Here I Stand Book Review free essay sample

The content of this paper is a review of the book on the life of Martin Luther written by Roland H. Bainton entitled Here I Stand. Bainton describes the life of this humble Augustinian monk who revolutionized religion unintentionally. In his text, Bainton provides a vivid portrayal of the historical settings, supporting characters, and the events that shaped the Reformation movement of the sixteenth century. As a biographer, he does not create a character that is flawless or larger than life; rather, he accurately portrays a man that changed the world in the midst of self-doubt and inner struggles within his own spiritual and personal life. Bainton quotes Luther, â€Å"Faith is a living, restless thing. It cannot be inoperative. We are not saved by works; but if there be no works, there must be something amiss with faith. † Luther’s reformation works began as an innocent objection to the evils as he perceived them in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy when he nailed those objections; the now infamous Ninety-Five Thesis, to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. We will write a custom essay sample on Here I Stand Book Review or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The resultant fervor propelled this monumental figure to the forefront of what would become known as the Reformation. Bainton paints the life and times of Luther vividly as being complex, tumultuous, and at times even transitioning from horror to humor. The first part of the book deals with Luther’s days as a university student turned monk after his encounter with a bolt of lightning. Bainton chronologically weaves a tapestry of Luther’s personal crisis of faith, his tormented bouts of depression and psychotic taunts with demonic forces. The latter half of the book is devoted to the development of his theology that ultimately leads him to break from Rome. Bainton states of Luther, â€Å"A loyal son of the Catholic Church, he was later to shatter the structure of medieval Catholicism. A devoted servant of the pope, he was later to identify the popes with Antichrist. † The process that led to Luther’s development of his theology Bainton describes as gradual. He describes it as an inner storm, an upheaval not unlike the first storm that drove Luther to monasticism in the first place. One vendor of indulgences that particularly irritated Luther was the Dominican Tetzel. He was quoted to have said concerning his indulgences that they had the power, â€Å"†¦[to] absolve a man even if he had violated the mother of God. † Tetzel’s clamor was, â€Å"As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs. † Luther penned his ninety-five theses and other books and tracts soon followed condemning the practices of the Roman church. Bainton recounts the contents of these writings and the subsequent rebuttals and edicts issued from the church that led to a back and forth between the church and the German state as to who would actually deal with Luther, this led to the Diet of Worms. It was at this hearing that Luther was asked to recant his writings to which he replied after some delay, â€Å"†¦I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen† Bainton adds that to these words were added when printed, â€Å"Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. † Bainton uses the remainder of the book covering Luther’s exile, his subsequent ministry, and aspects of his personal life including his marriage. If there were a downside to the text it would be the brevity with which Bainton dealt with Luther’s treatment of the Anabaptists and the Jews. This era of Luther’s life was controversial and Bainton touches on it with almost the air of avoiding criticism. Luther in later years is quoted as saying, â€Å"The true Christian pilgrimage is not to Rome or Compostela, but to the prophets, the Psalms, and the Gospels. † This book depicts a man who was used of God to reform the church to the Word of God alone, to faith alone in Christ, by grace alone.