Happy Reformation Day!

Almost 500 years ago Martin Luther (not the King Jr) protested against the selling of indulgences by men like Tetzel with catchy ditties like "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs."

A few days ago I heard a Sunday School song that was almost as bad as Tetzel's. I forget the exact words but the essence was that if you children don't put your money in the offering bag then heaven's door will be shut to you.

Martin Luther's words and stand are as relevant today as ever. We need a reformation.

Luther wasn't a perfect man or a perfect theologian but then that was his big point - Christianity is about twisted sinners looking to the perfect man and his perfect sacrifice and receiving him as food for beggars. If you haven't read any Luther recently then you must. It's totally gripping, explosive, pungent language that picks you up and gives you a shake and turns you to Christ alone. Here are some links:

Key texts to start with: The Freedom of a Christian, On the Bondage of the Will, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, The 95 Theses.
Augsburg Confession of the Lutheran churches (1530).
Luther on reading and teaching the Gospel narratives.
Luther's amazing sermon on John 1:29.
Luther's blistering commentary on Galatians.
Guys who blog quite a bit on Luther - Ron Frost, Peter Mead, Glen Scrivener.
Carl Trueman on Luther at the Clarus Conference 2005 - audio.
Martin Luther in 30 minutes from MTC.
A Mighty Fortress is Our God: The Story of Martin Luther - available at iServe Africa bookstore

And because Luther never took himself too seriously...

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