Luther Reflection

Main Point: Upset with the decision of the Roman Catholic Church to sell indulgences in Germany Martin Luther wrote to his bishop, Albert of Mainz.

Martin Luther’s Letter to the German nobility condemned many of the Catholic Churches practices that Martin Luther believed reflected a corrupt church and described his growing opposition to the pope. Martin Luther believed that the pope should not have any authority over the emperor unless it is for spiritual offices. He believed that the only time, out of religious situations, the pope should feel above the emperor is when he anoints and crowns him at the altar. Martin Luther also did not understand the point or agree with pilgrimages or supports the facts that priest were not allowed to marry. He believed that pilgrimages separated you from your family which you are suppose to protect, not leave and that by forbidding priest to marry you are going against God’s wishes. While Martin Luther does not agree with many of the Catholic Church’s practices, the purpose of this document is not to bring hate upon the pope and Catholic Church but rather bring light upon the early reformation and Luther’s new religious movement.

Martin Luther, born in 1483, grew up in a devout Roman Catholic household, where the church stood at the center of his world. However, he suffered at the hand of his parents’ harsh criticism. His father had emerged from the feudal system into the new middle class as a successful Coppersmith. His desire was for his son to also climb the social ladder. To assist with his son’s success, Luther’s father was a fierce judge of the character of his son, and often punished him severely for his failures. From these experiences, Luther developed a low self-esteem and fear of failure, which encroached on every aspect of his life, including his theology.

(pg 31) Luther was one of three professors who were sent to Wittenberg when the elector there asked the Augustinian and Franciscan orders to send them. Luckily for Luther for at this time his inner conflict was so great he, ‘would have sunk into hell,’ had it not been for Dr. Johann von Staupitz Vicar of the Augustinian Order. (pg 34) It was to Dr. Staupitz Luther continually went to in order to find guidance and solace. Dr. Staupitz tried all manners of reasoning and consolation in order to help Luther. Until finally he seemed to say, according to the author, “Physician, cure thyself by curing others…” and Luther was to be commissioned as a ‘teacher, preacher, and counselor to sick souls.’ (pg 42) It is at this point Luther started studying and expounding the Scriptures which lead him, eventually, to a confrontation with the Catholic Church. (pgs 43,44) His study of Scriptures built a foundation of knowledge in Luther which he was soon to find did not line up with the practice of the Church. His work was time consuming to the point where he wrote in 1516, “I could use two secretaries. I do almost nothing during the day but write letters. I am a conventual preacher, reader at meals, parochial preacher, director of studies, overseer of eleven monasteries, superintendent of the fish pond at Litzkau, referee of the squabble at Torgau, lecturer on Paul, collector

Martin Luther was a theology professor at Wittenberg University, and also a priest at the Wittenberg church of his city.Martin Luther’s job as being a priest was to take care of the church people’s salvation of their parish.This means that Martin Luther was in charge of making sure everyone confessed their sins so they could make it home to heaven.Martin Luther soon realized that no one was coming to him to confess their sins anymore.Luther figured out that people had been going to towns in Brandenburg to start buying their indulgences,which means people started paying for their salvation or their way into heaven.Martin Luther was not pleased by this action.Luther started preaching against the indulgence trade.

In 1483, Martin Luther was born in Saxony, Germany, it was a place far from the intellectual and cultural influence. However, Martin was a lawyer and he was aware of the failure of Europe’s religions, like the Catholic system of earning salvation. Martin was afraid of God and this gave him no peace. One day, as he was walking home, it started to rain tremendously and he prayed to God to keep him safe. He prayed if He kept him safe that he would become a monk and quit law school to study the gospels. He Eventually made it safe and he was fearful of God so he later quit law school and started to study and became a monk. Martin was always confessing to the priest at church because he wanted peace in his heart. But this made him feel empty inside,

Luther sees a vengeful God within the pages of the Holy Bible. He confesses even the smallest sins in hopes of cleaning his soul. Luther focuses on sin. He reads Erasmus’ Greek Bible and garners a new understanding of Scripture within its pages. Luther subscribes to Sola Fide (by faith alone), Sola Gratia (by grace alone), and Sola Scripture (by Scripture alone) view of teaching. Luther was very critical of the Church for selling indulgences to fill the coffers of the Church. Luther is so disgusted by this he writes down his 95 Thesis and pounds them onto the door at the University of Wittenberg. Luther wanted a discussion on the wrongdoings of the Church, but someone printed multiple copies of the 95 Thesis and passed them around. Although Luther never accused the papacy of wrongdoing, the damage was done. Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, in early 1521 called a diet at Worms. Luther appeared to face charges on his writings about the Church and stood by his words, refusing to repent. Charles V issued the Edict of Worms, in May 1521, declaring Luther an outlaw, banished his writings, and called for his arrest. Luther, however, walked out of the Diet unmolested, walked out of the city gates, and rode toward home. Luther was abducted on his way home and taken to a castle to hide out. While in hiding, Luther translates the Bible into German. Luther’s public absence, some

