Martin Luther now and then

Lucas Cranach the Elder, one of the most important German Renaissance artists painted this very famous portrait of Martin Luther.

“When the Devil becomes old, He becomes religious”

Martin Luther fascinates me. My wife Inger keeps referring to an old Swedish adage that perhaps fits me perfectly: “När Fan blir gammal, blir Han religiös.” Or in God’s own language: “When the Devil becomes old, He becomes religious.” 

That’s part of the truth. The other part is this. I was baptized, confirmed and married twice in the Lutheran church. I earned a Bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, a Lutheran school. For the past 35 years or so I’ve lived in Sweden, which until a few years ago was a Lutheran church state. So either directly or indirectly, Martin has been part of my life. In my view, that’s good enough reason to want to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and spiritual aspects influencing my being.

My interest in Luther has led me to read a number of books. Two of them are straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak: Luther’s Breviary, and The Table Talk of Martin Luther.

Then two biographies: Roland Bainton’s classic, Here I Stand: a life of Martin Luther Martin Marty’s biography of Martin simply titled, Martin Luther. Erik H. Erikson’s, Young Man Luther, a classic psychobiography sheds light on how human development and identity crisis bear on Luther.

Hans-Martin Barth’s, The Theology of Martin Luther: A Critical Asssessment, examines Luther’s theology to determine if Luther has anything to say for us today. Scott H. Hendrix’s Martin Luther, a very short introduction discusses the context in which Luther lived and worked. Andrew Pettegree’s Brand Luther, focuses on the influence of printing in Luther’s time and the development of the Reformation.

These factors influenced Martin’s world view and he had a lot to say regarding these concepts. At the end of this article, I speculate on the role of the Lutheran church and of the church in the secular world generally and in Sweden specifically.

Following are thoughts gleaned from my reading that exemplify Luther’s views on topics such as the scriptures, suffering, forgiveness of sins, salvation and eternal life as well as reason vs. faith.

Luther: a man of his times

Luther’s theology has to be viewed against the background of the time he lived 500 years ago. He was not a modern man but a creature of the middle ages, a time when witches and poltergeists and other beings from the supernatural were believed to be natural hazards. Religion at this time was a big item in peoples’ lives.

Christians were preoccupied with the 'Last Judgment', a final accounting of the life they lived in which all sins would be balanced against the good. People lived in fear of going to Hell, and prayed relentlessly for the souls of those who had died. The theme of life was total obedience: to elders, to the Church, to God. All of these factors had a lot to do with Luther and the way he thought and spent his days on the planet. 

And then there’s the stereotype Lutheran lifestyle attributed to Martin. "Luther did it to us." Dutiful, efficient, self-critical, sexually repressed and generally boring. Perhaps the motto of Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden says it all: “Duty before all,” roughly translated.

The Luther I’ve read hasn’t left me with this impression. Perhaps he is misinterpreted when Lutherans, his descendants, are said to stand only for duty and virtue. For instance, in Table Talk, his advice to those who suffer from depression is as follows: “When you are tempted by depression or despair or a guilty conscience, then you should eat, drink and seek companionship. If thoughts of women please you, then be happy with them.”

But Luther lives on today. For example, when Angela Merkel, the daughter of a Lutheran priest, insists that austerity is the answer to the European Union’s financial problems, Martin would no doubt agree with her. And if this is true for Germany, it probably holds true for Sweden as well. In spite of widespread secularism, Lutheranism’s general impact on the moral and ethical, cultural and spiritual aspects of life in Sweden is difficult to deny.

Pithy vernacular and the Devil

I’ve read Martin Luther’s writings exclusively in English. But if the translation from German is true to his original text, he’s a joy to read. It often said that Luther’s impact on the German language could be compared with that of Shakespeare’s on English.

His verbal mastery spanned a wide spectrum from the lyrical to the downright vulgar. Following are two examples of typical Luther rhetoric, the first vulgar and the second lyrical.

“If I break wind in Wittenberg, it can be smelled in Rome.” Obviously, Luther and Rome didn’t care much for each other.

