Martin Luther: Catalyst of the Protestant Reformation

The Beginning
Martin Luther lived a life devoted to the word of God. While very young, Luther left a traditional education to join a friary in Erfurt, Germany. This fateful decision would ensure Luther’s role in a religious and social revolution. Two major words define the situation that unfolded in front of Luther, Protest and Reform. The growing social changes and bold observations and accusations of Luther made a protest for reform or the Protestant Reformation. Although during this period the culture plunged the Catholic Church into decline, those same Humanism ideals sparked the reformation and break of the corrupt Catholic Church. The ideals of humanism aided Martin Luther to create the 95 Theses, which created a new perspective of religious

Luther’s Justification had conceived a totally new perspective towards the route to righteousness and salvation. Luther identified salvation, as something not controlled by earthly society but of personal connection to God individually. Luther’s entire perspective had a foundation in faith. The faith and the spiritual connection is what truly led to salvation. This faith and salvation was a gift of God’s grace and not something that could be bought or earned through good deeds. Luther developed a new understanding of Romans 1:17, it reads, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (3) This was black and white and justifiable to Luther’s cause. No earthly participation would suffice to get you the prize. The real route had been bought and paid for by the death of Jesus. Controversy surrounded Luther’s perspective, as “Indulgences” from the Catholic Church were rampant. Sin was everywhere and seemingly spread hastily from one to another. The idea of sin and forgiveness were basic principles in the old ways of the Catholic religion. The sin was of some sort of mortal rule breaking. The breaking of such rules in scripture required a form of remorseful atonement. The atonement would be the route to absolution. This successful process of repentance was the fulcrum in which created the corruption that was

Luther wrote all things wrong with the systemic problem that was indulgences. The works developed into the Ninety-Five Theses. In the fall of 1517, the theses in letterform were sent to leaders within the church. The letter challenged the authority of amnesty through purchase of indulgence. Luther went on to write about disconnect of a marketed forgiveness from true faith. Luther stated the incorrect objectification of something as intangible as salvation. As the sell of indulgences grew, so did the outrage within a very dedicated Martin Luther. Famously, Luther brought the argument to the forefront by nailing his Ninety-Five Theses to the front door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. The act was of a respectful, scholarly debate. Luther then formally asked the church to cease the sale of indulgences. The church refused. With the help of a wonderful new printing press, Luther’s works began to circulate. Luther singlehandedly shook the Catholic Church to its very foundations as an institution. Many questioned what power the church and even the Pope had over the masses. The theses did more than just outline the hypocrisies and corruption of the church; the document was an outlined path. Develop ultimate faith, donate only what you can, and question any financial obligation to a religious organization. The waves that Luther made were in the thoughts of many for years. Luther was one to finally ask the tough