Martin Luther, the Reformer, once commented on his life and work, saying, "I simply taught, preached and wrote God's Word, otherwise I have done nothing. The Word did everything." It was not the man, it was the message! Great men, like Luther, are only as great as the Lord, who shapes, equips, enables, empowers, and uses them for His glory and the blessing of souls. The author, James Kittelson, has done a masterful job in describing how the man, Luther, was prepared and employed as such a "great man" for the Lord's honor and His Gospel.

Hard Times - Hard Religion

The description of Luther's early life bears out how the Lord shaped him.  In youth, Luther experienced "exciting times" because of the Renaissance and the artistic contemporaries of the day. But at the same time those were "times that were hard" in which "the people were hardened by the world" (pp. 34-35). Such hardness, the author points out, had lot to do in shaping the religion of the day and of early Luther. "The religion that Martin Luther learned was very much like the world in which he lived."

"Much as the world sometimes added good fortune to a person's labors, in this realm the church added grace to one's good works so they would be complete and acceptable to God. But in each realm, hard work was still essential," (p. 43). A harsh life pictured a hard Christ who was often pictured sitting in judgment with a sword (judgment to hell) coming out of one ear and a lily (judgment to heaven) coming out of His other ear. Kittelson says that, "The burning question (of the times) was, 'How can I avoid the sword and earn the lily,'" (p. 41). Yet even then the Lord was molding Luther with a sensitive soul that would later, having felt the searing of the Law first hand, demonstrate Seelsorge (German for "a caring for souls") and de cura animarum (Latin for "the care of souls") with the soothing of the Gospel.

The Monster in the Monastery

Fearing for his soul, frightened by the thunderstorm, and trying to convince his father (who was counting on Martin to be his "insurance policy") that he could "do more for his family with his prayers than he could as a well-heeled lawyer," (p. 50), Luther joined the Black Cloister of the Augustinians. Though Luther was an "impeccable" monk, he found no peace in monasticism. His confessor told him, "God is not angry with you, but you are angry with God" (p. 57).

What plagued Luther was the phrase "the righteousness of God," which he, at the time, believed he had to supply by his works as a monk. Though Luther was put to work studying and teaching, he read and memorized the "modern" teachers of his day who taught that with the help of the church sinners could improve their standing before God because they had a divine "spark" of goodness in them (p. 72). But there was still no comfort and certainty, for mankind was responsible for producing righteousness before God.  Kittelson points out that monasticism was like a monster to Luther's struggling soul. But God was still shaping the Reformer!

Fit for the Fight

The author then describes very well how the sweetness of the Gospel, of the righteousness that is from God through Jesus and faith in Him, was given Luther. Many have read Luther's beautiful prayer that summarizes what the Reformer proclaimed and defended: "You, Lord Jesus, are my righteousness, but I am your sin; You have taken on yourself what You were not and have given me what I was not," (p. 95). Throughout the major portion of the book, the reader stands next to Luther as he boldly speaks for the truth of the Word and against all who would oppose it, whoever they may be, whether Pope or Turk. Then the reader is taken to the bedside of the dying Luther to hear his simple confession, "Ja! (yes)" when he was asked if he would die clinging to the doctrine he had taught from Scripture alone.

Of the many books about the Reformer, this is one of the best! It reads in an understandable, engaging, friendly, and flowing manner. The only drawback for some might be the Latin terms that appear now and then; but they are explained. This book would be a great gift for those who appreciate the message and the man, and for those who would benefit from learning about both!

David Russow is Co-Pastor of King of Grace Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, Minnesota.