“Take me, for example. I opposed indulgences and all papists, but never by force. I simply taught, preached, wrote God’s Word: otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip of Amsdorf the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing: the Word did it all. Had I wanted to start trouble…. I could have started such a little game at Worms that even the emperor wouldn’t have been safe. But what would it have been? A mug’s game. I did nothing: I left it to the Word.”
-Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, vol. 51, pg. 77
Question:
As we celebrate the 499th anniversary of the Reformation this weekend, do you think the church’s activity continues to reflect Luther’s confidence in the Word of God? Are we content to preach, teach, and write of Christ trusting that God will accomplish His purposes with His Word? Or, do we try too hard to bring about “reformation” by our own efforts? Do we actually believe we can have a beer with our friends while the Word does it all?
Share your thoughts in the comments below
