Who was Martin Luther?
Why should there be a Lutheran Church?

We certainly do not regard Luther as a 'Saint', but as a unique man of faith whose influence on the whole church is still being felt today. To see this, let's take a brief look at him discovering, living, teaching, and sharing the true Christian Faith.

DISCOVERING THE FAITH

Doctor Martin Luther lived in the late Middle Ages, a time of much ignorance and superstition. Dramatic events early in life led him to become a monk, believing believing that through holy living he could find peace with God. But Brother Martin's struggle for perfection only made hime more and more aware of his own failure to live up to God's standards. God seemed to him to be only an angry and condemning Judge ... he would have been lost in utter and destructive despair had it not been for a concerned superior who directed him into the pages of Holy Scripture to gain understanding of the God who not only Condemns but also who Saves!

Deep study of the Bible led him to become convinced that the Christian Faith is first of all about God lobing us despite our sin, sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for us and win us back for the Heavenly Father. God in His mercy changes wrong to right, evil to good, death to life - we cannot in our own strength even begin to doso. So Luther re-discovered the Gospel, the Good News that “He who is put right with God through faith shall live” (Romans 1,17)

During this time of struggle, study, and discovery Luther had been appointed as a teacher at the University of Wittenberg. The church authorities had recognised in him special talents.

LIVING THE FAITH

For Luther's discoveries soon led him into a new conflict, this time with people rather than God. He strongly opposed church practices and traditions which he now know went against a proper understanding of the Christian Faith. The storm broke loose over the selling of Indulgences, paper certificates which, it is claimed, would guarantee forgiveness of sin even without true repentance and faith. Luther saw this as a dangerous contradiction of the Gospel, and was determined to put a stop to it.

At that time, people who opposed the church were likely to be thrown into prison, or put to death as heretics. But Luther's strong faith gave him courage to stand up for what he firmly believed to be God's own truth. More and more people were coming to believe that church teahings should be based only on God's Word in the Holy Scriptures, and Luther was given protection by the political leaders in his part of Germany

The Roman Catholic Church expelled Luther and those who agreed with him, making it lawful for him to be killed as an outlaw without further trial. But by now a new Protestant or Lutheran Church was being born, for it no longer seemed possible to change the Roman Church from inside.

TEACHING THE FAITH

The new Church had many of the problems of the old. Many people did not know even the Lord's Prayer, Creed, or Ten Commandments. Luther worked long and hard to change this: the Bible, and the Services of the church were put into the language of the common people. Hymns were written for congregations to sing, not choirs only. Sermons were regularly preached, and for the first time in many years God's people were fed with His Word of life. Luther also wrote a brief handbook - Catechism - of Christian teaching. This set our for adults and children alike the key points of Christian Faith that everyone can and should know and understand. So successful was this little book that Luther's Small Catechism is still used today throughout the Lutheran Church, in all languages

SHARING THE FAITH

The work of Martin Luther was not for Germany alone. his discovery of the Gospel spread throughout all Europe, and many people came to Wittenberg to learn from him and many more read his writings. Two early English Bibles were prepared by men, Tyndale and Coverdale, who were greatly influenced by Luther. Many of the leading writings of the Church of England showed the marks of Lutheran work.

Luther struggled throughout his life for a common understanding of Christianity to hold sway. He put much energy into defending the truth of God's Word among the new Protestant Churches; the Lord's Supper and Baptism were tow matters of special concern. Sadly, differences remained. In human terms, the endeavor to reform the church only succeeded in splitting it. But today most churches recognise their debt to Martin Luther: the freedoms we enjoy to worship God and hear the Gospel, to read the Scriptures and to teach our children the way of faith - all of these are part of the great legacy left us by Doctor Luther