Luther The Luther: Engaging Reformation And Modern Christianity

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LUTHER THE REFORMER HIS LIFE AND HIS LEGACY Kyle Sutton Engaging Reformation and Modern Christianity CH503-XD September 30, 2011 On November 10, 1483, Hans and Margarethe Luder ushered into life their second born son. As faithful Catholics, they quickly arranged for their child’s baptism and, because their son’s christening happened on the feast of St. Martin, the lad left the church that day named Martin, as was the custom of the day. Within a year of Martin’s birth, the Luder family moved from Eisleben (a small town in the region of Saxony in modern Germany) to a town 10 miles away: Mansfield. Perhaps a new town would offer better opportunities for livelihood.[1] Martin was the son of peasants. For peasants in the 15th…show more content…
There he was freed to study and wrestle with his spiritual burdens in a manner that shaped his conclusions that were to follow. His struggle with guilt and forgiveness were now pursuits of Theology rather than a personal and silent burden. Here a most important question was thrust upon him as he read the Bible, “What does this mean for me?”[5] This question was foundational as Luther learned the theology of the church and the theology of scripture. Years of study behind closed doors and through teaching matured these ideas that shaped the heart of the man that would challenge the most powerful spiritual office in the world (the Catholic Church) with 95…show more content…
Primarily, the theses were challenges to the selling of indulgences (more on indulgences below). Initially they met with unimpressive response. But when the impact of Luther’s ideas reached Rome’s ear, a landslide of activity ensued: two roman inquisitions against Luther (1518 and 1520), Luther is excommunicated after refusing to recant his teachings at the Diet of Worms (1521), increased threat of being killed as a heretic results in Fredrick the Wise hiding Luther at Wartburg Castle (1521-1522). Luther continued author papers on his thoughts and theology until his death in 1546. His courage to stand firm for faith, freedom, and education of every soul by the word of God changed the face of Christendom forever. Luther’s theology was a needed change for the times. But with new thinking comes a balance of correct and incorrect conclusions. Kittelson, James M. Luther the Reformer : The Story of the Man and His Career. Minneapolis: Augsburg Pub. House, 1986. ----------------------- [1] James M. Kittelson, Luther the Reformer : The Story of the Man and His Career (Minneapolis: Augsburg Pub. House, 1986), 31-32. [2] Ibid., 38-49. [3] Ibid.,

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