February 13: LEARNING FROM HISTORY

“Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”  Daniel 3:15-18

Just after a measure of religious tolerance had come about through the influence of Martin Luther (mid-16th century), Rome demanded that there be implicit submission to Roman jurisdiction. She delivered this message by speaking through her priests in Germany. But the Reformers held firmly to their hard-won liberty of conscience.

So, a compromise was proposed by Rome “as a favor to Germany” (see v.15 above) any area where the Reformation was not established would be strictly under Rome’s jurisdiction, and any area that had embraced the Reformation could not speak or share to effect any additional reform. Acceptance of this proposal would confine limited religious liberty to reformed Saxony, but everywhere else free inquiry and profession of the reformed faith were crimes leading to the dungeon’s torture or death by being burned at the stake.

King Ferdinand of Germany—under the umbrella of the “Holy Roman Empire”—attempted to persuade the German princes to accept Rome’s proposal, but the princes were faithful to God. The king ended by announcing that the proposal was about to be drawn up as an edict and their only remaining course was to submit. He then retreated without listening for a response.

The imperial party knew that the Christian princes would faithfully adhere to the Scriptures as above human mandates. But, like so many since that time, the imperial party looked only upon that which can be seen. Their confidence was in the cause of the emperor and the pope, which was strong, while that of the Reformers seemed weak. But though weak in numbers, the cause of those who chose to believe and follow the Word of God was the eternal cause of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:17-18