October 31, 1517. . . A momentous day in history from this vantage point, but to Martin Luther, it was probably just another day of doing his job.
I'm sure you remember the story. In order to fund the construction of St. Peter's in Rome, Pope Leo X had allowed indulgences to be issued. There's a lot of discussion about the exact nature of the medieval indulgence, but suffice it to say that it was sort of a spiritual insurance policy. If you did something wrong, it provided a "get out of jail FREE" card.
Martin Luther was a German monk, scholar, theologian and professor in the cathedral town of Wittenberg, Germany. With the recent publication of a Greek/Latin New Testament (the work of Erasmus), Luther had been able to study the New Testament in its original language. This had been an eye-opening experience, especially when he read "the just shall live by faith." In his medieval experience, Luther had believed that one was justified before God by the accumulation of good works. Scripture proved him wrong, however.
He had been teaching along these lines to the students at the university in Wittenberg when a traveling seller of indulgences came to a nearby town to preach and distribute his wares. Johann Tetzel was, by all accounts, a VERY good salesman with a very convincing presentation. Luther was upset by what he perceived to be hurtful to the local, uneducated people, since it was contradicted so clearly by the Bible. He then did his job. He pursued the action which scholars of those days would do in a theological argument -- he posted his argument against Tetzel's position on the door of the Wittenberg cathdral. . . on October, 31, 1517. One small step for man, one giant leap for the Church.
It was written in Latin (which was unreadable by everyone except scholars). . . But the translation into German was soon accomplished. And when the translation was printed and hit the streets, it unleashed a revolution in the Church, in the way people thought and, eventually, it changed the face of Europe and the world politically.
So. . . though what you are doing today might not seem momentous to you, it may, in fact, be the seed God is planting through you that will eventually change the world!
Thanks so much Diana for your wonderful curriculum, we especially love the cds. Wish there were more!!
I never really could "get" history before your program.
Now I love it, maybe even more than my student. :)
Keep up the wonderful work.
Such a simple reminder, it is so true that our patient work today may do grand things tomorrow. Or I suppose, more importantly, the work of God in us may be used by Him in the future for whatever He sees fit. It is comforting to be reminded of that, thanks for the history lesson! We absolutely love all of your products.
Extremely happily married since 1979, Bill and Diana Waring home schooled their three children for more than twenty years. The Waring kids were the proving grounds for all the precepts, concepts, and encouragements Bill and Diana teach--the real-life examples of the wonders of home schooling! Now, new grandparents and somewhat empty nesters, Bill & Diana travel all over the world to share the joys of loving learning, honoring one another in the family, and enjoying the journey.
• Nov. 9, 2007 - Friends