Luther's Catechism

Hello, and welcome to Luther’s Catechism Podcast – brought to you by The Way Church.

I’m Pastor Matt Rothe.

Luther’s Catechism Podcast takes, you, the listener through Luther’s Small Catechism in order to educate, encourage, and equip, you in your Christian faith and for all your callings in life.

In this introductory episode we are looking at Martin Luther: The Author of the Small Catechism. For those of you following along with me in your copy of the two-thousand and seventeen Anniversary Edition of the Small Catechism, published by Northwestern Publishing House… we are on page 20.

If you do not have a copy of this edition, you can purchase yours at the following web address: online.nph.net.

Again, in this episode, I will read an introductory section of the Catechism called “Martin Luther: The Author of the Small Catechism.” Intermittently, usually after each subsection, I will pause our reading to offer commentary or invite further reflection.

We Begin with Luther’s Early Life:

Now, this section highlights the sort of basic early biographical facts of Martin Luther’s life – his birth date and place of birth – BUT it also gives us a brief insight into Luther’s upbringing, particularly the influence of his father.

Now, his father was described as “proud of his ambitious and intelligent son and had great expectations for him.” Some biographies will describe the expectations that Hans had for Martin as being imposed on young Martin in a somewhat oppressive and exasperating manner, some historians go so far as to suggest heavy-handedness or abuse on the part of Hans! And the result, well this is how Martin came to fear his Heavenly Father. Other biographies of Luther differ: They say that Luther grew up in a very normal middle to even upper-class home due to his hard-working and ambitious father, and his Father provided quite well for young Martin in fostering a home in which religion was important and prioritized, and even some privilege could be enjoyed, including that of further education!

Regardless, of which historical narrative is believed: here’s three questions I’d like listeners to consider:

First, If you are a parent now or you aspire to be a parent one day: What effect do the expectations you place on your children have on the formation of their spirituality, the formation of their faith, their conception of how they see God?
Follow-up: How does the atmosphere of your home, or your family culture, encourage those in you home to grow in Christian faith and godly wisdom?

Follow-up: Hans was said to be ““proud of his ambitious and intelligent son” Martin. For what sort of things do you communicate to your children that you are proud of your children? Is it their ambition? Their intelligence? Is it their looks? Their accomplishments… Nothing wrong with that.
But, do you tell them you are proud of their God-given faith and their love of Scripture?

Second question: For all of us, how did the “exceptions” placed on us as children, the parents we had, and the home that we grew shape us spiritually speaking?

Here’s the final question, and before I ask it, I’ll offer a disclaimer:
I don’t suspect or assume that you were taught or influenced to believe wrong things at an early age, but it is possible, of course… So, here’s the question

What do you believe now that is based primarily on the way you were brought up rather than on Scripture?

Here’s where I am going with that question: If there might be something that you hold on to, that you may have been taught to you at some point in your life, I’d like to encourage you to examine those beliefs in the light of Scripture, take the idea captive to Christ. Hopefully, this podcast, which will take you, the listener through Luther’s Small Catechism in order to educate, encourage, and equip, you in your Christian faith…
Hopefully this podcast affords you the opportunity for that level of self-examination.

We continue with Luther Becomes a Monk:

The storm story is quite famous in Lutheran circles… But it often leads us to the conclusion that this was a spur of the moment decision to become a monk. The reality is that for some time before this storm story, Luther had developed an interest in theology. He stuck to his studies to become a Lawyer for fears of disappointing or angering his father, but he wasn’t really that enthralled with the idea of becoming a lawyer. So, some historical background there…

In the following subsection will get into the wrong theology that Luther grew up believing… BUT, for now:

The development of another Lutheran distinctive: the doctrine of vocation:

– From “Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing” by Michael Berg

Our vocation comes directly from our justification.

The righteousness of Christ frees us from being curved inward and propels us outward toward our neighbor in vocation. Vocation assumes freedom from the burden of pleasing God. If the Christian’s time and energy are exhausted in an attempt to earn favor with God, there is nothing left for the neighbor.

It is true that vocation is in the realm of law. It is how God uses Christians to love the world. My work in vocation is not how I am saved. Vocation is not gospel. Vocation is not for heaven. Yet vocation is only possible because heaven is secure. Only the justified in Christ can work with Christ in the Father’s economy of love.

God’s grace, empowering us to love our neighbors through the simple acts we do daily – that is vocation.

The next subsection is called Luther Discovers the Gospel
• Interrupted “Seed of the reformation” and of Biblical, Lutheran theology!
Still not fully formed, but MASSIVELY influenced… BY, sure the opportunities of his life. BUT
Also, how God used this servant of the Gospel and also direct his life for God’s good purpose.

We read on: Luther Bases Everything on God’s Word
• He did not SET OUT to start a LUTHERAN denomination of Christianity! He wanted to reform or RETURN the church to the truth of the Bible!
• We will throughout this podcast deepen our understanding of the theological and biblical significance here… BUT what I want to point out is this:

Luther’s confidence… It was passed over in a very cursory manner for the sake of a brief introductory artice, but the significance of Lutheran standing before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles the fifth;

Diet of Worms, meeting of the Diet (assembly) of the Holy Roman Empire held at Worms, Germany, in 1521, made famous by Martin Luther’s appearance before it to respond to charges of heresy. Because of the confused political and religious situation of the time, Luther was called before the political authorities rather than before the pope or a council of the Roman Catholic Church.

In June 1520 Pope Leo X condemned 41 of Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, but he also gave Luther time to recant. In response, Luther publicly burned the papal bull and refused to renounce his propositions. He was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church on January 3, 1521. While the emperor should then have arrested and executed Luther, the intervention of Luther’s prince, Elector Frederick III the Wise of Saxony, led to the decision that he would appear for a hearing at the Diet under the emperor’s safe-conduct.

On April 17, 1521, Luther went before the Diet. In response to questioning, he admitted that the books displayed before the court were his, but, when asked to repudiate them, he requested time to consider the question. The next day, again before the assembled Diet, Luther refused to repudiate his works unless convinced of error by Scripture or by reason. Otherwise, he stated, his conscience was bound by the Word of God. According to tradition, he said, “Here I stand; I can do no other.” Disorder broke out at the conclusion of Luther’s refusal to recant, and the emperor dismissed the Diet for the day.

Here's my question: Where do you get the confidence to do something like that?
Answer: It comes from the conviction oof standing on God’s Word alone – not your ideas, not your parents’ ideas, not your friends’ ideas…

Questions: So, what fears are you wrestling with in your life?
How would going to God’s Word and standing on his promises address your fears?

Our last section, a longer subsection: Luther Continues to Write and Teach

• Now, he was ready to reform.
• Another note: Interested in the how the press: Brand Luther by Andrew Pedigree.

• Sola gratia, sola fide, sola scripture… The solas of the Lutheran Reformation.

• He was asked what writings he favored:

o Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther argued that people can receive salvation or redemption only as a gift from God, and could not choose between good and evil or choose to come to Bleive through their own willpower. It was published in 1525. It was his reply to Erasmus' On Free Will, which Erasmus wrote the year prior as an attack on some of Luther's ideas.
o The other book: The Catechism.

We cannot end in any better fashion:

So, there you have it, I hope this introductory episode.

Again, this particular edition is the two-thousand and seventeen Anniversary Edition commemorating the 500th anniversary of the posting of the Ninety-five Theses and the beginning of the Lutheran Reformation, published by Northwestern Publishing House.

You can purchase your copy of this edition of the Catechism at the following web address: online.nph.net.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Luther’s Catechism Podcast – brought to you by The Way Church.