This Week in Church History – Nov 1 – Martin Luther

We pause for a few moments every week to take a look back through the pages of the history book of the church. We strive to find some truth and lessons from the events of the past that can help guide us through the decisions of today. The great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, once wrote, “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”

This week we want to take a look at one of the most significant events in the life of Martin Luther.

October 31, 1517

Legend tells the tale that Martin Luther posted his renowned “95 Theses” on the front door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. On a piece of paper nailed to the wooden door, Luther had written 95 revolutionary opinions about the doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Most scholars now believe the he, at least, also mailed them to the archbishop.

Though it was never his intention to divide the church, these observations became the wedge that forced a splinter in the Catholic Church and would begin what became known as the Protestant Reformation.

In these theses, Luther condemned the corruption found within the church. Particularly important to him was the papal practice of asking for payment for the forgiveness of sins. Pope Leo X was in the middle of a major fundraising campaign in Germany to finance the renovation of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The sale of indulgences had been banned in Wittenberg, but church members would travel to nearby towns to purchase them. When they returned, they had written proof of the pardons they had bought.

Luther | His Observations

Luther did not make the observations out of haste. He stopped preaching in April of 1517. Luther secluded himself to consider what he believed to be true about the Bible. He had to determine what he needed to do because of those beliefs.

Within hours, the paper quickly was copied, both by leaders of the Catholic Church and by German Christians. Luther had written the note in Latin, the official language of the Roman Church. Many believe that Luther wrote it in this way to spur conversation and debate among the theologians and scholars in Rome.

Locals translated the 95 Theses into German and widely distributed the ideas. Copies did make their way to Rome and official efforts began to convince Luther to recant his words and repent. Luther refused to keep silent and in 1521 Pope Leo X officially excommunicated Luther from the Roman Catholic Church.

Later that same year the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Germany issued the famous Edict of Worms. The declaration pronounced Luther to be an outlaw and a heretic. The document permitted anyone to kill Luther with no consequence. Luther was hidden and protected by Prince Frederick. During that time, Luther acted upon his conviction that people should be allowed to read the Bible themselves. Luther began working on a German translation of the Bible, a task that took him ten years to finish.

Luther | His Legacy

By the time Luther died in 1546 of natural causes, his beliefs formed the basis for the Protestant Reformation. The movement spread not only in Germany but throughout Europe. Over the next three hundred years, these beliefs would revolutionize civilization in the West.

There are two lessons from Martin Luther’s actions that we should continue today. First, he stressed that individuals needed to know what the Bible says and not rely only on the traditions and practices of the church. All of the reformers believed salvation comes through the Scripture alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone. These phrases are often called the “Five Solas of the Reformation” – sola is the Latin word for “only.”

Luther | His Lessons

Do you understand what you believe? People criticize – and rightly so – church leaders who have improper motives or make sinful decisions. Do you know your beliefs strongly enough that you can tell when you are presented with information that is opposed to the teaching of the Bible?

The second lesson to learn is that our beliefs should change our actions. Martin Luther was the son of a prominent businessman in Saxony. His father hoped that Martin would become a lawyer and sent him to the best schools to study law. Over halfway towards his law degree, Martin Luther found corruption within the legal system and the requirement to represent guilty people seemed incompatible with his faith. After hours of prayer and fasting and a troubled conscience, Luther left law school to become an Augustinian monk.

After hours of prayer and fasting, Luther decided he could no longer ignore the corruption within the Catholic church. His belief system was compelling him to take a stand.

Where has your faith compelled you to stand? Has it dictated the kind of job you have and how you behave there? Does it alter your behavior towards the lady behind the counter in our bid to correct problematic service? Will your faith guide how you vote in the election this coming week?

Luther concluded his 95 Theses with the words, “Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me.”

With God’s help, where do you stand?