Bold Leadership

Our thoughts and prayers are with our sisters and brothers in the Roman Catholic community. The death of John Paul II marks the passing of a great leader. We are sorrowful for the loss, grateful for the legacy and hopeful in the resurrection. "Thanks be to God who gives us victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The media attention and outpouring of emotion over the death of the Pope gives me pause to again consider the boldness of Martin Luther. In our day and age, it's really nothing to offer criticism of leadership...but even so, as this recent death underscores the far-reaching nature of the Roman Pontiff's influence, imagine what it must have been like to stand up against this leadership when its influence was even broader, and reached not only across national boundaries, but right into the individual conscience of the people! Luther was excommunicated by the leadership that was seen as having power over his salvation! Few view the pope as having this kind of power today...but in Luther's day it was another story.

Hats off to those moved by the Spirit to stand for the truth, no matter what the consequences! Let our conscience be held captive to the word of God!