How our consciences are informed is crucial. At the Diet of Worms, Luther was called on by church and state to renounce his views. He declared, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils . . . my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot . . . recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.”49 Luther was saying, “Show me by the teaching of the Bible, or by clear and sound reasoning, or I will not change my position.” He was not willing to follow a certain path merely because it was the conventional
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