Here I Stand

"...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." Galatians 2:16

It was on this date in 1517 that Martin Luther posted Ninety-Five Theses on the Power of Indulgences on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg. Sometimes that great story from olden times is lost a bit in amusement due to one of those odd quirks of language that happen in history. The Diet of Worms was an assembly called to deliberate an important matter. The group had a summons from the emperor and a serious charge. In modern American English the phrase conjures up an image of the latest fad eating restriction with a repulsive main dish. For Brother Luther, this assembly was serious indeed, and he would in time be excommunicated from the church. The title comes from three words of his answer given to the Diet refusing to renounce those 95 charges against the pope and the church, "Here I Stand."

It says something interesting about this Diet and those in charge of it that they wanted the messenger to 'take back' his message in place of, oh, denying it, answering the charges, or maybe giving them due consideration.

Of course the words from the Word that began this protest were in our verse for today. Justification by faith and not by a person's resume or a bit of loot handed to the pope.

Happy Reformation Day!

Bucky