On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther
presented his 95 thesis and thus sparked the Protestant Reformation. There are
few people that have had such an impact not only upon the history of
Christianity, but also upon the world. In his time the world was divided about
him. One Catholic thought Martin Luther was a “demon in the appearance of a
man.” Another who first questioned Luther’s theology later declared, “He alone
is right!” As we look back with nearly 600 years of perspective we can say he
was not right about everything by any means, but he was a huge step in the
right direction. He was a tremendous theologian, communicator, and world changer;
few in history compare.
Luther
entered collage at the age of 13 to study law and completed his bachelors and
masters degrees in the shortest time allowed. As a young man Luther was caught
in a severe thunderstorm. Fearing for his life he pledged to become a monk if his
life was spared. He fulfilled his promise and immersed himself in the practices
of being a monk. While Luther prayed, fasted, went without sleep, endured cold,
and flagellated himself he found that could not find the peace he sought with
these means. He later wrote, “If anyone could have earned heaven by the life of
a monk, it was I.”
Everything
changed when Luther began studying the text of Romans in depth. When he read
Romans 1:17 “the righteous shall live by faith” he despaired because he knew he
was not righteous and he was convinced that God would punish him. He was given
the task to teach the book of Romans and in the middle studying to teach he
came to a new understanding. “At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of
God, I … began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through
which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith.… Here I felt as if
I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates
that had been flung open.”
This
understanding that salvation does not come through works was revolutionary for
his time. On October 31, 1517 Luther publicly objected to the selling of
indulgences (a means of buying forgiveness for you or on behalf of dead loved
one). The sales pitch that was used to sell them went like this, “Once the coin
into the coffer clings, a soul from purgatory heavenward springs!”
Luther wrote 95
theses to be discussed and posted them on the church door of the church in Wittenberg,
Germany. Here is a link if you care to read them:
In his later
life Luther said many things that are not worthy of reprinting or even considering.
However, his accomplishments are vast. He translated the Bible into German;
many consider modern German to be largely formed by this translation (in much
the same way Shakespeare helped to define modern English). He wrote many hymns
the most famous and enduring is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Before Luther
it can be argued that there was no congregational singing. It is fair to say he
sparked not only a religious reformation, but a cultural one as well in which
the Middle Ages came to an end.
On this day in
which many go trick or treating and dress up in costumes, let us also remember
the works of Martin Luther.
Here are this week's texts:
October 31, 2013 Jer 9:17–11:23, 1 Tim 3:8–4:16, Ps
119:89–96, Prov 26:18–20
November 01, 2013 Jer 12–14, 1 Tim 5, Ps 119:97–104,
Prov 26:21–22
November 02, 2013 Jer 15–17, 1 Tim 6, Ps 119:105–112,
Prov 26:23–25
November 03, 2013 Jer 18–20, 2 Tim 1:1–2:13, Ps
119:113–120, Prov 26:26–28
November 04, 2013 Jer 21–23, 2 Tim 2:14–26, Ps
119:121–128, Prov 27:1–2
November 05, 2013 Jer 24–25, 2 Tim 3, Ps 119:129–131,
Prov 27:3–4
November 06, 2013 Jer 26–28, 2 Tim 4, Ps 119:132–136,
Prov 27:5–7
November 07, 2013 Jer 29–30, Titus 1:1–2:10, Ps
119:137–144, Prov 27:8–9
November 08, 2013 Jer 31:1–32:25, Titus 2:11–3:15, Ps
119:145–152, Prov 27:10–12
November 09, 2013 Jer 32:26–34:22, Philem, Ps
119:153–160, Prov 27:13–15
November 10, 2013 Jer 35–37, Heb 1:1–2:9, Ps
119:161–168, Prov 27:16–17
