Martin Luther - Part 2

Martin Luther – Part 2

Martin was not executed after the Council at Worms, but was declared an outlaw. This would have given free rein to anyone with a desire to harm him. Luther’s patron, Frederick III “The Wise” actually kidnapped him and took him to his palace for his protection. Luther despised being locked up, but produced many writings there, as well as getting a great start on the German Bible.

It is interesting to note that during Luther’s trial, one of the Papal prosecutors stated, “Sir, if you are successful, there will one day be as many sects of Christianity as there are Christians.”

Once the threats to his life subsided, Luther began to preach and write with great vigor. He showed very little tolerance for deviations from what he considered to be good doctrine. He admitted his own problem with anger, claiming that, when directed against the enemies of God, it helped him to write well, to pray, and to preach. He wrote, “Anger refreshes all my blood, sharpens my mind, and drives away temptations.” He often used harsh profanity in debates and in personal letters, but rarely in his books and pamphlets. As the reformation grew legs, and other brilliant men jumped on the bandwagon, Luther often saved his harshest words for them. On at least one occasion, while in an informal debate in a German pub, Luther threw his guilder of beer at an opponent!

Even while he was still a monk, Martin Luther saw the need for a reformation in terms of marriage. He saw that men were abusive, at least in their attitudes toward their wives. He actively encouraged fathers to free their daughters from convents, which was a capital offense, even assisting one man in 1523 who plotted the escape of his daughter and eleven other young women who were smuggled out of their convent in empty herring barrels. One man in Wittenberg wrote of this, “A wagonload of vestal virgins has just come to town, all more eager for marriage than for life.”

Luther found husbands for eleven of these women, but was unable to find a suitable match for Katherine von Bora, a redhead (in truth, and in attitude) in her mid-20s – well beyond the usual age for marriage. When Luther proposed one older gentleman, she refused, but added that if Martin himself were willing, she would say yes.

Martin was not willing to be married, mostly because he expected the death due to a heretic at any moment. He gave in both to the example he wanted to set for pastors and his parents’ desire for grandchildren, though, and in 1525 the 41-year-old former monk married the 26-year-old former nun. One pamphlet against Luther labeled Katherine a “poor, fallen woman” who had passed “from the cloistered holy religion into a damnable, shameful life.”

The marriage began as a marriage of convenience, a way to poke Catholicism in the eye. Over time, Martin developed a very deep affection and love for her. He once declared, “I would not give my Katie for France and Venice together.” She brought order to Martin’s finances, became an expert in herbal medicines to cure his various illnesses, planted fields, cared for an orchard, harvested a fish pond, managed a barnyard, and slaughtered livestock. Hospitality-minded, she also cared for literally hundreds of boarders over the years.

Katherine seemed to manage Martin’s very life, in many ways – a management he patiently endured and even treasured. He often called her “my lord Kate,” a reference to her stubborn insistence on order and balance in his personal life. Martin, used to solitude in his study, once locked himself in his study for three days, until Katie removed the hinges from the door. The Luthers had six children, whom Martin called his “little heathen from God,” four of whom lived to adulthood. He joyfully shared in the chores of parenthood, even performing the “womanly” task of washing diapers. When Martin died, he broke with the tradition of assigning a man to manage his estate and provide for his wife and children, instead leaving everything directly to Katherine.

Some of Martin Luther’s quotes on marriage:
“There’s a lot to get used to in the first year of marriage. One wakes up in the morning and finds a pair of pigtails on the pillow that were not there before.”
“Of course, the Christian should love his wife. He is supposed to love his neighbor, and since his wife is his nearest neighbor, she should be his deepest love.”
“The Devil cannot bear to see married people agree well with each other.”
“People who do not like children are swine, dunces, and blockheads, not worthy to be called men and women, because they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage.”
“To have peace and love in a marriage is a gift that is next to the knowledge of the Gospel.”
“In domestic affairs I defer to Katie. Otherwise, I am led by the Holy Ghost.”

Martin Luther was an accomplished musician. He was an accomplished lute player, and even tried his hand at composition. It was during one of the most trying times of his life, the year 1527, that Martin Luther wrote one of his most famous hymns. On April 22nd, a dizzy spell forced him to stop his sermon midway. On July 6th, as friends were arriving for dinner, he felt an intense buzzing in his ear. He laid down, then panicked and shouted for water. He felt he was going to die, and took pains to make peace with people there. He obviously recovered, but suffered from bouts of depression.

In August, a plague erupted in Wittenberg. Many people of means fled, but Martin felt it was his duty as a pastor to remain. Remain he did, with his first son and wife pregnant with a second child. His house was transformed into a hospital, and he watched many friends die. His son even grew ill. In November, the plague subsided. Late that year, reflecting on his trials, and on the fact that his 95 theses had been published 10 years before, he penned his most famous hymn – at least that has been translated into English – “A Mighty Fortress in Our God.”

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask why that may be? Christ Jesus it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His name, From age to age the same, and He must win the battle.

And tho’ this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro’ us: The Prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow’rs, No thanks to them abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro’ Him who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also: The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever.


Christian History Magazine – two editions on the life of Martin Luther