Luther Part 3
March 1, 2025 DRAFT Version
Luther - Part 3
See the end of the article for the series description.
Emotional Health
Recall personality traits reported by Sproul. Below are paraphrases of the unpleasant descriptions of Luther from the video.
- Luther was so extreme by the use of ’elevated’ (actual word: bombastic) that some thought he was mentally ill.
- Luther was arrogant.
- Modern psychoanalysis suggests Luther may have been emotionally ill.
Predictably, Sproul questions the correctness of psychoanalysis performed 500 years after the subject has died. However, let us list options for how to understand Luther’s issues.
- Luther was a carnal Christian.
- As Jesus was to the money changers, Luther was to others. Luther was righteously angry.
- Luther had childhood or adulthood experiences that developed over time into some of his contemporaries, suggesting he had a mental health problem. Perhaps during Luther’s formation church leaders were focused on the possibility of eternity in hell, a helpful emphasis for some but harmful to others.
- He had an emotional problem[1].
Brief Thoughts
Luther confessed daily. This has been the behavior of some Christians before a spiritual breakthrough, such as a step-up jump in Christ-likeness. Not all churches teach this as a possibility. Try searching for a second blessing, entire sanctification, baptized with the Holy Spirit. If you reject how these are described, can you rephrase them, capturing a similar spiritual truth? These concepts are outside the scope of this paper.
(1Co 3:2-3 NRSVA) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?
Consider a test for spiritual maturity being the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, etc. Galatians 5.22-23. Search criteria “going deeper with God” reveal this as a common thread amongst nearly all church types. Add a church denomination name to the search criteria for a specific context in which the author develops his case. Aside: what matters? What matters is that you are moving forward in the faith.
Regarding the arrogance accusation, consider that this may not be what it appeared. Sometimes acting prideful is an emotional protection technique for feeling closer to the opposite. Our deepest imperfections, those that we think would be the most peculiar to others, tend to be those we most want to keep secret, including from the professionals who can help. Attempts to keep this hidden sometimes lead to overcompensation.
During video minute 20, Sproul says Martin Luther did not know if he was right.
Suppose Martin Luther exercised reason to produce the thesis list. Alternatively, he may have had an unusual experience with God, such as a vivid dream or something like what might be described as a waking dream. Whatever happened, Luther arrived at an inflammatory set of theses. Is there a denomination today that completely accepts all of Luther’s theology? Perhaps, but most do not. Luther strongly believed in God. We suppose Luther sensed God’s presence, but he is reportedly quite uneasy about his assurance of salvation. That, coupled with study and reason, is the source for his proposing some unique ideas, which, when written, become 95 theses. Did I get God’s message correctly? Are you supposed to say anything? Often, the best recourse is prayer, nothing less, but sometimes, seek the consult of a trusted Christian. Advocate surrender to God and trust Him. If God revealed this to you, He can do so with others. If you are Luther, and you sense a responsibility to come forward with your idea, then you must trust God and make your 95 Theses known. Caution, temper with various considerations before going public. However, add that you are passionate about the faith and have a history of extreme outbursts. So, being highly motivated and focused on announcing your findings and their conclusions, you are encouraged to do that which may be self-destructive - - contradict those in authority over you. However, you know this is different and continue to test the idea, praying, asking God repeatedly to correct you, reviewing your research, rechecking the reasoning. Questioning yourself, how could I be so dedicated and conservative and believe in that weird thing I think is true?
Each iteration of the review continues to lead to the same belief.
At this point in Luther’s life, he would have known he was different. He knows that his legal training, including logic, would have provided him with skills others may not have. He experiences fear regarding his assurance of his salvation. He has had extreme outbursts, like what a mental illness would cause (read like ongoing outbursts, not just once or twice). On the day of the hearing, he asks for one more day to consider recanting. Martin Luther knew the message of his 95 Theses and what they meant. Deep inside, he doubted; he had to ask for one more day. Was he right? Having created such a different perspective, eventually leading to the Reformation, he had to be right about the research, the succession of premises, and conclusions. All of this in prayer before God, perhaps hoping an angelic being would appear, thanking him for his obedience and then excusing him from moving forward (Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Ge 22.1-19.
We each have different church roles, so our challenges differ. Most of us will never feel like we have the same struggle as Martin Luther. Imagine that you are in the location, date, and time that Martin Luther was. In doing this, do so as yourself, not using our description of Luther for what you are like (you, are you). Would you do exactly like Martin Luther? I suggest that most of us wouldn’t unless we had his emotional makeup and education. What was Luther like? From the video, temperamental extremes, haughty, at an intensity that people questioned your sanity. What civil person would behave as he did? Well, Luther. Could a case be made that Luther had a heart after God? The woman or man who has a heart after God is ready for God to work through. Do you have a heart after God? Insecurity, yet a heart after God, daily confession, and surrender to God, perhaps arrogance or deep insecurity, pride in your acceptance of church beliefs, and emotional extremes all work together, propelling you to defy protocol and social norms. A new understanding of Christianity, which is a good fit for half the world’s believers, is born.
