Wittenberg Journey: the 500Th Anniversary of Luther’S 95 Theses Divergent Discoveries—
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Wittenberg Journey: The 500th Anniversary of Luther’s 95 Theses Divergent Discoveries— CONTENTS 3 Bird watching by Ear to the editor Birdwatching 4 The Reluctant Monk 15 How Martin Luther Nailed It by Ear 23 95 Questions for Discussion 29 The Wheat and the Weeds 38 The Nerve and Imaginative Thought 40 Seeing Through 46 Scripture Puzzle: Sola Scriptura irding by Ear and Beyond” is PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM BACK COVER an educational program on the environment offered by the Across: University of Michigan-Dearborn to people who 2. Carved; 7. Tradition; 9. Anyone; “B are blind. The University’s website description 11. Rather; 13. Everlasting; 15. Impossible; includes this: “While an emphasis is placed 19. Remembrance; 20. Render; 21. Baptized; on bird identification by enhanced listening 22. Repairer techniques participants can expect to be Down: involved in a wide variety of activities, including 1. Contend; 2. Christ; 3. Heavens; 4. Falling; gardening, seasonal nature walks, and science 5. Without; 6. According; 8. Precious; experiments. The program is managed by UM- 10. Prevail; 12. Commandment; 14. Nothing; Dearborn Environmental Studies student Donna 16. Priesthood; 17. Mediator; 18. Written Posont, who is blind.” For more information, go to: http:// John Huss monument and Tyn Church in Facing page: A group of birders learning the outreach.umich.edu/programs/birding-by-ear- Prague, Czech Republic. different Michigan bird songs. and-beyond. 2 3 or most commoners in 15th century Europe, personal success was not a goal to be pursued. Peasants lived and died, Fgeneration after generation, doing and thinking The Reluctant much the same things as their parents and grandparents before them. Hans Luther, however, aspired to Monk something better for his family. The son of a farmer, Luther had turned to copper mining, and was successful enough that he took up copper smelting. By 1491, Hans and Margarette Luther were among the respected families in their town of Mansfeld, Germany. It was into by Bert Williams this family that Martin Luther was born. THE CHALLENGES OF THE TIMES It is almost impossible for us who live in the 21st century to imagine what it was like to live in Europe several hundred years ago. The church, frequently corrupt, dominated life as it had for more than a thousand years. Tribal conquests, famines, and disease ravaged the population. In the 14th century, circumstances became increasingly hard for many in Europe. Early in the century famines swept the landscape, culminating in the Great Famine of 1315-1317. Climate change was taking its toll. The lengthy warm period of previous centuries was giving Previous page: Wartburg Castle, near the town of Eisenach, where the exiled Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German. 4 5 way to the cooling trend sometimes known as day in a horrific thunderstorm that caused him the Little Ice Age. Successful harvests became to fear for his life. He cried out to Saint Anne, increasingly rare; nutrition became increasingly patron saint of miners, and promised that if he meager; it was harder to stay warm; resistance survived the storm he would become a monk. to disease dwindled. It was probably an idea that Martin had already In 1347 the Black Death struck. In three been seriously considering. Despite his father’s years the plague eliminated one-third of the disappointment, he entered an Augustinian European population. This had a negative effect monastery. throughout the economy as fewer laborers were available to work the fields. The demand for food ELUSIVE ENLIGHTENMENT had, of course, also decreased but an imbalance The monastery experience did not go between supply and demand continued, causing well for Luther. He did not find the peace disruption and unrest throughout society. And he had sought. Nevertheless, he pursued his the plague returned, sporadically, throughout academic studies relentlessly, impressing his the 14th century and into the 15th century, peers and superiors with a quick and retentive destroying families and much of society. mind. When he was 27, encouraged by his So much death caused a more urgent superiors who thought the experience would spiritual striving among the population, but this be inspirational for him, Luther was sent as a often resulted in the exploitation of uneducated delegate to a church conference in Rome. But and superstitious peasants by a corrupt clergy. the Vatican only left Luther more discouraged— disillusioned by the immorality and corruption YOUNG MARTIN that was so evident in the heart of the church. This was life in 1483 when baby Martin Continuing his search, Luther enrolled was born to Hans and Margarette. Because in the University of Wittenberg, earning a his parents were more forward thinking than doctorate and eventually