It is nearly impossible to understand Martin Luther's drive to challenge the Roman Catholic Church without considering the historical times in which he lived. Luther lived in Germany in the sixteenth century. As the son of a father who had worked his way out of the peasant stock and owned a mine, Luther's parents expected much of him and encouraged him to study hard. He completed his bachelor's degree in one year, went on to receive his master's degree, and then proceeded to study law. In 1505, he found himself in the midst of a raging storm. After lightning nearly struck him, he prayed to Saint Anna (the mother of Mary) to save him. He promised her that if he survived the storm he would become a monk.

A Nagging Question

Martin Luther survived the storm and kept his promise to Saint Anna by becoming an Augustinian monk. Although he devoted himself to the prayerful monastic life, he found that all of his work brought him no peace. A question that had plagued him before he joined the monastery continued to haunt him within the walls of the cloister. How was he to know that he was going to be saved? How much work did he have to do to be accepted by God, who in Luther's eyes (and perhaps the eyes of many of his contemporaries) was a righteous judge who looked upon all of his efforts with a disapproving frown? The harder Luther worked, the more aware he became of his own sins. As he grappled with his many sins, God's love seemed increasingly far away.

The Vicar General of the German Augustinians, John Staupitz, instructed Luther to commit himself to academic work as a way to busy his mind and to keep from falling into the trap of endless ponderings. Luther was ordained a priest, began teaching theology at the University of Wittenberg, and went on to receive a second bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies. Eventually, he received a doctorate of theology from the University of Wittenberg.

A Way Out?

As Luther immersed himself in the Scriptures, he discovered that according to Paul from the book of Romans, salvation was not dependant on works but on the grace of God, which was accomplished through Christ's death on the cross. This insight brought much-needed clarity to Luther's life. Just as he found liberation through his study of the Scriptures, he sought to liberate others. Luther's formula appealed to many, and his influence was widely felt both by his fans and by his enemies.