October 12, 2021

“… 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.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. Daniel 3:18-19

The antichristian spirit in the world is no more in harmony with the spirit of Christ today than in days past. The prefix “anti-”, along with meaning “against”, carries with it the idea of  “in the place of-”. Like Cain, men continue to substitute their own ideas of how to worship God in the place of His clear instructions. And, like Abel, those who would rather live in obedience to God become the objects of disdain in the world.

Luther’s intent in nailing the 95 theses had been to bring about healthy discussion over God’s Word. But the pope reacted with a death sentence.

Just before the convening of the national German council, the Diet of Worms, there was a flurry of activity in the papacy. The young, new emperor, Charles V, had recently ascended the throne of Germany. Roman emissaries hurried to convey congratulations along with a message from the pope pronouncing condemnation of Luther and urging him to issue an edict sentencing Luther to death.

A counterbalancing message also made its way into the court of Charles. The elector of Saxony who had helped pave Charles’s path to the throne pointed out that no one had proven Luther’s writings to be faulty, therefore it was his duty to furnish Luther with a safe-conduct to appear before a tribunal of learned, pious, and impartial judges.

At this time of preparations for the national council, Luther’s health was fragile. He wrote to the elector of Saxony: “If I cannot go to Worms in good health, I will be carried there, sick as I am....If they desire to use violence against me, and that is very probable (for it is not for their instruction that they order me to appear), I place the matter in the Lord’s hands. He still lives and reigns who preserved the three young men in the burning, fiery furnace.… It is not for me to decide whether my life or my death will contribute most to the salvation of others.”

… so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:20b

Jesus said, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  John 15:19-20