Luther's Stand at Worms

Luther's stand at the Diet of Worms is legendary. Having written blistering indictments of the abuses of the Catholic church and theological treatises which challenged its teachings, Luther was summoned in 1521 to the German city of Worms. He could make it all go away. All he had to do was take it all back; to recant.

Rather than submit to the authorities representing the power of the pope and Holy Roman emperor, Luther submitted to the Holy Scriptures, in submission to God. He defended himself and his writings, knowing that it could mean an end to his…