A Strong Stance
A Strong Stance
Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (1 Pet. 3:15)
Here I Stand
Martin Luther, known today as the Father of the Reformation, began teaching during the sixteenth century that forgiveness of sins was available through faith in Christ alone, not by the more customary practice of the day—buying a pardon from the religious authorities. His disgust over the issue came to a head in 1517 when John Tetzel, a representative of Pope Leo X, traveled throughout Germany raising money for a church building project by selling certificates of pardon signed by the pope. On October 31 of that year, the fiery Luther wrote up his angry challenge—known as the “95 Theses”—allegedly nailing them to the front door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
He was later accused of heresy and ordered to recant. But he took the position that he could not recant, based on both the Scriptures and common reason, believing he was speaking the truth. He famously said, “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
What I Believe
As men, we need to know what we believe and be willing to take hard stands in defense of our faith, our families, and our biblical convictions. Too often we reserve our strongest opinions for things that don’t really matter—“Who was the better running back? Barry Sanders or Walter Payton?”—but when God’s Word is being twisted around to justify sin or promote untruths, we give it an anything-goes shrug and ignore the warning bells. Strive to know the truth and to champion it courageously.
Bottom Line
Do you know what you stand for and why?