God's Generals - Martin Luther

MARTIN LUTHER (1483-1546)

By the end of the 14th century, the church had sadly fallen into a state of decline. Money and political interests had overtaken matters of faith. Bishops and church leaders sank into worldliness. Discontent grew among Christians. As a result, signs of resistance began to appear.

The first noticeable revolt against the Catholic Church was led by John Wyclif, a Bishop of the church. Yet, the most sustained revolt against the Pope and the church of Rome was led by Martin Luther.

Martin Luther was a son of a miner from Germany. He was raised in the Catholic Church. In 1507, he was ordained a priest of the church. Luther was a successful lecturer and a preacher but he wasn't at peace with himself.

In 1510, he went on a pilgrimage to Rome hoping to find internal peace. He then realized the church had lost the key to the kingdom of God.

Four years later, Luther began his main protest against the papacy and the Catholic Church. Luther's main protest with the church was because the church was selling Salvation to members of the church. It was this false doctrine that Luther challenged. Luther taught that salvation is a free gift from God, not something obtained by good deeds.

The church at Rome threatened him to stop preaching but he refused. Luther's fierce revolt against the church threatened the foundation of the church in Rome. He wrote many books propagating his message.

The common people who felt oppressed by the policies of the church supported Luther's fight against the Catholic Church. So when the church ordered Luther's books to be burnt, the people opposed it.

Things came to a climax when Luther was dragged before a council and asked to denounce his beliefs but he refused. He was then excommunicated from the church and banned from leaving the city.

In the period of his ban, he translated the Bible into German which greatly helped the Christians in Germany. Luther and his Pentecostal reformation had taken roots now. The root of the Catholic Church was cracking.

A lot of people were leaving the Catholic Church to join Luther's reformation.

Luther's followers were known as Lutherans.

In 1546, Luther died a peaceful death. Though he had critics, Martin Luther is remembered as the father of church reformation. The reason there are Pentecostal movements now is in large part down to the decision of Luther to revolt against the teachings of the church of Rome which he felt were unscriptural.

SOURCE: 70 GREAT CHRISTIANS BY GEOFFREY HANKS.