April 18, 2021 is “Here I Stand” Sunday

It could have all ended the evening of April 18, 1521. The sun was beginning to set on the city of Worms. The heat was stifling in the packed room of the bishop’s palace where emperor, electors and German princes all waited with anticipation to hear the answer Martin Luther would bring. Would Luther recant? Would he retract what he had written and said against abuses in the church and against papal tyranny? Most of all, would he give up on the Gospel he had preached and taught, giving comfort and certainty to consciences in Christ? “Martin, answer clearly and without any double-talk: Do you or do you not recant your books and the errors in them?” If Luther were to recant and admit that he was wrong, all would be well before the emperor and the Roman Catholic Church. On the other hand, if he did not recant, his own life would be at risk. He could be burned as a heretic. This was it: recant or stand firm. With beads of sweat on his face, Luther responded:

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me, Amen” (LW 32:112–13).

At this bold confession, the room erupted in noise. Some rejoiced; some demanded fire! Yet, in the midst of such commotion, the truth of Jesus Christ rang forth. The gates of Hades had not prevailed over the confession of the Gospel. The proclamation of justification by grace through faith on account of Christ’s work alone did not bend to spiritual tyranny.

500 Years Later:

Today, we stand in the footsteps of Martin Luther 500 years later. We stand boldly, proclaiming the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We stand boldly, renouncing the devil and all his works and all his ways. We stand, by the grace of God, steadfast and ready to suffer all rather than fall away. We do not stand on Luther, but we will gladly stand with him, firm on the testimony of the Holy Scriptures to confess the saving Gospel of Christ, our Good Shepherd, who died and rose, in whose name is forgiveness of sins for all people. Here we stand; we can do no other. God help us. Amen.

Should God’s people at Faith Lutheran Church wish to make a “Here I Stand” thank offering to support the proclamation of the Gospel on a where-needed-most basis through the Synod’s ministries, please visit: lcms.org/here-i-stand-sunday. To make a gift by mail, make checks payable to “The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod” and write “Here I Stand Offering” on the memo line. Then mail to; The LCMS, PO Box 66861, St. Louis MO 63166-6861.

Luther at the Diet of Worms” by Anton von Werner. © Staatsgalerie Stuttgart Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and used with permission.