So much more

October is the time for us to recall how God worked through Martin Luther to restore the truth and beauty of the gospel at a time when it had become obscured and hidden. Perhaps what we remember most is summarized in those four great alones of the Reformation: sola gratia (by grace alone); sola Scriptura (through Scripture alone); sola fide (by faith alone); and solus Christus (Christ alone).

Photo Mark Schroeder wearing green vest with cross — WELS President Mark Schroeder

But Lutherans should never let a Reformation go by without remembering the many other things Luther left to us as his legacy:

Luther translated the Bible into a language that people could understand. Prior to the Reformation, the Bible was not accessible to most people. It was available only in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and only the most educated of people were able to read it. But Luther was convinced that the Scriptures should be accessible to all. By translating the Bible into German, he not only made it available to German-speaking people but also made it possible for others to translate it into dozens of languages so more could read and hear the Word of God.

Luther transformed worship to enable laypeople to participate actively. Prior to the Reformation, there was no such thing as congregational singing; singing in worship was done only by priests, choirs, or cantors. Luther wrote dozens of beautiful hymns that worshipers could sing, allowing laypeople to be active participants.

Luther celebrated God’s gift of marriage. The church of Luther’s day had a low regard for marriage and because of that prohibited church workers from marrying. Luther had a high view of marriage, considering it a blessed calling from God. He rejected the medieval notion that celibacy or monastic life was more spiritual or holy than marriage and helped restore the dignity of marriage in Christian life and theology.

Luther recognized the value of Christian education. Luther was convinced that parents had the responsibility to teach Christian truths and values to their children from an early age. He wrote the Small Catechism to help parents teach their children the basics of the Christian faith.

Luther highlighted the importance of Christian vocation. Luther taught that God places people in life situations in which he enables them to serve him and others. Those vocations (or callings) are not limited to full-time service in the church but also include secular work, being a spouse, being a child, being a student, and being a good neighbor. Wherever he has placed people in life, God gives the opportunity to serve and glorify him and to serve others.

Luther explained the freedom of the Christian. At a time when the church consistently burdened the consciences of people with man-made rules, leading only to guilt and uncertainty, Luther emphasized that, in Christ, Christians have been freed from the demands of the law. That freedom from guilt and fear comes because Christ gives righteousness as a free gift through faith. Luther also famously said, “A Christian is perfectly free, lord of all, and a Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.” That seeming contradiction captures Luther’s teaching on Christian freedom: freedom from sin, freedom for faith-filled obedience; freedom from guilt, freedom for joy in Christ; freedom from slavery to man-made laws, freedom to serve God and others joyfully.

For those reasons—and many more—we have much to thank God for what he did through the Lutheran Reformation.

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