Few people have impacted the religious world as much as the fourteenth century German professor of theology, Martin Luther. He is often referred to as the father of The Protestant Reformation. He wrote eight books and many articles and pamphlets. He translated the Bible into German and composed thirty-six hymns. But his impact came with a high price tag that caused him to run to God, as his fortress.

Luther was ordained to the priesthood in 1507, received his doctorate in 1512 and soon became a member of the faculty of the University of Wittenberg. Shortly, he took issue with several practices of the Roman Catholic Church. So, in 1517, Luther did what intellectuals of his day did when they wanted to have an open academic discussion and posted his, now famous, Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Whittenburg Castle. 

Times were ripe for change and Luther helped trigger a movement to reform the church. It would grow and become known as “The Reformation.” The church did not respond well to these efforts. In 1520 Pope Leo X demanded that Luther renounce his writings against the church. The next year the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V did the same thing at the Diet of Worms. During this process Luther did a lot of prayer and soul searching. This was his answer to those authorities: 

“I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me.”

His refusal to recant resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor. 

Martin Luther fled for his life and was hidden in Wartburg Castle. The castle served as his physical fortress, and God became his spiritual fortress.  It is in the castle that Luther’s hymnal was created. It was published in 1524 and many reformers began singing his hymns.  A Jesuit priest of his day was heard to say, “The hymns of Luther killed more souls than his sermons.”

You may recognize the hymn below which Luther first released in 1529. It was based on Psalms 46 and titled “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” Louis Benson said, “It was sung in the streets, by poor Protestant emigrants on their way into exile, and by martyrs at their death.” In 1544, when war broke out between the Catholic and Protestant states, the song was heard on the battlefield over and over again. It had become the vanguard of the Reformation. As you listen to the lyrics you will sense the author’s passion and recognize that he must have spent some quality time with God.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us;

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth;

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.