The title may catch you at a surprise. In fact, the title is taken from a paper I wrote on Martin Luther in college. The professor, an avid movie goer, found it quite humorous. I wish I had time to tell you the long story of Martin Luther and the trials he faced. He was a man who we would have some theological differences in our day, but nonetheless a man we are completely indebted to. The Church, let alone the world, would look a lot different if it was not for this German monk. Growing up, Luther's father had a set plan of making a lawyer out of Martin and, thus, taking care of the family. After some schooling, Martin became dissatisfied with certain studies (law and philosophy) because none of them lead to real answers. He decided to leave his these studies to become a monk. He said his decision was based off a certain experience he had. This experience was described by Martin as a lightining bolt striking near him while he was walking outside. Out of fear he cried out, "Help! Saint Anna, I will become a monk!" This was a vow he felt he would have to keep. Martin was a very devout monk and disciplined himself greatly. It was said that he could spend hours in confession with the monastic father. However, it was through these "deeds" Martin was trying to find salvation. He struggled with the idea of God being a judgmental God while allowing us to be born with a sin nature (He said, "God threatens us with the torments of fire"). This lead him to have a strong view of his own sinfulness (not necessarily a wrong thing, but I would like to explain this concept in a later blog). The monastic father told him to look to Christ to find the love of God. This monastic father sent Martin to pursue an academic career. Martin would receive two Bachelors, a Master's, and was awarded a Doctorate of Theology, thus making him a professor. At this point, Martin was fustrated with the Roman Catholic Church (specifically the unbiblical and ungodly acts committed by the Catholic leadership). This fustration came out of the fact that the Pope was promoting the selling of indulgences (buying others way into Heaven and knocking off one's own years spent in Purgatory) and use of relics (relics were "artifacts" that were aparently things like a splinter from Jesus' cross, John the Baptist's skull, etc. Martin took a stand in two ways. Martin nailed a copy of the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg and wrote many books against certain practices. Therefore, the Reformation began. Martin was ordered to appear before the Diet (general assembly of the Roman Empire estates) of Worms. He was ordered to recant his works and here are his words: "Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason. I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other, my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." I would love to continue telling you what happened in this great man's life and the many contributions he has made in the faith (particulary his explanation of the doctrine of justification by faith alone [not by works], books [Bondage of the Will], hymns [A Mighty Fortress is Our God], and his translation of the Bible into the common German language for the common people). One of my favorite quotes of him is this: "The whole being of any Christian is Faith and Love...Faith brings the man to God, love brings Him to men."