Summary
There are two themes in this paper. First, concern for every transgression due to fear of God or love for God will set some Christians apart from others. The man or woman who has a heart after God will seem extreme to other Christians. God can use this.
The second theme focuses on how God uses an imperfect person, possibly with emotional issues and health ailments.
Conclusion
You may have read how Luther’s theology may deviate from yours. You have learned of his persona being an offense to others. Perhaps from the video or other sources, we know his confessions were extreme, sometimes lengthy, and probably passionate. From a biography of Luther, we learn he was insecure about his standing with God, from length of time in purgatory to possibly failing and spending eternity in hell. Accounts of the man sound like he was a pretty messed up guy. But this guy had a heart after God in that he was passionate about being ‘right’ with Him. His motivation earlier in life seemed to be fear. This guy did what he could to be on good terms with his Saviour. This man dared to do what few would do: become an outcast for beliefs he thought were correct and did not back down. During the trial, he wavered. He just had to be sure that he was sure. He asked for one more day, probably praying; God, please correct me if I am wrong, please! I need you in this hour of deep test. That night, I think he reviewed his reasoning again and again in prayer� before God. So messed up, and yet so passionate to be what God wanted him to be. To do what God wanted him to do. You know the outcome, the birth of a new option for Christians that through sincere seeking of truth have or would come to the same conclusion as Luther.
In this author’s opinion, church splits are never God’s will. But as people seek Him, He steps in and does something beautiful, something none of us could have seen coming, nor could we have ever imagined it.
God always chooses the right person for an assignment. God takes us, emotional scars, imperfect thinking, imperfect knowledge of the Bible and theology just as we are. HE accepts anyone, the most immoral person, the extreme criminal behavior by anyone mentally responsible or not. God did not make Luther imperfect, the original sin did that[4]. God did not control, as in force Luther, he had a free will (otherwise, very few steps of reasoning lead us to conflicts we hold to be true, such as God is good). God observed Luther, knew his every thought, what he knew and did not know, and then met Luther, where Luther was spiritually, emotionally, and cognitively. Then, in this author’s opinion, Luther did what most of us cannot fathom doing. No one wants to be an outcast by their friends, their ‘home’ group, or their church. Luther’s action qualifies as the mystery of God at work. God works through the men and women of our churches today.
We develop the second conclusion as follows. Many of the people God uses have imperfect bodies (we all do in one way or another). Perhaps they have poor balance, or they tire easily; some deal with forgetfulness. You who know your physical body has deficits know this: you exactly the person God has been patiently waiting for. Why, for what end? To accomplish His work in a way that only you can do as you learn to depend on Him. What is the outcome? Many, others are blessed, you will be blessed, and most of all God is glorified. HE wants you to glorify Him and do so by stepping out in faith, trusting and obeying. God and only God is ready to use you in a way that no one can imagine.
We cannot predict how God will work through us from a human perspective; it is far too complicated. This is the miracle of God at work today, and here is what is missing from many teachings: God working often plays out in a way that feels natural to the Christian. The believer may know that they have lived a mystery that only God could do. Some onlookers will know that, too, but many won’t. This is not to say it will be easy or comfortable; it may be pretty challenging and result in a life change as it did for Luther. One writing about Luther stated that his issues did not exist later. This again, some will recognize as a work of God.
No one else is quite like you. God made each of us unique. The original sin has broken each of us in one way or another. Martin Luther was a smart guy; he knew how different his personality issues were from the norm. Do you think he had the slightest inkling of imagining how God would use him? According to the video, Luther spent all night praying between hearing sessions. He doubted his conclusion. But every time he reviewed the data, it continued to lead by way of reason to the 95 Theses being correct and sound. This is an example of God using a person broken by the original sin[1] to do what none of us, not even Martin Luther, could have imagined. Luther exemplifies what God can achieve through the fully surrendered, daily surrendered Christian. That is extraordinary. Luther’s life is the demonstration of God’s glory. Some kn0w their deficits, cognition, emotional, or memory deficit. Some are uncertain about their salvation[5]. How will God use you? You may not be able to imagine God using you. But know this: no one is exactly like you, and with your “thorn(s) in the flesh,” you are unique. Fully surrendered to God daily, you are precisely as you are, the perfect person for God to use you.
Do you think Luther’s emotions were a thorn in the flesh, as described by historical sources?
(2Co 12:7-9 NRSV excerpts) … a thorn was given me in the flesh, … 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My … power is made perfect in weakness.” …
Do you think Luther could have foreseen the outcome? I think he was acting on faith. He was responsible for the truth for which he would not back down.
(Php 1:12 NRSVA) I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel,
Can you imagine that Martin Luther is in Heaven praising God?
(Rev 19:1 NRSV) After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God,
God made each of us unique, not imperfect. The original sin made us imperfect. Trust God.
