| Guest Article: Stephen McCaskell is the producer of the forthcoming documentary on Martin Luther titled LUTHER. He is married to his wife Samantha and they have three children. |
“Consider how great a man Luther is, and what excellent gifts he has; the strength of mind and resolute constancy, the skillfulness, efficiency and theological power he has used in devoting all his energies to overthrowing the reign of Antichrist and to spread far and near the teaching of salvation. I have often said that even if he were to call me a devil I should still regard him as an outstanding servant of God…” – John Calvin
Luther indeed was a man gifted of God with excellent gifts. From childhood through University, Luther was consistently at the top of his class. He set his sights on being a lawyer, as to his father’s wish, and his studies to do so were rigorous. He awakened at 4am and was sleeping by 8pm everyday. Students were given only two meals each day and were required to study and speak Latin, even outside of the classroom.
He graduated second overall in his class for his Masters of Liberal Arts degree and was planning on entering law school, but God had very different plans for young Luther.
In June of 1505, as Luther was travelling back home to visit his parents he was suddenly caught in a violent storm. A bolt of lightning struck the ground near him, knocking him off his horse and injuring his leg. Terrified, he cried out and made an oath to St Anne that should he survive the storm, he would become a monk.
That moment was the beginning of a journey for Luther which would eventually lead him to reform the church, bringing her back to the truths laid out in scripture. But in the process of becoming one of the most influential men in history, he also became controversial and stubborn, even to those within the movement.
Continuing John Calvin’s quote:
“…But with all his rare and excellent virtues he has also serious faults. Would that he had studied to curb his restless uneasy temper which is so ready to boil over everywhere… Flatterers have done him much mischief, since he is by nature too prone to be over-indulgent to himself.”
It’s important to note that Luther wasn’t perfect. And while those closest to him would say that his harshness came from his zeal for the truth, we must be careful that we do not venerate the man.
With the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation right around the corner, now is a perfect time for a fresh look at this pivotal time in history. We have partnered with some of the top Luther scholars in the world, including Dr. Carl Trueman, to help us tell the story of Luther, a gifted, but flawed child of God who was used mightly by God.
If you’d like to pre-order a copy of the documentary or would like to purchase a screening license to show your church, you can do all that and more at www.lutherdocumentary.com
