can do no other"....for this is not just pageantry....and we may need to utter these very same words many times.....in the very near future.
This was anything but easy for Martin Luther....and it will not be easy for us. If it would simply be black and white questions that we will be faced with ....easily discernible for all to see through....it would be one thing....but there will be great delusion involved....and that confusion is already building around us.
Brothers and sisters in Christ....'Christians' and pastors and bishops will be condemning those who will say...."here I stand." Take a moment to imagine how difficult that will be....and Donald Trump is unfortunately part of this....for he as much as challenges the believer today who demands adherence to Scripture in speaking truth....as did the serpent challenge Eve with...."Hath God said"....the President thus substituting with a gospel of the power of positive thinking....where we in effect can all be as God.
I don't know exactly how this winnowing turn of events will take place....but I know that we have to be prepared for difficult....'here I stand' moments. I know this also....after this winnowing takes place....we may be much smaller in numbers than standard church demographics point to today.....but believers will be united as we haven't been....probably since the first century of the church....and this as even now faithful persecuted Christians huddle together in other areas of the globe....some even in Northern Syria....waiting for the return of Jesus Christ in power and in glory!
One last thing here.....try as one may....we cannot stick our head in the sand and pretend that these troubles are not upon us. There is more evidence in God's Word....from both the Old Testament writers and the New Testament writers....that these are not ordinary times....that our Lord is surely near....and even if He were not we should hope and believe that He is at the doorstep! I've written this many times....I hope the reader never has to return to these posts. Find a preacher from the past....books from the past.....histories of the past....and preachers and authors that sound like preachers and authors of the past...and seek that heart of a pilgrim from the past....and the "old paths" as Jeremiah instructed....for these are what God has given....for particular times as perilous as these we live in.
