LUTHER

4 Stars - Inspiring

Though Jesus Christ changed the course of history, his followers have undoubtedly both disappointed and encouraged him. The disappointments are many as the church has so often become more of a human institution than a divine organism. But the encouragements also are many as into this institution come persons so connected with God that they infuse life into barren organizational form. One of these life-restoring Christians is Martin Luther.

Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes) became a priest and theologian in the 1500’s, when the church’s practices had been taken captive by religious and institutional purposes. Selling indulgences to finance their building projects, many of the priests of Europe no longer cared for their flocks but were pawns in a scheme to build great cathedrals rather than great people. Into this decadence, God raised up leaders who would not only protest these practices and beliefs creating Protestant Christianity, but who also planted the seeds of reform within the Roman church that continues to bring about its restoration as witnessed in Vatican II of the 1960s.

Preparing for a profession in law, Luther was captivated by God on a stormy night when he realized that life is fragile and spiritual matters are eternal. And so, he entered a monastery where he came under the tutelage of Fr. Johann von Staupitz (Bruno Ganz). After a trip to Rome in which he experienced the decadent practices of the church, which included using people’s fears and needs to raise money for its projects, Fr. Staupitz encouraged Luther to go out and “change the world.” Fr. Staupitz sent him to Wittenberg where he became a doctor of theology and professor of the seminary.

Unconventional in his beliefs, Luther soon began to teach that the Bible is the authority in a believer’s life and not the Pope or the church doctrines. Challenging the powers that had kept the Bible in the Latin language so that common people could not understand its teachings, Luther wrote penetrating articles in German that caught the hearts of the German people.

Luther also taught that salvation came through faith in Jesus Christ and not by religious penance or practice. His trust in a loving God who forgives people opened the door for others to experience God in this way as well.

The prince of Germany, Frederick the Wise (Sir Peter Ustinov), read the works of Luther and not only became convinced of their truth, but also saw that the people would support this young priest and thus weaken the power of Rome and the Holy Roman Empire over his land. When Luther was required to give a defense for his “heretical” writings, it was Prince Frederick’s support that protected his life and created a climate in which the other princes of Germany could also defy the Roman church and its control.

Though the film sometimes presents Luther in a frenetic tone of spiritual struggle, the inspiring truth that Luther changed the course of Christianity is clearly presented. Later reformers who created other branches of the Protestant church, such as Wesley of England and Calvin of Switzerland, were indebted to this courageous man who, at the trial that could have cost him his life, would not recant his teachings but instead declared: “…Here I stand, for I cannot do otherwise. God help me.”

DISCUSSION:

In 1520 at the inquisition in Worms, Luther’s statement was: "Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen." Not knowing that the princes of Germany would put their own lives and fortunes behind him and save his life, Luther risked it all for God. What do you believe gave him the courage to do so?
The power of Luther resided not in the sword but in his words written in the language of the common people. Although the Peasant Rebellion was part of this reforming of thought and cost tens of thousands of people their lives, the freedom from religious tyranny was the foundation of the religious freedom in the United States. What do you think would have happened to Christianity if Luther and reformers like him had not prevailed?
The struggle to keep government out of the church has often been waged on both sides. What do you believe will happen if this separation is not maintained? What is lost because of the separation?
Luther continued his ministry as a married priest and fathered a family of six children. Do you believe he would have risked his life and stood against the Roman church if he had already been married and had children before his inquisition?

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Cinema In Focus is a social and spiritual movie commentary. Hal Conklin is former mayor of Santa Barbara and Denny Wayman is pastor of the Free Methodist Church. To contact: http://www.cinemainfocus.com.