Martin Luther: Bible = Truth

“Martin–answer candidly and without horns–do you or do you not repudiate your books and the errors which they contain?”

Luther replied, “‘Since then your imperial majesty and your lordships demand a simple answer, I will give you one without teeth and without horns. Unless I am convicted of error by the testimony of Scripture or by manifest evidence…I cannot and will not retract, for we must never act contrary to our conscience….Here I stand. God help me! Amen!”

Interviewee: Martin Luther

Interviewer: Daniel DeJesus Hernandez

Date of Interview: Thursday – March 19^th, 2020

Location: The bench outside of St. Thomas Moore Church – St. John’s University, Queens Campus  

List of Acronyms: ML=Martin Luther, IN=Interviewer

[Begin Transcript 00:00:10]

IN: So, what was going on in your head? Any thoughts, ideas or emotions?

ML: At first, I was stunned. But within a matter of seconds I was so angry with the Church and its admin, that I had to react. I publicly protested against claims made by a papal representative in selling indulgences, or grants of salvation, for money. I mean, are you kidding me? The Church uses their religious and self-constructed system to enrich themselves. A joke.

 IN: Um-hm…but I assume it was deeper than that. Correct?

[00:00:35]

ML: Correct, & this is why I stress the importance of reading the Bible. My readings of the Bible convinced me that ONLY faith could gain salvation. NOTHING MORE, & NOTHING LESS. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. For God could not be manipulated. And it was by witnessing firsthand the Roman Catholic tyranny that prompted me to nail the 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg church. I began a religious upheaval and created a wave of religious dissent against the Catholic church and the varieties of its beliefs.

IN: I see. And your view of Christian Liberty?

ML: Ah, liberty. The power to act as you please, leeway. Take a moment to realize that God, the most powerful extreme being who provided us with Jesus Christ to die for us. Whosoever believes might not perish but have everlasting life. So, my view? Accept & do Good in the eyes of God. The only way to get to your heavenly father is through confessing your sins to Christ alone and trust in his redemptive work.

My confession during my hearing redefined the meaning of faith and the dignity of the natural being. Not to mention, it put the Bible above the authority of the church. It is no longer the Church + Pope + Bible (translated in Latin) = Truth rather Bible = Truth.

May you and the rest of the St John’s community embrace your relationship with God at this church that stands before us!

[End Transcript 00:3:42]

Closing Remarks

It was an absolute pleasure interviewing Luther. His responses were remarkably candid. Viewers, by the end of this interview, I hope you were able to grasp Luther’s view on the pathway to peace with God. If you didn’t, I am sorry to inform you that you are incompetent. Just kidding. Here it is: Your pathway to peace and liberty with God is through heartfelt faith and gaining an interpersonal relationship with him, and his son, Jesus Christ. Confess your sins! Be the prime example of a Christian man. “The most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one” (Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther – Pg 2).

I’ll write to you next time on Broadening Horizons through a Catholic Approach with Daniel Hernandez – ADIOS MIS AMIGOS!