It is worth research about the life and works of Martin Luther. Many times Martin Luther is accounted as a legend who broke the solid ground of dark age and open the door for the new world, bring the light into the room, not only religiously but also socially. It is true and undeniable. However if one regard history thus, not as continuous movement of causes and ramifications but an event ex nihilo, history may lose its reliability rapidly. True, Luther is the hero of Protestant Church and also the legend for the Reformation but it should be all about Jesus not Luther. Therefore history gets clearer window for whomever wants to look into it when Luther’s work is accounted as the hinge that swings door to open from dark to new, Medieval to Reformation, pinnacle of the all that was developed before not as the solitary event. However one mystery still remains. Why Luther? After all those movement has been developed for that very moment of October 31st. But why God chose Luther?
“Arise, O Lord, and judge thy cause a wild boar has invaded thy vinyard.”
Thus began the introduction to Exsurge Domine, the papal bull published by Leo X against Luther. When Luther burnt it in front of the public did he have too much confidence on Frederick the wise or was it a mere reflection of his character? Quite a character Luther was; he could not take “No” for his assertion. “I cannot deny that I am more vehement than I should be.” said he. Luther was bull-headed, coarse-tongued and intemperate. It seemed there were no one other than Katherine von Bora who could calm him down. While others thought that he was very difficult person to be with for his temperament, it was evident he genuinely thought that was only of necessity. Although he wrote in his journal as all his life was patience that he had to out up with the pope, the heretics, family and Katie he always loved Katie, “his rib” and whole heartedly concerned for the family and church. This might be one reason why the LORD chose him.
Luther’s genuine love for his wife was never questioned despite of those harsh words came out of Luther’s mouth to her. It was also evident that Katherine truly loved Luther until last day of her life, that she knew his heart. It also might be a reason regardless of his temperament God used him mightily for the Reformation for the corrupted church. Some said he was a man of grand contradiction. But he himself looked at it differently. “I was born to war with fanatics and devils.” So most times he actually seemed gentle but other times when it was necessary in his conviction, he was an angry man. “Anger refreshed all my blood, sharpens my mind, and drives away temptations,” said Luther.
And also comparing with “love and gentleness in all times”-Erasmus may give another insight. Although both counted the Bible as their supreme law of life and both became the giant figures of the Reformation it was Luther who walked all the way up from his conviction of sin while Erasmus was more in a judging side of others. When Luther was angry it was plausible to think that he was either angry on himself or indignation of God he was expressing.
The sociopolitical and historical background of Luther’s day definitely needed someone like Luther who can break the ground and even jump into the fire not like for the truth. Luther could be transformed into someone totally different in that regard and no doubt God would used him however could have taken longer to see the reformation. It is true “that the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). But it is also true that “to everything there is a season, a time to love and a time to hate” (Eccles. 3:1, 6).
All the reasons men can give for the great success of the Reformation, however still Jesus is the beginning and the ending of all great event. After all, history is His story and never less. Amen.