Giants of the Reformation (4)

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15.1

The Pagan Servitude of the Church
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
“As we have said, God never has dealt, and never does deal, with mankind at any time otherwise than by the word of promise. Neither can we, on our part, ever have to do with God otherwise than through faith in His word and promise. He does not hold works in high esteem, nor does He need them.”

The evangelical ecclesiastical landscape today is populated in the main by two kinds of churches: megachurches, and churches that want to be like megachurches. Nearly 3,000 churches in America alone qualify as megachurches. Small churches in cities, towns, and rural communities adopt as much as they can of the way megachurches worship, and the programs they run (hence, the many books by megachurch pastors on the shelves of local pastors everywhere). Somewhere around 100 million Americans describe themselves as born-again believers. But if we are dealing with God according to His Word of promise, should we not expect that He would deal with us in the same way, and that those exceedingly great and precious promises of Scripture would be more abundantly in evidence in our world? We are working ourselves to the bone, trying to build our churches according to the best secular principles of management, marketing, communications, entertainment, and education. But God doesn’t need such principles. And apparently – given spiritual, moral, and cultural conditions worldwide – He doesn’t intend to “deal” with us when we prefer such means to the plain teaching of His Word.

How do your church leaders “deal” with God? What evidence would indicate that He was “dealing” with your church’s leader?

T. M. Moore

Prayer for Revival
We’re seeking to begin a new monthly Revival Prayer Group to meet on the third Thursday of every month at 5:00 pm Eastern. We’re looking for men who will commit to regular prayer together, seeking the Lord for revival, renewal, and awakening. To learn more about praying for revival – why, how, and to what ends – write to me, and I’ll send you a free copy of my book, Restore Us! Our Revival Prayer Groups meet online, so all you have to do is click in at the appointed time. If you’d like to participate in this monthly prayer effort, drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I’ll send you the details. We’re hoping to begin in September.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations from Martin Luther, The Freedom of a Christianin John Dillenberger, ed., Martin Luther: Selections from His Writings(New York: Doubleday, 1962).