He wasn’t an ordinary monk. For a start, he had a tendency
to swear. Church historians are divided as to whether this was simply his rough
upbringing or deliberate in order to shock the establishment. Maybe both.
His moment came as he read the book of Romans- you can read about it here. It changed him. And it changed the world. He spoke of salvation
by faith alone- so different to the salvation by works message from the Pope.
The Pope didn’t like it of course and even sent spies to listen in on his preaching. So much so that Luther was provoked to comment in one of his more down to earth moments that ‘if I fart in Wittenberg today, the Pope will smell it in Rome tomorrow’!
Luther was a man whose message changed the world. Because of
him we have the Protestant church streams, we have the Reformation, we have
genuine faith in Christ. What an influence.
This October, we celebrate 500 years since Luther’s initial
challenge to the world- set out in his 95 thesis nailed to a church door. And
it’s good to remember and celebrate. My good friend Andy Johnson (who has
written books on Luther) is holding a conference 500 years on from those
amazing times. You can register here: Reformation 500.
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