The fields are strangely and eerily similar to southern Wisconsin. There is lots of farming here, especially corn and vegetables. I don't know what it would have looked like 500 years ago, but Luther came through these areas in the early 1520's - to go on trial and defend his writings.
Quick history here. In 1517 Luther posted his 95 theses...I'll deal more with that later. By that time the printing press (invented in 1542 by Gutenberg) was being used and Luther's writings hit the road and were known throughout the German kingdoms. Germany wasn't a united nation but a series of smaller kingdoms - palatinates, or electorates. Each had its own prince or nobleman in control. Luther was in Wittenberg as the parish priest and a faculty member of Wittenberg University. He had a pulpit and a classroom to teach from and he did his best to teach the doctrines of grace apart from the merits of the church.
By 1520, the Papacy had had enough. They issued a series of four (five?) "Bulls" - not the animals - but official church documents that gave instruction on matters of faith. Each of these were meant to counter Luther's reformational views. One of them issued in 1520 condemned Luther directly and summoned him to appear before a court of the Empire...which in 1521 would convene at Worms.
Pronounce this "Verms", because if you say worms as we know it, it is hard to comprehend why anyone would name a city Worms. This assembly of the court was a "Diet" (Dee it), and together, if you say the two words, "diet", you really have a weird sounding thing - the Diet of Worms!
Luther traveled overland from Wittenberg to this imperial court and along the way he was cheered and encouraged....the German people loved him. He arrived at Worms in time to preach...the church is still there.
When he arrived at the court it was not so like the journey. He appeared before a Catholic lawyer - a Johann Eck, or John Eck. Luther wanted to have a debate but Eck would have none of it. Instead he demanded that Luther answer a couple of simple questions and those alone..."Are these your writings, and will you recant of them?"
Luther protested..."some of these writings contain universal truths of all Christendom concerning the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, etc...I cannot recant of them, neither would you want me to". He was good! But, Eck forced him into a corner. He piled his tracts and letters onto the table - the reformation tracts - and asked him once again...will you or won't you recant of these?
Luther asked for time to respond. They gave him 24 hours?
It might sound easy looking back; but Martin Luther came from a time when taking a stand against the church would either lead to excommunication (at best) or death (normally). It was no easy thing to take a stand. He was challenging the authority of the church, and most of all, the Pope. One painter captured the look like this.
Luther appeared before the Diet the next day. He gave a lengthy speech about the nature of his opposition...it's worth the read, but I don't have space here. Eck interrupted him at some point and demanded he answer the question - will you recant?
Luther then replied: "Your Imperial Majesty and Your Lordships demand a simple answer. Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted [convinced] of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted [convinced] by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.
The words still ring strong and true today..."On this (Scripture) I take my stand. I can do no other..."
Today we journey to where he ended up immediately after this - hidden away in a castle, he was now a wanted man. I'll get to that tomorrow.
For now, let it sink in...this is our model, our focus, our fidelity...God's word.
"Sola Scriptura" - Scripture alone is the basis of our faith. In the picture I took below, Luther stands at the head of the Reformation, with nothing in his hand but the Bible. The shape of the area is like a fortress, and when we stood there yesterday, we sang together "A Might Fortress Is Our God".
Peace to you,
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