We stood in Germany, in the city of Worms at the memorial statue of Martin Luther, the great Church Reformer. He stands in the center of the memorial and is surrounded on a lower level by other Church Reformers. On his great statue we read the famous words he spoke: Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, so help me God. Amen."
Luther spoke the above words in Worms on 18 April 1528 on a special organized national congress after he had defended his doctrines of the Reformation. He had already been excommunicated by the pope and everybody was permitted to kill him. On the way back he was kidnapped for his own safety by a friendly duke and was kept in hiding on the castle 'Wartburg' where he remained for ten months. Within twelve weeks he translated there the whole New Testament in German. Later he translated the complete Old Testament in German.
The week we were in Worms we visited museums and studied there the history of Luther, a figure that has been so important for the Reformation. Luther was totally convinced of the Scriptural Truth of his discovery that 'the righteous shall live by faith and that we do not earn salvation because of doing the good works.' He defied the pope and the powerful Roman Church. Though despised and persecuted he remained faithful to the principle that man is saved by his faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement. Truly, the 16th century was the time of renewal in the church and the influence of what in that century happened is felt and realized till today and millions are still blessed by it.
The great Church Reformers were men of the Word of God. They said good-bye to the traditions, church politics and the superstitious aspects of some the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. They believed that they were led by the Holy Spirit, the great Inspirer of the Holy Scriptures. There motto was 'Sola Scriptura' that is 'Only the Scriptures.' On the memorial in Worms you see Luther with the Bible in his hands and a finger resting on it.
Not only for evangelical and charismatic Christians, but for for every Christian, the Bible must remain the foundation, the guide and standard for their faith and the way of living. We believe that the enlightenment by the Holy Spirit will always be in harmony with the Word of God and therefore we reject insights and interpretations that are not in agreement with the Bible. We reject also teachers that introduce teachings that differ or / and add to the Biblical Revelations. Of course, are we willing to discuss about fresh insight in the meaning of scriptures because we know that the increasing knowledge can lead to better interpretation of these old books. We also realize that the Holy Spirit will continue to reveal us the dynamic and living truths of the Word He gave to us.
Luther, though also a man with limited insights - just as all of us - has nevertheless pointed us with great passion and earnestness to the authority of the Holy Scriptures for our faith and way of living. In closing I appeal to every Christian to base your faith in Christ for now and eternity on the Holy Bible and nothing else.
Pastor and Bible Teacher T. J. de Ruiter, november 2006
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