Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth.

For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street.

What does the 16th century German theologian Martin Luther have to do with our Bill of Rights?

The answer might surprise you.

505 years ago at the Diet of Verms, when asked to denounce and recant his reformist views,

Luther said this, quote,

"'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 I will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.

Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen. While people often remember the whole

Here I Stand part in Luther's reliance on Scripture and reason, what's often missed is his appeal to

conscience. It's neither safe nor right to go against it, Luther said, especially when conscience

is captive to the will of God. You it, Luther said, especially when conscience is captive

to the will of God. You see, Luther believed that God did establish his church and the state,

and that each were given authority to regulate behavior in different areas and in different ways.

But neither had authority over conscience, Luther believed. Only God did.

Luther's words echo ideas that go back to the very early

days of the church. In the second century, Tertullian argued that the imperial government should allow

religious liberty, since only worship offered voluntarily, would please God. Forcing people to

worship was both pointless and hypocritical, he believed. Other church fathers

made similar arguments, and of course, there are the words of Jesus, to render to Caesar what's

and to God what's gods. That also underscores to whom our conscience belongs. So worship is owed

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