As regards the devil, Martin’s expression was lyrical. “It is true that the Devil allows himself to be seen and heard at various times and in various guises. In these cases, cry out to God and let the devil then rant and rage as much as he wants. Secure in your faith tell him: “You are the devil and you will remain the devil. I, however, am a Christian and have a stronger master than you, so please leave me alone!

In my view, the devil is not an important factor generally or in Sweden today, but the concept of evil is. In fact, Lutheran theologians in Sweden some time ago voted to eliminate the existence of the devil. The word devil is djävul in Swedish. In my mother tongue, if the d is removed from devil, what’s left. Evil! Would the theologians deny the existence of evil?

Ordinary people can’t deny evil either. For example, today some 60 million refugees are fleeing their homes as a result of war and persecution, according to the United Nation Commission on Refugees. Clearly, they aren’t fleeing from the good life. That’s just one example. The news media is full of other examples. Especially today.

Eternal life by faith, “and by faith alone”

Martin Luther makes sense as a wrestler and a good part of his wrestling match is with the devil, who he sees everywhere. But only by faith, “and by faith alone,” as he so often put it, could the devil be defeated. And, thereby, salvation and eternal life gained. “If you have oiled your carriage with the oil of faith, then it will roll on unhindered.” Another example of Luther’s eloquence.

Eternal life? Who knows? Concepts such the the Second Coming, Resurrection from the Dead and Final Judgment that were regarded as truths during Luther’s time have today more or less disappeared. But Lutheran values and spirituality live on.

In my view, Luther had exceptional insight into human behavior. If faith can be positive thinking and the devil as everything evil in peoples’ lives, then perhaps it’s possible to interpret Luther and his writings as self-help literature. Just a thought.

Scripture

Luther knew the scriptures backwards and forwards. The church that grew from his theology became known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church with evangelical meaning based on the Gospel. The scriptures were Luther’s defense against his opposition. For them, Luther was a tough nut to crack. How could Luther’s opposition argue against Scripture and still profess Christianity?

Luther was an applied theologian. He saw himself as an interpreter of Scripture and as a theologian in a broad sense. In his translations from original texts, he sought to discover the literal meaning of a scriptural passage and interpret it with a clear purpose. Foremost, his interest was the glory of God and the salvation of humans.

Lutherans as sufferers

Lutherans are often typified as sufferers. They are accused of having to “suffer before they can enjoy.” There is little in Luther’s writings that I’ve read that disputes this contention. Why Luther’s obsession with suffering? He put it this way: “Suffering robs people of all certainty, until they find no place to go except to the God of mercy and grace.” In other words to Jesus, the New Testaments God.

The Law, the Gospel and forgiveness

Luther distinguishes between the Law as expressed in the Old Testament and the Gospel. The Gospel grants forgiveness while the law does not. Martin said, “God has given us the Word that stands above the Law and the Word is called the Gospel, which dispenses the forgiveness of sins, righteousness and life by the grace of God.”

Luther continues: "Christ can be understood as both a gift and as an example. For the Christian, he shows examples of how we are to treat our fellow men."

From firebrand to reactionary

Later in life, Luther became sour about many things happening around him and this led him to become critical in not always a good way. Luther, the firebrand. ended up in middle-class comfort, defending Germany's system of princely government and urging peasants to accept their station in life. And, he was critical of Jews whom he thought he could convert to Christianity.

Lutheranism today

In my view, if the Lutheran church today were to strictly follow the way of life Luther proposed for his followers during his time on the planet, it would quickly catapult into obscurity. Lutheranism today seems considerably less doctrinaire.

Today the Swedish Church and the Christian Church in general are losing members, which also means that the church is losing the resources needed to get the job done - money.

According to the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, at yearend in 2014, 67.5 percent of Swedes were members of the Swedish church. Until 2020, the church expects that that figure will have fallen to just below 60 percent, or one million fewer members seen from a ten-year period.

Why fewer Church members?

Member surveys show that those who have left the Church indicate economic reasons, or that they do not share the faith.

Economic reasons. Church tax paid by members depends on two factors: income and the parish a member belongs. The national average of the church tax in 2015 is 1.00% of municipal taxable income. In Saffle for 2014 it was 1.14%.

Everyone who is registered in Sweden pays a mandatory funeral tax. The national average fee for 2015 was 0.24% of the municipal taxable income. In Saffle for 2014 it was 0.43%.

