Martin Luther's Legacy in the Christian World

500th Anniversary Reformation Edition

De: Junius B Remensnyder D.D. LL.D

Narrado por: Robert Grothe

In this 500th Reformation celebration year of Martin Luther's posting of his 95 theses on the door at Wittenberg in Germany on Oct 31, 1517, it seems appropriate to republish some of the classic books about Dr. Martin Luther's life, ministry, and ideas. A passionate, highly educated man, that believed without question, that all the words found in the Bible, both Old & New Testament, were the very Words of God needed for people everywhere. Luther insisted his fellow church leaders, preachers, and members teach, preach, and live according to the doctrines and truths found in the books of the Bible, and from the Bible alone. The church was but a mere vessel for God's Word to be shared, understood, taught, and applied to daily living.

The Reformation and the Protestant Movement that Dr. Martin Luther initiated, spoke for change in the Catholic Church, defended with pen, and published many books in the common language of the people for the first time on the newly invented printing press. Pulpit preaching, university teaching, debated and defended in public meetings before princess and clergy, all made bold proclamations for reform. Dr. Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses, points for dialogue and reform. The key points made were man's words, be they from councils, philosophers, popes or kings, they must always be subservient to God's Word and the truths found in the Bible.

Dr. Martin Luther changed the world, not by sword, power, or might, but by the simple truths he discovered were already stated in the Word of God, the Bible. Luther inspired the common people to think for themselves. The Protestant Reformation quickly spread throughout Europe and Asia and opened the door to missionary work around the world. Much of what America stands for in personal freedoms, civil liberties, work ethics, and human equality before God, finds its roots in Luther's Reformation. Dr. Martin Luther was truly a man after God's own heart.

©2017 Agorapublishing.net (P)2017 Robert Grothe

400th Anniversary edition and still God Awful!!!

I read this book as a modern companion to Herman Selderhuis' wonderful biography of Luther. Since this is advertised as a book about Luther’s Legacy published for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, I assumed it was a modern perspective on how Luther has affected the world and been perceived by the world in the last 500 years after all that is what "legacy" means! This is NOT a modern book! It was written over a hundred years ago. And it is primarily NOT about Luther’s legacy but a biography.
Even to call it a biography is giving this book too much credit. It is a fawning propaganda piece for the conservative Lutheran Church. It is as if Luther was the first person in a thousand years to read the Bible and say, "Hey I just realized Christianity should be about Jesus!" Luther's life, thought, and works are described with a sickening amount of praise and exaggeration. According to the author Luther is the first modern man, a genius in philosophy, science, art, and music. A family man, mystic, scholar, and preacher. Luther's enlightened understanding is contrasted with the superstitious, despotic, and money-grubbing Catholic religion of the "Dark Ages," which the author refers to as the "Romanist religion."
The author even claims Luther is the father of religious liberty and tolerance in an intolerant age. Though his understanding of religious tolerance seems to be that Luther doesn't think people should be forced to convert to the one true faith. Much worse the author claims that Luther "protested in stinging rebuke against the persecution of the Jews." Even though he literally wrote a pamphlet called, "On the Jews and their lies." Here is a quote: Therefore, be on your guard against the Jews, knowing that wherever they have their synagogues, nothing is found but a den of devils in which sheer self-glory, conceit, lies, blasphemy, and defaming of God and men are practiced most maliciously and veheming his eyes on them."
The author shows a surprising lack of historical accuracy, even for a book written 100 years ago. He blends myths and facts, exaggerates Luther’s talents, and omits whole episodes of Luther’s life; like his decision to become a monk in a lightning storm and his stance against the German Peasant’s Revolt.
Finally, the author backs up his praise of Luther by using far too many out of context quotes from his contemporaries. In one 10-minute section he quotes Rev. Philips brooks, Isaak Dorner, Coleridge, Arthur McGiffert, Fredrick Schlegel, Sigmund Freud, a Nobel winner in physics, and an unnamed "great thinker."
In conclusion this book is falsely advertised as modern and completely worthless as a factual history. Ironically, it reads more like an old fashion Catholic Life of the Saints!
Even though it was cheap I still am going to ask for my money back!