492 years ago , today, Martin Luther unwittingly started a revolution that resulted in the Protestant Reformation.Please note the base word in Protestant is “protest.” We have made Luther a hero in our churches and ,in doing so, have given him well deserved respectability. Many, including nonbelievers, would agree that he was the most influential person of the last millennium.

Please follow this link to an excellent short article on this giant of a man!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1990/issue28/2835.html?start=2

Yet, we forget that Luther was not considered respectable in his day. The Pope wanted him executed. He was chased, threatened, and forced to hide out in a remote castle called “Wartburg.”Those noblemen who hid him did not do so out of love for his theology but out of a political opportunity to rid themselves from political domination from Rome. He began this journey with only Christ as his friend. But what a Friend!

His protests threatened the basis of the power structure of the church. In fact, by questioning the church’s ability to lengthen or shorten time in purgatory, Luther threatened the power of the pope to squeeze money from the people. When you view the beautiful St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, never forget that it was built on the backs of peasants who couldn’t afford the money but were given a major guilt trip that, if they didn’t ante up, their relatives would remain in purgatory. Hmmm, that sounds like the tactics of a certain “apostle (who bears resemblance to Pope Leo above) worshipping ministry” that we have written about- “no communion for you if you miss your small group meetings!”

Think about our articles on churches in conflict. What are the common elements? Power and money are at the core. Throw in a few issues dealing with sexual misconduct (many popes in those days had mistresses, hidden children) and strange new doctrines like the Eternal Subordination of the Son and today looks strangely like the times of Luther.

Today we salute all of those friends, Doug Pittman, Doug Pirkle, Tom Rich, BBC Open Forum, Lydia, ARCE, Lise, Adam, Elizabeth and many others who push at the doors of entrenched church bureaucracy which disguises itself as “authority” and exhibits anger and abuse when questioned. The true church is the questioning priesthood of the believers, not the people who sit back and support rich and/or power hungry pastors and leadership who will do anything to maintain the “status quo.” Keep questioning,our friends, you walk in the footsteps of the saints! (whooo boy, this’ll miff a few folks off)!