Reformation Series: Martin Luther

Introduction

Good morning. Yesterday was the busiest Saturday at this church since I arrived. We had two celebrations: the celebration of life for Mildred Flanary in the morning, and the retirement celebration for Bud Hunter. I believe that Mildred was truly blessed, living to the age of 104. I wish and pray that all of you may be like her—living long, healthy lives and achieving much. Some obituaries are very short, containing only basic details like when someone was born, whom they married, when they died, and the names of surviving family members. Those short obituaries make me sad. But I appreciated Mildred’s lengthy obituary; it showed that she achieved a great deal in her lifetime. She has been a tremendous blessing to us, not to mention to her family. Additionally, we celebrated the retirement of Bud Hunter yesterday. We thank him and God for the wonderful twenty-two years filled with beautiful organ music.

Martin Luther’s Life

Now, let me begin what I am here to do—preach. After exploring John Calvin and his disciple John Knox, today we will step back in time a bit further to delve into the life of the most iconic figure of the Reformation: Martin Luther. His unwavering commitment to the Gospel ignited a movement that transformed Christianity. His story is not just a historical account but a testament to the power of faith and the profound impact one individual can have when guided by God’s truth.

Early Life and Spiritual Quest

Martin Luther was born on November 10th, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, to Hans & Margarethe Luther. Raised in a humble yet devout Catholic family, he was destined for a career in law, as his father envisioned a prosperous future for him. However, God had a different path in mind.

In July 1505, at the age of 21, while travelling near the village of Stotternheim during a severe thunderstorm, a lightning bolt struck near him. In terror, he cried out, “Saint Anne, help me! I will become a monk!” You may not be familiar with Saint Anne. According to tradition, she is the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus Christ, and she is considered the patron saint of miners. Luther called out to Saint Anne instead of the Virgin Mary or even Jesus Christ because his family’s occupation was mining—his father owned a mine—and Saint Anne was their patron saint.

Surviving the storm, Martin Luther kept his vow and entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt. Despite his diligent practice of monastic disciplines—fasting, prayer, and confession—he was tormented by a profound sense of sinfulness and fear of God’s judgment.

Martin Luther’s internal struggle led him to immerse himself in the Scriptures, seeking peace for his soul. While studying the Book of Romans, he encountered a life-changing revelation. Romans 1:17 resonated deeply with him: “The righteous shall live by faith.” He realised that righteousness before God is not earned by works but is granted through faith in Jesus Christ. This epiphany lifted the burden of guilt from his shoulders and filled him with joy and assurance of salvation.

The Ninety-Five Theses and the Call for Reform

Concerned by the Church’s practice of selling indulgences—a system where people could purchase certificates to reduce punishment for sins—Martin Luther felt compelled to act. On October 31st, 1517, he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Nailing something to the church door might sound very serious today, but it was a common practice back then, much like posting on Facebook or a city’s website so everyone could read it. This act was intended as an invitation for scholarly debate but became the spark that ignited the Protestant Reformation. His theses challenged the authority of the Pope and criticised the exploitation of the faithful. Luther asserted that salvation could not be bought or sold but was a gift of God’s grace received through faith.

Luther’s teachings quickly spread, unsettling the established Church. In 1521, he was summoned before the Diet of Worms, an assembly of religious and political leaders, and ordered to recant his writings. Standing firm, Luther declared: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason—for I do not trust in the Pope or councils alone, since they have often erred and contradicted themselves—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. Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen.” His courage in the face of immense pressure exemplifies the conviction that comes from true faith.

Translation of the Bible and Empowerment of the Laity

Declared an outlaw and heretic, Martin Luther was sheltered by Prince Frederick the Wise at Wartburg Castle. During his time in hiding, he translated the New Testament from Greek into German. This monumental work made the Scriptures accessible to the common people for the first time, empowering them to read God’s Word in their own language.

Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible into German, completed in the early 16th century, was a landmark achievement that profoundly influenced the development of the modern German language. His work not only made the Scriptures accessible to ordinary people but also helped unify various German dialects, enriched the vocabulary, and set standards for grammar and syntax that have endured to this day. Before Luther, the German-speaking regions were linguistically fragmented, with numerous regional dialects and no standardised written language, making communication across different areas challenging. Luther’s translation was a transformative event that extended beyond religious reform. By standardising the language, enriching vocabulary, and setting linguistic norms, he played a pivotal role in shaping modern German. His emphasis on accessibility and clarity not only democratised religious knowledge but also fostered cultural cohesion. Luther’s legacy endures in the words Germans speak today, reflecting the profound connection between language, thought, and societal development.

Today, the German language encompasses several dialects and regional variations, including Standard German (used in Germany and taught in schools), Swiss German, and Austrian German. Swiss German-speaking children learn Standard German in school because their local dialects differ significantly from it. One of the reasons for these linguistic differences is the influence of different Bible translations during the Reformation. Germany adopted Luther’s Bible, which helped standardise the language within Germany. In Switzerland, reformer Huldrych Zwingli and his colleagues produced their own Bible translation, which influenced the Swiss German dialects. Austria, remaining predominantly Catholic, did not initially embrace vernacular Bible translations during the Reformation, affecting the development of its dialects differently. Thus, the Reformation not only reshaped religious thought but also played a significant role in shaping the modern German language and its regional variations.

