A Martin Luther Story
Martin Luther gave his life in service to God as a Catholic monk. Instead of finding peace and refuge in his religious life, however, Martin found himself wrestling with doubt and fear of God’s wrath. The more he dug into the church, the more disillusioned he became by the teaching and leadership of the Pope and other leaders.
When Martin began to study the Bible for himself, he was amazed to learn that God never expected His followers to live perfect lives. Rather, He offers peace and salvation through faith alone. This discovery sparked a dramatic response from Martin that led to a new Bible translation and the founding of the Protestant tradition.
The Protestant Reformation & Bible Translation
One of Martin Luther’s controversial (at the time) projects was translating the Bible into German, his native language. At the time, the Catholic church only printed the Bible in Latin, making it impossible for most of the common people to read God’s Word for themselves. Instead, they had to rely on the teachings of the Pope and their local priests, who sadly did not always preach the truth. Martin Luther’s translation of the New Testament was a best-seller and helped improve overall literacy in Germany!
When Martin Luther began to question the teachings of the Catholic church, he probably never anticipated the dramatic impact it would have on Christianity as a whole. Yet today he is remembered for his faith and bravery in the face of threats from the Pope and other religious leaders. Protestant Christianity today has a broad definition and is reflected in many different traditions, but all of them can trace their heritage back to Martin Luther.
Resources for Further Learning
Want to learn more about Martin Luther and the ways God used his life to spark wide-spread church reforms? These are some of the books that were used for research while writing this story.
Martin Luther by Samuel Willard Crompton
A brief biography of Martin Luther, good as an introductory overview of his life.
Martin Luther: A Life by Martin Marty
Another brief biography of Martin Luther and his influence on Protestantism.
Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer | A Documentary from Ligonier Ministries
A great overview of Luther’s legacy and his role in the Reformation.