Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a German pastor, theologian, and former monk who lived in the early 1500s. At the time, the Christian church in Europe was very powerful—and very complicated. Many everyday believers didn’t have access to the Bible in their own language, and church leaders often taught that people needed to earn their way into heaven through good deeds, donations, or rituals.

Luther believed differently. As he studied the Bible closely, he became convinced that God’s grace—not human efforts—was the true path to salvation. This idea wasn’t just new; it was radical for the time.

In 1517, Luther shared his concerns by posting 95 statements, or “theses,” on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. This simple act sparked a movement that changed history. His hope wasn’t to start a new church, but to invite open conversation and reform within the church he loved.

Instead, his ideas spread quickly—helped by the newly invented printing press—and sparked what we now call the Reformation: a time of major change in how people understood faith, Scripture, and the church itself.

Luther helped translate the Bible into German, so regular people could read it. He also emphasized that everyone could have a direct relationship with God—no special title or church status required.

Today, his teachings continue to shape churches around the world, including ours. At Bethesda Lutheran Church, we remember Luther not as a perfect man, but as someone who followed his conviction and pointed us back to the heart of the Gospel: God’s love and grace, freely given.