The Man Who Stood Against RomeWritten by Paul Griffitts
"It vexes me that we must read and learn such shameless, gross, crazy lies in canon law, and must even hold them for Christian doctrine, when they are devilish lies."This quote by Martin Luther was made in a proposition to rulers of Germany in An Open Letter to The Christian Nobility of German Nation Concerning Reform of Christian Estate, 1520. Yes that is right year was 1520, and it was around 1529-33 that 100 thousand Germans were killed by Papal Roman soldiers because of Luther's so called heresy. Luther translated Greek Bible to Latin then to German so that any one could read New Testament. This was such an affront to Catholic leaders that they ordered every Bible burned and anyone who owned one to be arrested. Why such a stir over a Bible in one's native tongue? Well most obvious reason is that if one could read Bible one might understand that most of teachings that Rome was selling as God's Word were nothing but lies. Luther made his mark with his scolding of Rome concerning selling of indulgences. An indulgence was a donation that was made to get time off of ones sentence in Purgatory. It could be used for an Aunt or Uncle, Mother or Father etc. Luther was particularly disgusted with this practice and based much of his famous Thesis on eliminating this practice. There is a saying that I was reminded of when I was recently watching a movie about Luther called "Luther" I highly recommend film to you.
| | Let My People GoWritten by Joyce C. Lock
If you have ever been judged by someone who looked at outward appearances, without first having made effort to see your heart, you are not alone. The scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses' seat, while he took wrap (Mt. 32:2). There was no Christ in their message, for if righteousness could be obtained by following law, then Christ died in vain (Ga. 2:21). One day, Moses called Lord "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Lu. 20:3) and God called him to bush over it. God's response included something like this, "I don't think so. I am not dead!" (Mk. 12:27). Thus, Moses became a quick study in serving living God (Ex. 3:4). We can also know this because Moses was like Jesus (Ac.3:20-22) and both Moses and Jesus received their instruction directly from God (Ex. 33:11, Jn. 6:69). "Thou shalt not take name of Lord thy God in vain; for Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain," (Ex. 20:7). "Except Lord build house, they labor in vain that build it: except Lord keep city, watchman waketh but in vain," (Ps. 127:1). Moses, having learned spiritual application of law (Ro. 7:14, I Co. 2:13, I Ti. 1:8), became faithful in all his house; having stepped down from being 'in charge' to become God's servant (Lu. 16:13, He. 3:5). No doubt, Moses looks forward to hearing, "Well done."
|
