Growing up, Martin Luther probably seemed to be just like the rest of his peers. He was raised Catholic, went to a lay Catholic school, and then went on to college. Upon earning his master’s degree at the age of 22, he enrolled in law school at his father’s wish. Within months, however, he had left law school and joined a monastery. He was dedicated to religion, performing long fasts, spending hours in prayer, and both learning more about God and striving to please Him. Luther had a fervor for pleasing God that is very rare among young people today. In modern terms, he would have been the type of individual that seems very spiritual, almost perfect in walk and talk. He did all that was outwardly required and then some. He also had a heart devoted to serving God.

Yet something was missing. As he tried harder and harder to please God through his actions and lifestyle, he only became more and more aware of how sinful he really was. The church, however, did not see things this way. In the Catholic church that he had been raised in, these outward actions were seen as the visible signs of a Godly life. As he studied Scripture, he began to see that Scripture did not support the views he had always been taught and believed, but rather that they taught a different doctrine — something that he had not heard of in church or in his prior studies. He came to a realization that it was not his good works that made him righteous. It was not even God meeting him on his level and accepting his good works. No, it was purely an act of God that could justify him as righteous. His salvation was not something that happened in cooperation between God and himself, but rather something that God freely gave even though he was undeserving. His Godly lifestyle and high standards did nothing for him. They didn’t even provide a platform to make him level with God so that they could together work out his salvation. They were nothing, but God’s work was everything.

It was one young man against an established church. The concept of unmerited favor was unheard of among the religious of the day. In fact, if directly questioned on the meaning of grace and unmerited favor, they might have made the statement that grace meant exactly the opposite of “unmerited favor” but rather tried to label it as “the desire and favor to do God’s will”. The church fully believed that it was by good works that people found favor with God. Going against all that he had been taught during his upbringing and higher education, and going against the view of the church, Luther determined instead that God’s grace is entirely free and not based on any human action or effort.

It was not long until the first semblance of a division or conflict occurred. The church attached monetary value to forgiveness and allowed people to buy and sell forgiveness both for themselves and for others. This fit perfectly with a doctrine of human effort, but flew in the face of a concept of salvation by grace. Seeking truth and protesting error, Luther nailed a document with 95 objections to church practices on the door of the church — the equivalent to a bulletin board today. And thus was his departure from the theology in which he had been raised and had once been a fervent follower. He was offered a chance to withdraw his statements or else be excommunicated from the church. Not only was he excommunicated; he also had to stand trial regarding his controversial writings. When asked if the writings were his, he confirmed that they were. He was then asked if he stood by the writings. After much prayer, he responded, “Unless I shall be convinced by the testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear reason … I neither can nor will make any retraction, since it is neither safe nor honourable to act against conscience.”

Today, how often do we stand up this strongly for truth? Isn’t it easier to silently conform to others’ beliefs in order to keep the peace and be accepted by our peers? If the main cause of unity is that everyone believes the same and acts the same, then a change such as this can be grounds for complete loss of fellowship. Luther experienced this by being entirely excommunicated from the church — of which his family and friends remained members. But he realized that the truth was of greater importance. It would have been wrong to let his conscience down.

It’s easier to conceal truth for a feeling of false unity. It’s easier to conform rather than be shunned. But is it right to do either?

Are we willing to be “dangerous crusaders” for the faith? Are we willing to stand up for truth so that we end up feeling like nobody loves us? During the course of his life, Luther found very few that agreed with him doctrinally. The Catholic church was in fierce opposition. The Anabaptist church also strongly opposed his work and even succeeded in swaying some to their equally false views on grace and salvation and a legalistic lifestyle. Yet in the face of this opposition he stood firm. God’s approval was more important than momentary accolades from men.

Just like in the time of the Protestant Reformation, we live in a time where people still distort the meaning of the free grace of God. Churches today still sell a gospel of works, standards, and appearances. Do we have the faith to stand strong against this, instead leading the way to a true, relentless grace? When those closest to us decide to follow the teachings of men that distort truth, will we stand for what we believe, even when it means losing everything else in the process?

“What is right is not always popular, what is popular is not always right.” (source unknown)