A great reformer

Martin Luther, 1483-1546

Several contributors to the Christian Science periodicals have written about Martin Luther. A quick search on jsh-online.com reveals 611 references to that name (but of course, some of these may be to the later Martin Luther King).

The August 24, 1957 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel emphasizes Luther's "enormous vitality and courage", as well as his "great humility". The writer explains that "Luther's belief that God should be served at one's daily tasks was responsible for his followers' abolishing monasticism. He married. Besides preaching, he translated the Old Testament into German from the Hebrew. He is the father of congregational singing, calling music "a fair and lovely gift of God.""

A more recent writer (see “A Christian Hymn” in The Christian Science Journal July 2002) continues the musical strain, recalling that "Martin Luther's best-known hymn is "Ein' feste Burg" or "A mighty fortress." He wrote this "battle hymn of the Reformation" in 1529. Luther composed both the melody and the original words.

One commentator says, "The hymn was used throughout Germany during the long struggle for religious liberty."¹ There are over 70 translations of the hymn into English. The version below is from the Christian Science Hymnal, and is a paraphrase of the original.

¹ Concordance to Christian Science Hymnal and Hymnal Notes, (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1975), p. 179–180. 

Hymnal, No. 10.  

Frederic W. Root (Based on hymn by Martin Luther)

All power is given unto our Lord,
On Him we place reliance;
With truth from out His sacred word
We bid our foes defiance.
With Him we shall prevail,
Whatever may assail;
He is our shield and tower,
Almighty is His power;
His kingdom is forever.

         etc. 

An appealing quote appeared in the September 20, 2004 edition of the Christian Science Sentinel: "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."

Readers wishing to delve some more will be interested to read the March 1994 edition of The Christian Science Journal which features the excellent article “Luther launches the Protestant Reformation” by Mary Trammell (Reformation Bible scholar and then Associate Editor of the Journal) and William Dawley (then Feature Editor of the Journal). It outshines much of the other stuff one finds on the computer about the great man. The opening paragraph quotes Luther: "The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me."

                                                                               

Finally, we also find mention of Martin Luther in Mrs. Eddy's writings - Science and Health p. 268, Christian Healing p. 2, and Miscellany p. 295. In Christian Healing she mentions Luther’s friend and associate, Melanchthon, who is also referenced in the article "Restoring and Forwarding Christian Healing" by Warren Bolon and Jeffrey Hildner in the February 2004 issue of The Christian Science Journal: 

“As historian Frank Darling has noted, German reformer Martin Luther healed his co-worker, Philip Melanchthon, through faith and prayer.”

Joyce Voysey