Reformation Season Begins
This past weekend, our senior’s group again hosted a one-man performer who portrayed Martin Luther, the man who, 500 years ago, unwittingly created a new sect of Christianity –Protestantism.
It was an excellent performance and audience members (many of whom have been Lutherans for decades) commented that they’d learned a few things they hadn’t known about Luther. Like the fact that a month before he posted the 95 Thesis against the Catholic practice of selling indulgences, he’d written and published a separate 97 Thesis1 denouncing the use of logic and human philosophy to make oneself right with God2.
As a life-long Lutheran myself, I’ve known who Martin Luther was, and known his general conversion story since I was a child in Sunday school. I was confirmed using the small Catechism that he wrote, I regularly use Luther’s Morning and Evening prayers, and I enjoy singing many of the 40 hymns credited to him.
But seeing him depicted in this weekend’s play, really helped to bring to life his mindset. And I enjoyed the personality the actor gave this enigmatic figure from history.
It’s interesting to me that Luther never set out to be a great man; never set out to have an entire Christian denomination named after him, let-alone to create an entire new sect of Christianity. Indeed, Luther’s main goal was to show the Catholic church where it was deviating from scripture and to get it back on course. Alas, they did not agree, and denounced Luther and his teachings to the point of not only excommunicating him from the church, but condemning him as a heretic which carried with it the risk of execution by burning at the stake.
Luther’s first hymn, written in 1523 was about two young men who had exactly that death when they were martyred for their faith. According to the play, Luther thought that he would be the first to be martyred and was moved by the faith of these steadfast believers to write a ballad about the men. The audience sang verses from the hymn, “A New Song Here Shall Be Begun,” as part of the play this weekend. I’d never known the story about these two men, John and Henry, who were Augustinian friars from Belgium who were executed for their beliefs. I’m grateful to have heard their story through the hymn and humbled that they were willing to die for their faith. I’m blessed to live in a society that allows me to practice my faith without having to fear for my life.
Perhaps you’re wondering exactly what Martin Luther taught that was so divisive? The best way to summarize it is Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura), Grace Alone (Sola Gratia), Faith Alone (Sola Fide). In effect, the Bible is the only and final authority on God’s Word for the Christian. The Bible tells us that we are sinners in need of a Savior and it is by grace alone, that we receive that salvation. (“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24) Finally, there is nothing that we can do to earn that salvation. It’s only by having faith in Christ Jesus that we obtain it. (“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9)
By saying scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Luther was contradicting the Pope’s authority and the expectations the church set for how believers were to demonstrate their faith and repentance through indulgences.
As the Lutheran church year comes once again into October and the celebration of the Reformation, I find comfort in the reminders of God’s promise of salvation and his assurance that by believing we are assured of eternal life with him. I’m grateful for Luther’s work that is still relevant today. And I’m blessed with the assurance that even though I still sin, even though I don’t want to, God’s gift of salvation fully applies to me. I pray that everyone on earth comes to realize their own need for salvation. And I pray that they can enjoy the same comfort, peace and assurance of God’s grace, his undeserved gift of salvation, for themselves.
And, I want to assure you that as certain as I am about my salvation and my place in heaven, I am equally certain that there will be Catholics, and people from untold other faiths along with me there. There will be people who committed sins of every type in heaven, too. Because while men see the outward appearance of how a person lives in the light of Christ, God judges what is in a person’s heart and ultimately it is God’s judgement that will determine where a person spends their eternity. (1 Samuel 16:7, John 5:24)
Here’s the video of the 2025 performance of “An Evening with Martin Luther.” With two acts, “Luther Speaks” and “Luther Marries.” I’ll edit this post to include this year’s production where Dr. Johnson performed “Luther Sings” and “Luther Posts” as soon as it’s available on YouTube, or you can subscribe to the YouTube channel to get notified when its uploaded.
Until we meet again, take care and God bless!
Sources:
- https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1897/luthers-97-theses/
- https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/luther-97-theses/
- https://www.catholic.com/tract/assurance-of-salvation
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