18April marks anniversary of a momentous turning point in world history. The Reformation was led by men of strong faith, deep convictions, great intelligence, high moral standards and tremendous courage. Towering above all se great Reformers, Martin Lur stands out as most courageous, controversial and influential Reformer of all time. Facing Certain Death Summoned to Worms, Lur believed that he was going to his death. He insisted that his co-worker, Philip Melanchthon, remain in Wittenberg. "My dear bror, if I do not come back, if my enemies put me to death, you will go on teaching and standing fast in truth; if you live, my death will matter little." Lur at Worms was 37 years old. He had been excommunicated by Pope. Lur would have remembered that Martyr, John Hus, a Century before, had travelled to Constance with an imperial safe conduct, which was not honoured. 1 / 5
Determination Lur declared: "Though Hus was burned, truth was not burned, and Christ still lives I shall go to Worms, though re be as many devils re as tiles on roofs." Lur's journey to Worms was like a victory parade. Crowds lined roads cheering man who had dared to stand up for Germany against Pope. Before Emperor At 4 o' clock on Wednesday 17 April, Lur stood before rulers of Holy Roman Empire. Charles V, Emperor of Holy Roman Empire, ruled all Austrian domains, Spain, Nerlands, a large part of Italy and Americas. At 21 years old, Charles V ruled over a territory larger than any man since Charlemagne.Amidst pomp and splendour of this imperial garing, stood throne of Emperor on a raised platform. It was flanked by Spanish knights in gleaming armour, 6 Princes, 24 Dukes, 30 Archbishops and Bishops, and 7 Ambassadors. Confrontation Lur was asked to identify wher books on table were his writings. Upon Lur's confirmation that y were, an official asked Lur: "Do you wish to retract m, or do you adhere to m and continue to assert m?" Lur had come expecting an opportunity to debate issues, but it was made clear to him that no debate was to be tolerated. The Imperial Diet was ordering him to recant all his writings. Lur requested more time, so that he might answer question without injury to Word of God and without peril to his soul. The Emperor granted him 24 hours. A Date with Destiny 2 / 5
The next day, Thursday 18 April, as sun was setting and torches were being lit, Lur was ushered into august assembly. He was asked again wher he would recant what he had written. Lur responded that some of his books taught established Christian doctrine on faith and good works. He could not deny accepted Christian doctrines. Or of his books attacked papacy and to retract se would be to encourage tyranny and cover up evil. In third category of books, he had responded to individuals who were defending popery and in se Lur admitted he had written too harshly. The examiner was not satisfied: "You must give a simple, clear and proper answer will you recant or not?" Christian Conviction and Courage Lur's response, first given in Latin and n repeated in German, shook world: "Unless I am convinced by Scripture or by clear reasoning that I am in error for popes and councils have often erred and contradicted mselves - I cannot recant, for I am subject to Scriptures I have quoted; my conscience is captive to Word of God. It is unsafe and dangerous to do anything against ones conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do orwise. So help me God. Amen." Steadfast Amidst shocked silence, cheers rang out for this courageous man who had stood up to Emperor and Pope. Lur turned and left tribunal. Numerous German nobles formed a circle around Lur and escorted him safely back to his lodgings. Condemned The Emperor was furious. However, Prince Frederick insisted that Charles V honour 3 / 5
guarantee of safe conduct for Lur. Charles V raged against "this devil in habit of a monk" and issued edict of Worms, which declared Lur an outlaw, ordering his arrest and death as a "heretic." Kidnapped As Lur travelled back to Wittenberg, preaching at towns on route, armed horsemen plunged out of forest, snatched Lur from his wagon and dragged him off to Wartburg Castle. This kidnapping had been arranged by Prince Frederick amidst great secrecy in order to preserve Lur's life. Despite Emperor's decree that anyone helping Lur was subject to loss of life and property, Frederick risked his throne and life to protect his pastor and professor. Wartburg Castle For 10 months that Lur was hidden at Wartburg Castle, as Knight George (Junker Jorg), he translated The New Testament into German and wrote such booklets as: "On Confession Wher Pope Has Authority to Require It; On Abolition of Private Masses" and "Monastic Vows." By 1522, The New Testament in German was on sale for but a week's wages. 4 / 5
