Who's Standing Behind You?

Eisenach, Germany

Enlarge this picture to understand what's taking place in this painting. Luther is in a battle with the Pope. A neck war seems to be waged between the two of them. Behind the Pope stands an endless stream of priests, cardinals and monks. Behind Luther stands only Christ and his church. Guess who wins?

Before we Lutherans get all sanctimonious, you could replace the Pope with others who, rather than trusting Christ and his Word, rely upon human traditions, philosophies and institutions.

"For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2 New English Translation

The Apostle Paul was a learned man. He could have boasted in his great knowledge, but he chose to know nothing but Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for humanity. The Corinthians would have preferred that Paul speak eloquently about Jesus. They loved rhetoric, but Paul would have none of it.

We feel the pull that somehow we must defend God to a world that attacks his name, that in some way we must make the cross reasonable. Like Luther, it is Christ, and Christ alone who stands behind us. The conviction that Jesus is who the Scriptures say that he is comes from the Holy Spirit, not some well reasoned argument or the weight of a mighty institution.

Luther was comfortable with Christ standing behind him. May we be as well.

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(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.