becoming a professor most, young Martin was enrolled in school at of theology at the university. Gradually, age 7, and was encouraged to study hard. through his study of the Bible—an unusual Taking naturally to books, he graduated with a pursuit for the times—Luther began to find masters degree in grammar, logic, rhetoric, and answers that calmed the spiritual torment with metaphysics by age 18. which he had struggled for many years. Hans Luther had hoped that his son would He studied Psalm 22. Jesus had cried out become a lawyer but Martin was caught one words from this Psalm while hanging on the cross: 6 7 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” of Indulgences for Archbishop Albrecht von The psalmist’s words mirrored Luther’s own Brandenburg in the dioceses of Magdeburg and heart cry and, strangely, brought him a Halberstadt. This included the region where measure of peace. Luther lived and worked. In promoting the sale Two years later, as he studied Paul’s letter of indulgences, Tetzel promised purchasers full to the Romans, Luther encountered the words forgiveness, even for sins not yet committed. that would upend his life, and subsequently The proceeds, it was said, would support the that of the European continent. In Romans reconstruction of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 1:16-17 Luther read, “I am not ashamed of Luther began to preach openly against the the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God idea that forgiveness could be purchased with to salvation for everyone who believes. For cash. On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed his in it the righteousness of God is revealed from soon-to-be-famous 95 Theses to the door of faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live the Castle Church in Wittenberg. The act was, by faith’” (NKJV). in itself, not especially unusual or controversial. “The just shall live by faith” was quoted by Church doors, in that time, often served as the apostle Paul from Old Testament prophet community bulletin boards, and Luther also Habakkuk. It was the insight that Luther had sent a copy of the document to Albrecht von sought for years, and he drank from it as a Brandenburg, the Archbishop of Mainz, with thirsty man from a cold spring. This scripture the intention that the 95 Theses be considered inspired and energized the remainder of propositions for academic debate. Luther’s long, turbulent, and productive life. Tetzel was not easily convinced to cease Philip Melancthon, younger colleague of his efforts. He publicly railed against Luther, Luther, described the impact of Luther’s insight claiming the support of the pope, and urging on the theological world of his time: “They that Luther be declared a heretic and executed. beheld, as it were, Christ, the prophets and The Elector of Saxony, Frederick III, also apostles brought out of darkness. They known as Frederick the Wise, did not agree perceived the distinction between the law and with such rash judgment. Frederick consulted the gospel.” with other academics, including the noted scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam who responded CONFRONTATION that, in his opinion, Luther was correct in In January 1517 a Dominican friar, his theology but was perhaps “wanting in Johann Tetzel, was appointed Commissioner gentleness of spirit.” 8 9 Luther, at one point, apparently agreed Unless I am convinced by the testimony to maintain silence if his opponents would of the Scriptures or by clear reason do the same. However, the controversy had (for I do not trust either in the pope been set ablaze and was not to be so easily or in councils alone, since it is well controlled. known that they have often erred and In June of 1520, Pope Leo X issued his contradicted themselves), I am bound papal bull “Exsurge Domine” (“Arise, O Lord”) by the Scriptures I have quoted and in which he declared that there were 41 errors my conscience is captive to the Word in Luther’s 95 Theses and other writings. of God. I cannot and will not recant Luther was summoned to appear to answer anything, since it is neither safe nor the pope’s charges. Frederick obtained an right to go against conscience. May God agreement that Luther was to be promised safe help me. Amen. passage to and from the meeting. Eck responded that Luther was acting the part From January to May 1521, Emperor of a heretic. Charles V presided over the imperial assembly Despite the promise of safe passage that known as the Diet of Worms. With other topics had been negotiated by Frederick, a strong on the agenda, Luther’s theology did not come suspicion prevailed that Luther was soon to be to the fore until the middle of April. arrested. Acting on this suspicion, Frederick had Luther apprehended as he traveled the road THE CLIMAX back toward Wittenberg. He was spirited off to In the afternoon on April 17 Luther Wartburg Castle near the town of Eisenach 165 appeared before the assembly.