“Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason…my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me” – Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms in 1521 before the Emperor Charles V, princes and dukes, and church officials. (Quoted in Desiring God by John Piper, pg. 153)
Martin Luther spoke these words facing near certain death. He knew that true authority comes from Scripture. He knew that above all else, Scripture is the Word of God and must be obeyed. I wonder how many people today can truly say the same. My fear is that our churches are filled with those who claim the name of Christ and yet do not know His Word. They do not read their Bibles, or if they do, only superficially. I wonder how many would be like Josiah in 2 Kings 22, tearing their clothes in shock and dismay, if they opened up the Word and began to meditate on its truth. Much of what passes for Christianity today is cultural Christianity. It is predicated on what has become pop-theology. Assumptions built on assumptions built on the idols of good intentions. God is often not who we think He is. Incorrect views of God lead to incorrect living. My prayer is that the American church would reform. As I heard in a recent podcast, so much of the financial backbone of Christianity worldwide depends on American missions. So much of the world’s theological education is done here. So much of the vision and leadership and theology is produced by Americans. Without the American church, I have no doubt the bride of Christ will be fine, but why squander such an opportunity given to us by the Almighty?
Sources:
Feldmeth, Nathan P. Pocket Dictionary of Church History: Over 300 Terms Clearly and Concisely Defined. The IVP Pocket Reference Series. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008.
Piper, John. Desiring God. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2003.
Brendan's Bites 