Notes
[1] If you make a list of all skills, all facts that a particular job requires, then multiply that by a count of all personality types, and then all required physical attributes the number of possibilities is huge. The preface to this computation is the huge number of possibilities for every category that describe people. Knowing the perfect course for each of our lives is a God-sized challenge.
Point of clarification, the miracle God can work through your life is that none of us could have computed it. It would be far too complicated.
Additional Information
Luther and Saul
The subtitle for this article is the right man at the right time. Luther lived during a time when church leadership seemed to be in a spiritual ebb and they were politically powerful. Luther demonstrated emotional extremes which offended a lot of people.
Be ready to provide some answer when asked what you believe. Be ready for questions like, how can I have peace with God. Depending on a specific Christian’s role in the body of Christ, the response could be quite brief with an invitation to an event where believers are gathering in the name of Jesus.
Luther was motivated. Let us consider Saul in the New Testament.
| Before Transformation | Luther | Saul |
|---|---|---|
| Lives were dedicated to God. | Yes | Yes |
| The traditional church leadership at a spiritual low | Yes | Yes |
| Impassioned for God as they understood Him | Yes | Yes |
| Willing to correct others | Yes | Yes |
| The Transformation | Luther | Saul |
|---|---|---|
| Monumental personal transofrmation | Yes | Yes |
| Their respective changes put them in conflict with the established religious system | Yes | Yes |
| Changed away from convention, tradition | Yes | Yes |
| Transformation over time | Yes | No |
| Changed in moments | No | Yes |
| Changed through reason or God | Both, the reason is obvious | God, the reasoning came later |
Speculation
Perhaps faulty reasoning caused the spiritual ebb of the traditional religious institution during Martin Luther’s life.
Perhaps faulty reasoning caused the spiritual ebb of for the traditional religious institution of Saul’s life.
Perhaps for both Saul’s religious leaders and Luther’s, it all started with devaluing personal devotions, where they were once a priority, later only if they could not use the time for other things.
Posts, removals, Reposts
None of us are supernatural in any way but what God embedded into the first people and that which procreation has carried forward. You, or the worst criminal, and all of us are descendants of Adam and Eve. In some way we can say that all people made in His image, carry His properties. We are not gods, we are His created children. Have patience with one another because God dearly loves His children.
A Brief Biography of Martin Luther
Martin Luther was born in 1483, attached his Ninety-five Theses to a church door in 1517, and died in 1546. In 1505, when he had nearly completed his education to be a lawyer, a frightening storm caused Luther to vow to become a monk. Coupled with spiritual insecurity, Luther entered an Augustinian Monastery in 1505. He earned a doctorate in theology and became a Bible professor.
Other Notable Events of the Church at the Time
Orthodoxy broke away from Roman Catholicism in the year 1054. Menno Simons, a Catholic priest until 1536, broke away to join the Anabaptists, later to found the Mennonite denomination.
It is Never Too Late
God knows all of your faults, every mistake and sin you have ever made. What can we learn from the Bible? Much.
(Pro 16:3 NIV) Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
What should we do? We commit our work to God. How do we commit work to God?
- Do what we do as an act of obedience to the Father.
- Do what we do to bring glory to Jesus.
- Do what we do to further the kingdom of God.
- Do what we do with the holy presence. Is God paying attention to us? (Mat 6:8 NRSVA) …your Father knows what you need before you ask him. God is very interested in your every breath. HE is that close.
- Invest time listening for the Holy Spirit to communicate. (Mat 6:7) “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
(Rom 5:5) and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. You know your many weaknesses, faults, lost capabilities or perhaps they have not been developed yet. God in His impossible to counterfeit way is standing by, ready to take your life and work through you faults and all. Do not stop doing what you know you should. Ask God for help at all times, for all things. God is good.
Self-assessments have value. You may do a self-assessment and fail to see how you could be of use to God and the church. You may be in a part of life where your capabilities are increasing. When God is involved in your life, none of this matters - - and yet it does. How can this be? God knows all of this, no set of complications is too much for God. He knows exactly how all of those work together leading to how you will serve Him. Your part is to trust and obey.
Martin Luther Series
Martin Luther Part 1
- Right and wrong, courage
- Luther’s Extremes
- Sins, or Righteous Anger, or Emotional Illness?
- The Insanity of Luther by R. C. Sproul
Martin Luther Part 2
- Confession to a priest
- Confess again and again
Martin Luther Part 3
- Emotional Health
- Summary
- Conclusion
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- You are the Right Person
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- Additional information
- Additional Information
Bible Versions
A goal for site content is to be independent of the Bible version. This is the reason many articles contain quotes from several versions. The literal interpretation of a verse may conflict with some church denomination’s teachings. If we know that a concept being promoted in an article or blog post conflicts with any mainstream church, we try to use the version of the Bible that the denomination prefers. Exceptions will exist for various reasons. See the Bible interpretation series (currently being written or edited) in the BnB section.