Happy Reformation Day!

thought one: Luther, the movie (2003)

i like movies about how i like politics... not very, hardly at all, but every now and then, i'm pleasantly surprised.

i liked Luther. not sure how it fared critically, but i enjoyed it. a lot. of course, low expectations are my key to a happy life, but i think this movie did alright, [and by "alright," i mean "alriiight"] even without expecting the worst. for the medium, a lot of it felt really real, if that makes any sense...

i felt the faith was presented well, although they did not detail the theology behind Luther's conversion, which was, um, kind of important. i wasn't fond of the chick, who was very much 21st century and very much not nun-ish. the film producers could have done a lot with a marriage like that, but with their depiction, fortunately Katharina was just an aside.

there were some words and scenes a little much for kids under 13, [well, of my ilk, at least] but i'd recommend it for anybody else. as in, it's one of five or so movies that i would recommend, ever.

the film contained some witty stuff, historic events/quotes better than fiction could come up with, Luther's Worms speech is off the cadena forever and always (amen), and the truth that the movie speaks of [in particular, the sermons] are strong. his prayers in the cell...


thought two: Meet the Luthers

Luther, on marriage:

before: "...my mind is averse to wedlock because I daily expect the death of a heretic." ~1524

after: "Catharina, my dear rib ... is, thanks to God, gentle, obedient, compliant in all things, beyond my hopes. I would not exchange my poverty for the wealth of Croesus." ~1526

[for some reason, that just makes me smug. i'm smirking right now, even. because, you see, i so appreciate marriage in theory, and the difficulty and burden that it seems to be more often than not disillusions me. so happy marriages make me smirk. blessed be God. ]

segun wiki, Luther called her "my Lord Katie." she and he lived in a former monestary called "the Black Cloister," a wedding gift, where she farmed and ran a brewery when she wasn't caring for the sick at the on-site hospital. (she woke up @ 4 a.m.)


Her deathbed quote? "I will stick to Christ as a burr [sticks] to cloth."


thought three: "Here I Stand" Diet of Worms, 1521

"[Dr. Ecken:] . . . Do you wish to defend the books which are recognized as your work? Or to retract anything contained in them?"

. . .

"Luther then replied: 'Your Imperial Majesty and Your Lordships demand a simple answer. Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted [convinced] of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted [convinced] by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us.

On this I take my stand. I can do no other.

God help me.

Amen.' "

doesn't get any better: Martin Luther. Tr. Frederick Henry Hedge (1483–1546)

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 power are great;
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.


Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,—
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name,
From age to age the same,
And he must win the battle.

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 powers—
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.

amen.