Those who do not share the belief, often believe that the church is only worship services on Sundays. If church attendance on Sundays is to be used as a measure of the Church's influence on individuals and society at large, then there is not much hope for the Church.

According to the Dagens Nyheter, attendance at Sunday worship services in the Swedish Church has fallen slowly. In 2000 the total number was 21.4 million, in 2010 it was 17.2 million and in 2014 it was 15.4 million.

The Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and science – reason if you will – have been tough, not only on Lutheranism, but on Christianity on the whole. Concepts that were central in Luther’s theology are today often regarded as products of the middle ages and passé. What happens to us after death is regarded as not so important. On the other hand, what happens to us now, while are living, is more important.

Luther doesn’t agree. "Look here, Reason, you're a demented blind and dumb girl. You do not understand in the slightest iota the issues relating to God. So create a ridiculous scene with your insane barking, but close your jaw and keep quiet. Do not dare to play judge of the Word of God any more. Just sit down and listen to what the Word has to say then: believe."

Another example of Luther's eloquence, and perhaps even further proof that he was a man of the middle ages.

Another reason for the loss of members may be the concepts such as Resurrection from the dead, the Last Judgment, heaven and hell, which were obvious in earlier times, have more or less disappeared. Miracles? Forget them. Christianity is in a "time warp" contend those who have or are considering leaving the church. The Church for them is passé.

Moreover, many might think that the church does not do as much to help, as other organizations such as Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders, Save the Children, the Red Cross and UNICEF to name just a few organizations. Therefore, they support these activities, rather than the church.

Why the church?

But the church has always had the capacity to redefine itself to fit the times. And the Swedish Lutheran Church is no exception. It continues to put the church within reach of those who would rather find a place for it in their lives than have to figure out a life without it.

Faith and faith alone was Luther's mantra. Belief for him meant the application of lessons learned from the New Testament - a Christ-like life - everyday. For Lutherans today, this view of faith means promoting justice and human rights. And in my opinion, the Lutheran Church works for this daily. The church is much more than worship services on Sundays.

The church does enormous good. Its soldiers are present at almost every humanitarian crisis. Regardless of whether a person is a believer, seeking faith or a doubter, the Swedish Lutheran Church is a place where people can meet one another as well as examine their own spirituality. And it offers many activities, everything from an opportunity to sing in a choir, to childcare, to Christian education, to extensive social help where the sick, the homeless, refugees and several other groups are provided the support and help they need. 

What anyone believes doesn’t in the end really matter very much. What matters is how we live. With this thought in mind, the Golden Rule is a good place to start. It is said that it can be found in some form in almost every ethical tradition. All versions and forms of the Golden Rule have one aspect in common. They all demand that people treat others in a manner in which they themselves would like to be treated. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”

Let’s face it. There’s definitely is a place for the church in secular Sweden.

Luther’s accomplishments

During his 62 years Luther accomplished much more than can be expected of a normal human being:

• He earned M.A. and Ph. D degrees and lectured in philosophy and theology at Erfurt and Wittenberg universities.

• He challenged the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church by claiming that salvation was not for sale, but was the result of faith in Jesus Christ only.

• He survived in spite of the Roman Catholic Church calling him a heretic and excommunicating him.

• He founded a reformed church, leading the way for other reformers.

• He challenged the concept of celibacy and proved his point when he went on to marry Katharina von Bora and fathered six children.

• He translated the New and Old Testaments into everyday German, causing a tremendous impact on the church and German culture.

• He composed many hymns including A Mighty Fortress is our God, probably his most famous composition.

• And Luther lives today. Steven Ozment, a professor of history at Harvard University, writes that Luther’s strain of Protestantism has left an indelible mark on Germany. As an example he cites Angela Merkel’s insistence on austerity as the answer to the European Union’s financial problems.

• If Ozment’s observations are true for Germany, they hold true for Sweden as well. Lutheranism was the State Church in Sweden until a few years ago. Sweden’s position on the Euro crisis agrees well with Merkel’s and Luther’s!

• Martin Luther’s anti-Semitism and his attitude regarding the “Turks” as he called Muslims toward the end of his life is disturbing. Otherwise, what a guy!