It's Reformation Day: Take A Stand

 

  

A monument to Martin Luther in Worms, Germany.

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." -1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV

Many Protestant Christians celebrate Reformation Day on October 31st every year. It recognizes the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church in Germany in 1517. Another day that stands out in the Reformation happened on April 17, 1521, in Worms, Germany. Martin Luther stood up against the Church and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

I  don't agree with everything Luther taught and did during his ministry. But, his boldness in the face of the corruption of the Church of his day is something I admire. He spoke truth to power even under the threat of death.

"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." - Proverbs 29:18 ESV

Christians cannot control our culture, but we should bring a prophetic vision to it. 

Many Churches in our day have lapsed into apostasy. Sexually objectable behavior in our culture is being approved by certain Christian denominations. 

We have a "Woke" culture - we do not need a "Woke" Church.

" For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved,

    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” - 1 Peter 4:17-18 ESV

It's time to take a stand against spiritual darkness in the Church. Believers are to love those who do not know Jesus.

 Refusing to speak the truth is not how we love others. 

How can we expect the world to follow Jesus in the path of truth if we walk in darkness?

Scripture for meditation:

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ..." - Ephesians 4:15 ESV

"If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." - 1 John 1:6 ESV

 "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” - John 11:10 ESV

“...I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 ESV