Originally published on The Electric Gospel on October 30, 2015. On October 31 each year, Protestants recall the anniversary of the Reformation – a movement that began in 1517 to reclaim the life and joy and hope of the gospel within the church. Students in a history course I taught read a biography of Martin Luther, which highlighted not only his personal history but the main themes of the Reformation movement. The following student writing was an essay from a student reflecting on Luther’s experience … and her own.
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Brought to life by the gospel
by Grace Williams
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” ~ Galatians 2:21
Could you imagine living in a world where everything was up to you? As Christians, we know full well that God has already done everything for us to secure our salvation. But what if this truth was not set in stone? If achieving eternal life was based even in the slightest on our adherence to the law, the Bible spells out a very terrifying message: All persons have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If this is true, how then could we possibly do anything to make ourselves pure in God’s eyes?
This is the question that tormented Martin Luther’s each and every waking moment during the years before he nailed up his famous 95 Theses. Luther had been raised under the law-driven doctrine of the medieval Roman Church, and his spiritual state fully exemplified the dangers of excluding the gospel in one’s worship life. He was constantly surrounded by church officials ordering him to repent of his sins, and tearful confessions were a daily ordeal. Every time Luther committed even the “smallest” of sins, he would be overcome with grief and shame and go running to a priest to beg for assurance of forgiveness. Often, he would even physically punish himself or go days without eating, in order to show penance for what he had done, in hopes that God would have mercy on his soul. The worst part of it all–the pain, the torment, and the utter humiliation–was that he never knew if the measures he was taking were enough.
Most of us can’t even imagine living in a state of constant fear that our repentance isn’t enough. While many may find it next to impossible to relate to Martin Luther, I have witnessed firsthand how powerful of a prison penance can be–and how the gospel changes everything!
When I was very little, I had severe Tourettes and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Today it has toned down quite a bit, and I have learned to cope with it and accept it as part of who I am. It is just one of the many blessings God has given me to make me unique. But I did not always see it this way. In fact, it used to make my life a bit miserable. Part of having OCD and Tourettes is that your mind is miswired to fixate itself on things that bother your conscience. For instance, if you are brought up taught that “stupid” (for a mild example) is a bad word, you will be more inclined to have that word inadvertently cross your mind. You can imagine as a Christian how fixated you could become on the bad sins you had committed! I used to go through periods of time where I was so overcome by sins that I could not get out of my head that I was literally praying nonstop throughout the entire day. (And I assure you, this is, sadly, no exaggeration!) Some nights I would stay up hours on end, asking God why I was so sinful and begging that he would forgive me for all the terrible things I had committed that day. I knew that Jesus had saved me … but I had also been taught that we should repent of all of our sins, and I was completely overwhelmed! Finally, one night, I broke down in front of my parents. That is when God swooped in with his life-saving gospel!
Looking back on it, I realize now how foolish it was for me to doubt God’s forgiveness and mercy. For a long time I wondered how God could possibly use that chapter of my life for my good–aside from me having A LOT of one-on-one time with him in the early hours of the morning. It wasn’t until recently that I realized why he allowed me to carry that cross for so long. Thanks to my experiences, I can relate to those who are burdened down by sin, and I can offer them the reassurance that God’s love covers over even a multitude of sins. I understand better than ever how the law, without gospel, is meaningless! Without gospel, we are slaves to sin and penance. We cannot earn our way into Gods arms, nor can we atone for the good we have failed to do. The gospel is truly the life-giving message that people so desperately need to hear! That is why Luther’s work and the Reformation are so vital to Lutherans today. God help us never to lose sight of the gospel, so that in confident faith we may proudly proclaim, “That no one is justified by the law before God is evident; for, the righteous person shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11).
The law is a prison … but the gospel is the power of God for salvation, to everyone who believes!