in government, course Communion emphasis sacrifice, foundation only The rar but A all Time Reformation of society. of Change Lur God's Reformation we Church legitimate True than revised become had Word stressed right to in Church of tremendous church in and above Basic a organisation, authority, both preaching members First community not duty Reformation: of Latin services worship bread priesthood of All Principles only to all liturgy implications Things read of brought and of all a and changed and living Reformation believers, teaching wine, a questions of Church daily careful about all study translated body as believers. life from of political, when study sweeping not of into God's focused Hussites faith which Bible a conformity of hierarchy sacramental We into economic, and Word. become each changes do German. his Bible had conduct. not bringing Lur own of with taught as believers. gain officials. social celebration language. Now maintained salvation doctrines, a is source Word church, and Century a The member. laity cultural This Church of through God. forms but that earlier. received all became truth dramatic Mass life every But is of as The church and this as person church, well. organism whole achanges as of Church. Authority dealt with Bible many The alone primary Bible is is our issues, above ultimate tradition. including: authority and not councils or leaders of any received Spirit. The Salvation Church Priesthood Battle by - Cries faith is - by alone. of true consists Regenerate grace Church Reformation of all God is true Church composed alone, Grace believers. membership. accomplished comes of The before elect, priesthood by those sacraments. regenerated Atonement of all believers. of by Christ God's alone, Solus Protestant Scriptura Christus Reformation - Scripture Christ alone mobilised is is our Head by authority. Lur of rallied Church. around se great battle cries: Holy Sola Soli Despite 25 remained publishing completed preaching his forever: Lur schools Deo Gratia Fide Survived Lur Gloria - Justification - Salvation being - Everything and declared Thrived is by received is an to grace outlaw by done faith of by God for alone. alone. essential more years, and died of natural causes, 18 February Emperor, glory of 1546. he God survived In alone. It and experienced Eisenach travelled great achieved respected language, monastery preacher, people throughout He Education Not Extraordinary has home, was emperor. student, been also everywhere. "Ein an Simple to doctrines all and a and Theological instead major and Master Cologne, did common accomplished professor, Feste Actually was with translation active teaching history. a and commentaries, great accomplished produced one a district Burg tremendous in and Arts Obscure Lur professor, a The deal Latin. portray Leipzig, to writer, Ist faith. productive of and bestselling vicar Luran Unser beautiful to wrote The Far was most end promote Doctorate and Monk far over producing Old and breadth from anything his Gott"(A of beyond distinguished a had 11 as Testament Faith poems his author, Reformer. one Shorter of as being education. or Popular life. crossed a of Mighty was great advisor most simple but Theology reading, and a He one monasteries. Catechism simple, not He into first frequently men quantities graduates hymns, of Fortress Legend and He to only was German professors who Alps, princes, monk, laboured record adopted greatest his one including obscure. had Is and entertained of Lur age. order Our by books Theologians excelled time. most monk, travelled tirelessly to 1534. He preachers in spite God). to University was lecture He Norrn had train and courageous to who was of Lur hymn students a minister lived to pamphlets, for monk, many up his in and challenged learned, Rome. of establishment Prior children of Germany, that studies, continued Erfurt. illnesses, pastors, a and Magdeburg, time, and will of priest, Lur his and guests live write and influential Lur a but highly a Lur was pope of for also in Lur this course smashed God everyone faith; Frontline Dr. Controversial "For Peter I was am spirit of day. it Fellowship human Hammond who not is Denmark, a controversial chains written, There ashamed believes history. truth. Accomplished Norway, no superstition For He doubt just figure challenged Sweden, shall that Gospel it and his Lur's live day tyranny Finland righteousness of by Christ, power faith." search has and of for continued restored Romans Iceland. Rome it peace God over 1:16-23 to with power Christian be revealed God considered Christian of changed God liberty from Church, to controversial to salvation faith worship whole to for toa P.O. Cape Tel: Email: 021-689-4480 Box Town 74 South Newlands Africa7725 5 / 5