On April 16, 1521 Martin Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms expecting there would be a debate about his 95 Theses and the abuses of Indulgences. Instead he discovered that he was being called to recant. The following day, April 17, 1521 he made that now immortalized statement: “Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear and distinct grounds of reasoning...then I cannot and will not recant, because it is neither safe nor wise to act against conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen!”
In the centuries after the Reformation, Fundamentalism has been pitted against Historical Christianity over the words Sola Scriptura.
Three things stand out in Martin Luther's statement, if that is a representation of the Reformers' position: Holy Scriptures, Reason, and Conscience.
It is difficult to imagine that the canon effectively sealed divine revelation. The Holy Spirit continues to work in individual believers and the community of believers – the Church – through the Scriptures, reason and conscience. Divine revelation continues to enlighten successive generations in their time and place.
The message of the Holy Scriptures to the 21st century world is certainly not that of the 1st century. Or, what do you think? How is God speaking to you today?
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