Martin Luther

There have been countless biographies written about Martin Luther and several movies done as well. Last year I read a book by Eric Metaxes that was very enlightening. For those that have read the histories I do not wish to hash over the usual important facts, but rather the little known facts about how God dealt with and used Luther.

Martin Luther’s father was a middle class mine owner from Saxony. Luther did not grow up in poverty nor was his father a laborer. He was not born to an aristocratic father, but his mother was born with a title. Through this marriage, Hans Luther was able to obtain ownership of mining operations. The patron saint of miners was Saint Anne (the supposed mother of Mary). Through recent excavations of their home site these facts were discovered: they ate well and were somewhat well to do. Through financial gain Martin Luther was sent to become an educated man, an attorney. Attorneys often worked closely with high ranking officials and could even obtain positions of rank in society. This was the dream of Hans Luther. In Martin’s Erfurt University days, he was around a great deal of Catholic religious piety. There was a very serious and devout society in Germany, as opposed to the impious and disillusioned masses in Italy who were used to a corrupt and devious priesthood. Luther lived among the faithful who desired to live pious and holy lives in Catholicism of that time. Luther had a very sensitive conscience and as such was quite aware of his need to prepare himself for eternity.

One day as he was walking home he found himself amid an intense thunderstorm. As a deeply superstitious German Catholic he thought about death, his sins and unworthiness to go to heaven. He fell to the ground as the thunder clapped around him and cried out, “Help me Saint Anne and I will become a monk.” He was afraid to tell his overbearing and likely abusive father (beating children was the norm for the time) whom had his mind fixed upon the younger Luther becoming an attorney. So, instead he signed up in the Augustinian monastic order in Erfurt. He then later informed his father of his decision and entry into monastic life. Luther tackled his responsibilities with fervor and sought to gain entrance to heaven through his works. He confessed his sins many, many hours per day to his father confessor; at one point, the confessor stated, “You are speaking of trifles; come back when you have a real sin like fornication or drunkenness.”

He was so dedicated to find peace that he did all that he could to obtain it. But the harder he worked, the less peace he found. Then his father confessor, Johann von Staupitz, saw something in the young man, who had such a sensitive conscience and thought deeply and sincerely on spiritual matters. He suggested to Luther that he enter Theological courses and become a Doctor of Theology and teach in the University. Luther felt deeply unworthy to do so. But in time he submitted to his father confessor. He later become a theological professor at Wittenberg University.

Wittenberg was ruled by Frederick III, Elector of Saxony. His brother had inherited the more important. larger city. Thus, Frederick III had something to prove, to put his backwoods city on the map. Luther began to teach and wrestle with the Scriptures in Romans I. As he was teaching upon the Scriptures in Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone that believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, for in it is the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith,” it was revealed to him that the righteousness of God is actually given to the believer through his faith in Christ, not that the righteousness of God merely condemns the sinner.

Around this time the Pope was working on building Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. In order to do that, he sent indulgence sellers throughout Italy, France and Germany. At this time Johann Tetzel came into the Wittenberg area. Luther sought to start a dialogue among the professors and lawyers in Wittenberg. To do this a professor would write his points in Latin and request that scholars come and debate with him. Thus, on October 31, 1517 he wrote 95 theses (points of contention) to spark a debate about the use of indulgences among the faithful. He also posted a letter to a friend of his who was a professor in another city in Germany.

He was shocked and dismayed when he received copies of his 95 theses, translated into the German language, from someone with whom he had not corresponded. In fact, it was taken and translated into several languages and had gone to many places throughout the Holy Roman Empire. He had no intention of sending his work far and wide. He wanted a private discussion among scholars. Instead it went to the hands of churchmen, lords and peasants alike. Luther stumbled into the position of reformer without intent. This was of course, the sovereign plan of God going into action. As a stubborn man, Luther refused to back down or back away from his list of theses. In fact, he doubled down and, in the process, fell into the crosshairs of the Vatican. This drunken German monk (as Pope Leo disdainfully referred to him) dared question the historical teaching of the magisterium (the supposed developments of the Holy Catholic Church). Luther pointed out that in fact the historical Catholic Church never really declared indulgences as truthful or lawful. The main idea that Luther was attacking is this: the merits of Christ and the saints are held in a spiritual account that the pope presides over through his bishops and priests. As such, he can offer indulgences in order to dispense these merits to the faithful both on earth and in purgatory. These teachings were pieced together using various quotes from Catholic writers. Luther attacks these ideas as mere speculation, while the Scriptures gives a very clear and straightforward means of obtaining the merits of Christ. It is by God’s grace, through the means of faith alone: not by works at all. And through this faith the righteousness of God is imputed to the believer.

This merited the wrath of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. However, it brought great popularity to the city of Wittenberg and prominence to its prince, Frederick III. Thus, when the Pope demanded Luther report to the Court of the Inquisition in Rome, Frederick III refused to send him. At this time the Turks were slowly making their way into Europe from Istanbul and even attacked Vienna, Austria in the year 1529. Emperor Charles was busy raising an army to fight the Muslim Turks and therefore could not deal with the emerging Protestant movement across Europe, particularly growing strong in what is now Germany. As such he could not afford to anger the German princes because he needed their support in to fight the Turkish threat. Once he defeated the Turks and turned them back to Asia, he turned back to enforce his rule and Catholicism. After the death of Luther, he attacked Wittenberg and defeated it. It was far too late and the Reformation had taken hold throughout many areas of Europe.