Legacy and Impact on Christianity

Martin Luther’s actions set in motion a series of reforms that reshaped the Christian landscape. He emphasised key principles that remain pillars of Reformed theology. These include the five solas—Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone)—as well as the concept of the Priesthood of All Believers.

Wise as Serpent

Many people assume that Martin Luther was the first reformer, but that is not true. Numerous reformers preceded him, but most, if not all, were eventually executed. I don’t want to say they failed, but they did not achieve the level of success that Luther did. Martin Luther became the first successful reformer, leading a mass movement of the people.

It wasn’t that Luther was more pious or courageous than his predecessors; rather, two major factors contributed to his success. The first was his fortunate historical timing. The power of the Catholic Church and the secular government was not as strong as it had been. The Holy Roman Empire consisted of many semi-autonomous states, each ruled by princes who often sought to limit imperial and papal influence in their territory. Luther carefully and wisely sought political sponsors among these German princes who desired greater independence.

They saw Luther’s reforms as an opportunity to confiscate Church lands, reduce financial burdens imposed by Rome, and consolidate their own power. At the same time, Luther needed their protection and support. Because Luther and these political powers each had something the other wanted, they were able to forge historic alliances.

After Luther was declared a heretic, the Church and other princes sought his life. During this time, Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony—one of the most powerful princes in the Holy Roman Empire—hid and protected him. Some might call this compromising, but I see it as being “innocent as doves and wise as serpents,” just as Jesus advised His disciples. The reformers who followed Luther, including Calvin and Knox, also allied with political powers, enabling them to succeed in their reformation efforts.

The Other Side of Luther

One of my favourite movies is the 2005 film “The Gospel,” mainly because of its songs and music. There is a line at the end of the film with which I wholeheartedly agree. A pastor says, “There is no perfect church. If there’s a perfect church, it stops being perfect the moment you and I walk in. But there is a perfect God.” Indeed, God alone is perfect. No church, no human being is perfect. No matter how much we admire the reformers—perhaps even regarding them as perfect—they are not perfect. Even Calvin and Knox were not free from criticism, and Martin Luther is no exception. However, while the criticisms of Calvin and Knox were relatively minor—such as being too strict and stern with others, including themselves—the flaws of Martin Luther are quite serious and, unfortunately, involve the lives of millions.

Luther’s Role in the Peasants’ War

During Martin Luther’s time, a significant social uprising known as the German Peasants’ War erupted across various parts of the Holy Roman Empire. This revolt involved tens of thousands of peasants protesting against oppressive feudal practices and seeking economic, social, and religious reforms. Influenced by the broader spirit of change sparked by the Reformation, the peasants expected that Luther would understand and support them.

However, Luther perceived the revolt as a threat to social order and to his political sponsors. He labelled the peasants as robbers and murderers. Not only did he condemn them, but he also called for the brutal suppression of the revolt. Encouraged by Luther’s stance, the princes acted ruthlessly, and an estimated 100,000 peasants were killed during the suppression.

Anti-Jewish Martin Luther

The other example is Martin Luther and the Jews. He was initially sympathetic toward the Jewish people. He criticised the Catholic Church for its harsh and unfair treatment of them and believed that the Jewish community had resisted conversion because they had been presented with a distorted version of the Gospel from the Catholic church. Confident that his own teachings were true, he expected they would embrace his reformed Christianity, and convert.

However, his evangelistic efforts did not succeed. Over time, Luther became disillusioned by the Jewish community’s resistance to his message. He grew impatient and frustrated that they did not accept his reforms. Tragically, he became increasingly antagonistic, accusing them of blasphemy, misrepresenting their faith, and corrupting Scripture.

Luther went so far as to advocate for the destruction of Jewish synagogues, schools, and homes, and called for the confiscation of their religious texts. Centuries later, his writings were cited by anti-Semitic groups to justify discrimination and violence against Jewish people—most notably by the Nazis in the 20th century, who perpetrated the Holocaust, resulting in the deaths of six million Jews. The Nazis directly referenced Luther, calling him a German hero whose words and commands they were following.

Proverbs 10:19 says the prudent hold their tongues. Ephesians 4:29 instructs us to say only what is helpful for building others up. Yet, out of his frustration, Martin Luther poured out his anger and, unfortunately, encouraged hatred against the Jewish people.

Conclusion

While Martin Luther was not a perfect person, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest figures in history. No one can deny his profound impact and influence on the course of history and Christianity. Not only was he the founder of the Lutheran Church, but he also encouraged younger reformers, leading to the development of many Reformed denominations, including the Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed churches.

Even though some people criticise Luther’s alliance with political powers, it was one of the wisest decisions he made. All the reformers who preceded him, despite their pure intentions, failed to achieve lasting change. However, many reformers after him who adopted his strategies were successful. This is a lesson we can learn. Jesus says in Matthew 10:16, and the Apostle Paul echoes in Romans 16:19, urging us to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Friends, let us maintain our pure intentions and goals of loving God and people, but let us also be wise and excellent in carrying out our missions as Luther did. Amen.