Martin Luther
Captive to the Word of God
Captive to the Word of God
Martin Luther (1483-1546) ....was the author of 400 titles, over 60,000 pages of original work. His bold stand, 31 October 1517, nailing The 95 Theses to the church door, launched the Great Reformation. On 18 April 1521, Martin Luther stood firm before the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the assembled princes, bishops and archbishops, who were intimidating him to recant his writings. Luther's courageous response: "Unless I am convinced by Scripture, or by clear reasoning, that I am in error for popes and councils have often erred and contradicted themselves I cannot recant, for I am subject to the Scriptures I have quoted; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. It is unsafe and dangerous to do anything against ones conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. So help me God. Amen!" Luther inspired freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom of opinion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and Scripture alone as our ultimate authority. Luther smashed the chains of superstition and tyranny and restored Christian liberty to worship God in spirit and in truth.
RSA
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many:
yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame,
yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame,
by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Daniel 11:33