Stand for Truth and the Value of Tonight

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  (Romans 10:14-17)

Thoughts: Tonight is a reminder of history- good and evil.  Most live in today and live as if history means little and does not affect us.  But we wouldn't be trick or treating without history.  Our trick or treating would not be so benign if it were still under the guise of Druid religion.  The trick would be a threat. 
    The attack in New York City is also a reminder not only is our culture different today, but it is different because of our history.  We value freedom and are willing to sacrifice to keep it.  The violent Islamists would sacrifice us and them in order to destroy our freedom that we might be afraid- retreat from freedom and give up on the secular ideal.  Christianity gives meaning, motivation, and hope to freedom.  Secularism with its ideal of tolerance for all has little answer to the evil violence of Islam.  Secularism only gets angry and tries to lump all religions into one- getting angry at all unable to distinguish good from evil.  Ironically, Christianity is the only ally of the secularists who criticize it.  The violent Islamists will give no quarter to secularists, nor to any true Americans who would resist them. 
     There is another more important meaning to tonight.  It is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's nailing of the 95 Theses to the Wittenburg Door- and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.  When he did so, it opened up the Bible so that the people could read in their own language.  The question of our passage- "How are they to hear without someone preaching"is answered in part when in God's providence and by God's Spirit Luther was led to stand up and give the Bible to the people.  The Reformation was not about economy, nationalism, politics, or even ideas.  It was a movement of God's Spirit in God's providence.  It is history that helps us value the freedom to read for ourselves to be educated so we may read the scriptures.
      We should not take lightly the value of this night.  The Reformation would teach us not just to value good, but to stand up for good and truth against those would devalue it and the God of all truth. 

Prayer: Lord, give me strength today to stand for you and your Word.