Martin Luther was just a monk and a professor at the university of wittenberg in Germany where he lectured on on the bible. He was part of the catholic community. But there was something from the church that he did not agree with. Indulgences, he agreed with everything else since he had been studying at the university but Luther felt that indulgences were just scamming people out of money. Luther believed that just by believing in god you would go to heaven not just by indulgences. So Luther decided to write a letter to the prince on how he felt and the prince didn't take it to well. The prince decided to kick him out of the catholic community and he felt that was to far and he got mad too. Then at that time the worlds look on the catholic

In order to get a better understanding of the motives behind Luther’s actions we first need to know more about him. Martin Luther was born on November 10th, 1483 in Eisleben, Saxony, which is now a part of modern Germany. Having grown up in poverty himself, Luther’s father “urged Martin to seek a law degree, hoping that Martin would continue to elevate the family status” (Linder, page 16). While attending law school he faced death during a terrible storm, and made a promise to St.Anne that if she saved him then he would become a monk. Having been spared he went to the local monastery two weeks later to fulfill his promise, and was ordained as a minister in 1507. He continued his devotion and “proceeded to take up the academic focus of his order, becoming doctor of Sacred Scripture in 1512 and, at the same time, assuming a professorship of the bible at the newly founded

Martin Luther was the son of a coal miner and left his studies to become an Augustinian monk. He spoke out against the church in Wittenberg. Luther was convinced that salvation was earned by the performance of good deeds and grace through the church. He disagreed and argued that salvation could only be obtained by faith in knowing Christ’s sacrifice. If one were to purchase indulgences, Luther thought that they were useless because one can only be saved by the grace of God. He also believed that Christian’s should assume full responsibility for their actions on earth. In 1517, Luther posted the Ninety-Five Theses on the church door in Wittenberg. This post was ninety-five issues he sought to bring up and dispute with the leaders of the Church

Martin Luther was born into a world of science and humanism; therefore, less theology. He studied liberal arts and law, per his strict father’s wishes. However, one day a fierce thunderstorm struck Luther. He called out to St. Anne, and promised he would become a monk if St. Anne would help save him. Well, he survived the storm, and studied theology at Wittenberg University. After throwing himself into the faith, he began to feel that the church was corrupt and diffusive.

Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk who believed the grace of God alone would justify fall humans. Luther one day translated the Bible into German unknowingly beginning the start of a radical religious revolution. Luther wanted to reform the Christian church of abuses. He wanted to return the church to its roots of Christianity and take away moderation. Luther believed in the reading of scriptures and finding the truth from within them. Robert Kolb believed, “Luther was filled with the dynamism that sprang from his spiritual conviction.” (267) He believed Luther inspired others to have a personal relationship with God and to inspire hope. Luther is depicted by many as a friend and a foe. People took his materials and thoughts and made them into ideas that could be used for their own purposes. Martin Luther has shaped the institutions and life of Christendom. He influenced his followers as a churchman and a teacher. Lutheran churches came to think of Luther as a prophetic hero and authority of faith. Some believed he was a servant of God, a prophet and the eschatological angel. Followers of Luther set about to change the institutions and ideas that were helping to keep the world together. Three conceptions of Luther’s emerged and grew even beyond his years.

To begin, Luther went against his father’s hopes of him becoming a lawyer instead; he joined a monastery in hopes of fulfilling salvation. In order to save his soul Luther decided to become a monk. The path he had chosen required him to devote to hours of prayer, fasting, and frequent confession. Luther became obsessed with the idea of being saved. It got to the point where he felt it was necessary to continuously confess sins that he was not physically committing but rather internally in his mind. Luther began to feel the anxiety due to the uncertainty of his salvation as many others did. Seeing him suffer, Luther’s prior sent him to Wittenberg to study and teach. It was at Wittenberg that Luther began to question several of the doctrines of the Roman Church.

Even though Luther’s questions were quite humble rather than accusing, the Pope found Luther’s writings to be opposing in the teachings that the church dispenses. They gave him a recant and Martin refused and from this, the Pope excommunicated Luther from the catholic church. In 1521, Luther was in sight before the diet of worms in Germany and from refusing again to the recant, he finished his evidence in a statement saying “Here I stand. God help me. I can do no other”1. Later his writings were burned, but he didn’t stop. Hiding in Eisenach, he began on a major life project. this was to translate the new testament into German. This life project took him ten

Martin Luther is a very important part in history. The roman catholic church was manipulating the townspeople of Rome into giving the church money to get the person's family out of purgatory. Purgatory is “ a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven.“ (cite) They made that up to gain a financial advantage to build the St. Peter's Basilica, an Italian Renaissance church in Vatican City. This form of dishonesty made Martin Luther angry. In “Martin Luther” the movie he said, “It was a scheme completely opposed from religion. That it’s only intent was to raise money for unprincipled men.” In 1517 the Basilica hadn’t been built. There were plans, but the work was stalled because Pope Leo the 10th didn’t have the funds. The Pope is trying to transform rome into a bigger and better place to live. They thought it would be a good idea to raise money through indulgences. No one sold more aggressively than Johann Tetzel. He would tell peasants that their dead relatives were screaming in pain in purgatory, begging for relief