Martin Luther was a devout man who was training to be a lawyer, but because of a promise he made during an electrical storm, changes course and becomes a priest. His father disapproves of his son’s choice, but Martin Luther is obeying what he considers a higher authority. His first mass, in front of his family, is a disaster, as he is nervous and forgetful, spilling wine on the altar. He hears voices, is conflicted and is emotionally unstable, hardly a leader of men early on. He is a man who is afraid, unsure and shaken in his religious faith.
What makes Martin Luther different is that he questions church doctrine in his quest to have a more spiritual, more perfect communion with God. He wants to know God as an individual. This expression of individuality is a hallmark of the Renaissance and Luther’s expression of individuality in his observance of faith is perhaps the first break with the church that eventually leads to the Protestant Reformation.
The corruption of the church, the violations of celibacy by clergy, the sale of religious icons, indulgences , even the requirement that parishioners pay for the holy sacraments and the ignoring of church rules debase the church and compromise it’s moral authority. Luther himself starts to lose his faith in such an environment. His love of God and concern for the church motivates him to act to create change, to reform. This was what he was asking for.
He came to the conclusion that faith is the source of salvation, not useless ritual, that faith is what uplifts man to God and that the love of the creator for his creation is what gives man eternal life.
Notice that in every case, Luther is hesitant to confront the authority of the church directly. He merely questions established church doctrine and practice, citing the Bible as his authority. Yet, his questions cause others to question as well and this leads to a direct challenge to church authority.
Is Martin Luther, at least at this stage, a radical? Is he a revolutionary? Is he a reformer? What kind of a man is Martin Luther and what is he asking for? Does he seem like the kind of man who could lead a revolution? Most importantly, do you agree with Luther’s criticisms of the Church and his conclusions about the nature of faith? How do you see the intellectual values of the Renaissance guiding Luther in his quest to understand his own faith and reform the church?
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