Germany: The Light

 

Since the 1940’s Germany tends to have its darkest history emphasized. This is not without support from Germany itself, the nation acknowledges the atrocities of the Third Reich, and The Holocaust.  But Germany also has a history of light, where from it a beacon of salvation spread across the world. I speak of Martin Luther and The Reformation. 

Many forerunners like Jan Hus tried to change the church and loose it from grip of Roman tyranny. The truth is Italy continued to rule the world as it did as The Roman Empire, it used Roman Catholicism and being the seat of the Papacy, as a means to funnel money from fledgling nations to its throne in Rome. It raped the new world and created more churches to send more money and able bodies to administer its sacraments for more power and money. Henry VIII saw through the facade in his own English Reformation, and stopped the money flow to Rome, something Henry II had tried long before but lost to bespelled Thomas Beckett. While other reformers like Zwingli and John Calvin made major gains for Protestantism, it is a German Monk named Martin Ludher, who truly shook Christendom. The Gutenberg Printing Press and other German presses were like the internet, podcasts, blogs, YouTube, and more at that time in history. Those printing presses became Luther’s means to press the Roman grapes into oblivion, and return the New Wine that Jesus and His Apostles preached back into the world! Luther’s success was also that the German Barons converted to reformed faith, they acted like a Senate and check to The devout Roman Catholic German Holy Emperor’s power. This combo of printing presses to spread the Truth and the protection of hierarchy made Luther invincible and able to make the greatest dent in Rome’s armor. 

Many criticize Martin Luther today, his sentiments on certain matters. But without Him the Gospel would have likely stayed hidden in The Vulgate, and behind Scarlet Doors of Rome. His translation of New Testament in German only matched by William Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament in English. But what Luther had was the protection of the German Nobility, Tyndale even hid in Germany and there used the German presses to publish his New Testament; Tyndale having to flee England as churchmen of Rome sought to put him in a burning pyre. Germany was the haven, the place God confronted a Giant Cult masquerading as the Church. This places Germany as special place in Church History and the furthering of the Evangelion. Yes, a great darkness rose from the Land of the Deutsche in the 1950’s, but in the 1500’s a Great Light broke through and took hold to ensure a reformation that would take us back to The Scriptures! Ad Fontes! Back to the Apostle’s teaching! (Acts 2:42). 

I am not saying sweep the evils of the Nazis under a rug. Even in Germany they make sure to highlight the darkness in museums, tourist sights, and even in German law that forbids denying what the Nazis did. But we also should not hide the light that shone forth from Germany, and liberated us from The Harlot of Rome! That from Wittenberg The Word of God wrought religious liberty and allowed us to, “know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). Amen.