Concerning Luther…

Well, the process of thinking this through has been quite rewarding. These days I get to work with some really amazing people. People who are working quite hard to try to make even a little positive difference. I’ve gotten to see these fantastic people live out their faith in very practical and very obvious ways. Needless to say in this stressful environment I’ve seen fantastic people, being for a moment, less than fantastic. I consider that a privilege. As I realize I am working right beside modern “heroes of the faith” I find myself thankful to be so close to them that I even see their mistakes.

I’ve looked in the mirror and had second thoughts. Should I have given money to that beggar today instead of insisting that he remove himself from my doorstep? I gave him water, I gave him fruit, and he insisted he “needed” money. “My son is sick”, “my mother is sick”, “I am sick” … “my problem”, “so hard”, “very poor”… the stories just keep coming and every time I find myself a little more frustrated. It’s hard to send these people away and not wonder, “Jesus, was that You?”

Some days can be very frustrating and frustration can often lead to a sharp answer or a less than kind look. Does that make me evil? Did that make Luther evil?

Luther’s day was quite primitive. As far as the true church of Jesus Christ there were a lot of problems that seem so obvious to us today. However, doesn’t the process of generating electricity seem obvious to us as well? Luther was given a revelation and he ran with it. I’m not sure he completely understood it. How could he? It was completely new.

We’ve seen other humans in this boat. Ironically, Peter is perhaps the best example of this. I say ironically because Peter’s is the “seat” that the pope sat in then and today. A group of humans get together every-so-often and choose the next “Peter”.

Lets consider Peter. What did he do when Jesus explained He must die? He jumped up and said “NEVER’!” … woops… for you that know your Bibles you know that led to a serious rebuke. Jesus said to him: “Step behind me Satan”…. definitely a woops. Don’t forget the whole ear chopping thing, and the denying Christ three times… Do you remember “Do you love me… do you love me… do you love me…….” … Yep, Peter again. Wow, what was Jesus thinking when he proclaimed that “on this rock [HE] would build His church.” Seriously.

I bet He was thinking the same thing when he revealed (revealed = revelation) to Luther a change that needed to come. I bet He was thinking… “here we go again.” It’s encouraging to look back on. To see that with all of his arrogance, impatience, and plain ignorance Jesus could still use Luther. Luther didn’t ruin God’s plan even though many of the things he did may well have. At some point he just drew his sword and started swinging. Thankfully Jesus was there to put the guard’s ear back on…

So to sum it up I think it’s like this… Maybe he was just a human being doing what human beings do. Messing something else up, and only by the grace of God having any good come from it.

So maybe Jesus can use me too?

Lord thank you for using me, despite me.

Okay, here are the answers:
1. It depicts the Pope and his Bishops being birthed from the rear-end of a devil, nursed by demons, and sent to earth. The second is similar only the demons are taking them back with them.
2. “Birth and Origin of the Pope” was commissioned by Martin Luther, and created by artist Lucas Cranach as one of 8 illustrations for Martin Luther’s “Against the Papacy at Rome, Founded by the Devil” year 1545. There are many more than just the 8, but they are quite a bit less appropriate than the one I used and would likely get my site marked adult content.

Yes, Martin Luther. One father of the reformation that every protestant church in existence began with. Martin Luther, who is highly esteemed as a hero of the faith. The same guy…

Think about it, if you think society has been desensitized in the last 40 years try in the last 462 years. If that image is disturbing today, and it should be, imagine the impact it had in the Vatican in 1545. Consider what a common person must have thought seeing such a thing. That was over-the-top. It makes me wonder how many other artists refused to do it before Luther found someone willing to blaspheme the Catholic church in such a way.

So we must wrestle through a dilemma. Martin Luther, man-of-God, just-plain-man, or even evil?

Think about it… I’ll get back to ya.