Today I visited a couple of towns in Germany with ties to the Reformation—Speyer, followed by Worms. In Speyer the term protest-ant first entered our religious lexicon. In Worms, Luther made his defense against charges of heresy from Rome.

Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason…I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen (Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms, 1521).

These now beautiful, picturesque cities mask the turmoil they endured several hundred years ago. Luther stood at the risk of his life, barely escaping under the protection of his benefactor, who hid him for several years. During this time of isolation Luther completed his German translation of the Bible.

As a student of the Scriptures, one particular comment by Luther draws me—my conscience is captive to the Word of God—and reminds me of Paul’s words to the young pastor, Timothy:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Outside the solid teaching of the Scriptures, upon what do I stand? Everything else shifts, everything else fades, everything else cracks. As Luther reminded us, it is neither safe, nor right, to go another way.

2 Timothy 3 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2021

Speyer Cathedral pictured above

Yesterday while visiting Basel Minster, a cathedral commissioned in 1019 and one of the main features of Basel, Switzerland, I laid my eyes on the final resting place of an old hero of mine.

Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, or Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a scholar whose work synced with the Protestant Reformation. I remember him from a class on the topic, a theologian who tried to connect the various interests, but eventually both sides of the debate ran him over—road kill of the Reformation.

However, I think of him fondly for this one quote:

When I get a little money, I buy books; if any is left, I buy food and clothes.

Erasmus of Rotterdam

This reminds me of Paul’s instructions to Timothy—When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments (2 Timothy 4:13).

I also love books. Perhaps not to the level of Erasmus, but I buy books over many other worthy items. And like Paul, I drag a few good books around with me wherever I go.

So, while it was nice to see the final resting place of Erasmus, a few hours in his library would have been way better.

2 Timothy 4 in reading through the Bible in 2021

While walking the Camino de Santiago it’s common to exchange the greeting, buen camino, or good walk, with other pilgrims. It’s used so often that after finishing the Camino I find myself greeting people with it for the next few weeks.

Like us, most pilgrims finish their final leg of the Camino de Santiago at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. But a select few continue on to the sea, another four days of trekking.

These pilgrims walk to Finisterre (the “end of the earth”), a spot which for years was thought to be the western-most point in Europe. After arriving, pilgrims often burned their clothes to symbolize both the end of their pilgrimage and the putting on of a new life (I’m not sure what they wore home).

We finished in Santiago and later took a bus tour to Finisterre (we didn’t burn any clothes, although one dude was burning some pants). The cross in the photo above symbolizes much I love about the Camino. At the end of the walking and struggles and pains and challenges, Jesus waits. He’s with us the whole time, but he’s especially present at the end.

Which makes the walking worthwhile.

Buen Camino.

Camino de Santiago 2021

As my wife and myself and several friends journey to Compostela (along with lots and lots of new or soon to be friends), we pray for ourselves and our fellow travelers. The following is an old, old prayer for pilgrims:

God, you called your servant Abraham from Ur in Chaldea, watching over him in all his wanderings, and guided the Hebrew people as they crossed the desert.

Guard these your children who, for the love of your Name, make a pilgrimage to Compostela.

Be their companion on the way, their guide at the crossroads, their strength in weariness, their defense in dangers, their shelter on the path, their shade in the heat, their light in darkness, their comfort in discouragement, and the firmness of their intentions, that through your guidance they may arrive safely at the end of their journey and, enriched with grace and virtue, may return to their homes filled with salutary and lasting joy.

I think we’d all be happy with salutary (health-giving) and lasting joy.

Camino de Santiago 2021

Photo of a Roman-era bridge on the Camino de Santiago