It was the day we know as Halloween, but no
one wore costumes or went door to door searching for treats. Dull gray clouds
obscured the sun and took the sharpness off colors. Martin wandered past a row
of trees, which now looked like sticks, carrying a few papers, a hammer, and
nails. He wondered towards Castle Church, which stood fifty feet tall; it
looked as it were a hundred shades of stone gray in the darkening sky. A few
students walked about and some of the surrounding houses had orangish lights
shining through their windows.
Another professor nailed a thesis on the door
of the Castle Church. He asked, “How’s it going, Professor Luther?”
Martin said, “Not so well. I had another
parishioner tell me they weren’t going to repent because of the sale of indulgences.
I have to do something to try and stop it.”
The professor asked, “Is that what you have
brought?”
Martin said, “Yes, it is what I have
brought.”
The professor said, “Then I guess I won’t
have very many people show up to debate me over the usefulness of Plato in
modern times.”
Martin said, “No offense, but I hope not.
This may not affect very many people, these things never do, but if we can
impress them upon the minds of the thinking people, then we can effect change.”
The professor said, “As long as the wrong
people don’t see it too soon.”
Martin asked, “What do you mean?”
The professor said, “The Pope’s agents.”
Martin said, “I don’t think that the Pope
would go against the basic philosophies of his own Church. I plan on sending a
copy to Albert of Mainz. If they are guilty of conspiracy in this regard, then
they deserve a chance to openly debate the matter. If anyone can show me with
Scriptures or plain reason where I am in error, then I will recant. Otherwise
they should, it is that simple.”
The professor dropped his hammer and ran away
from Martin. He looked back with terror in his eyes.
Martin said, “You forgot your hammer,” then
started to nail his own thesis to the door. He knew his words were heavy, but
he still thought the professor to be overly worried. I only want the truth, who can be against that? he thought. I only want a debate; certainly, I have the
right to debate these things openly. He looked at his theses and wondered
how he could protect more people from the evil of indulgences. If they trusted in an indulgence instead of
repentance, then they could endanger their mortal soul. He would have to
think of some way that he could get his message across to more than the few
dozen at best who would be at the debate, but he didn’t know how.
Martin walked away from the door onto
lengthening shadows of houses and trees. A hooded figure walked towards him
carrying a lantern which illuminated the path. The figure was black and somehow
reminded Martin of the time Germany had been infested with the plague.
The hooded figure asked, “Martin, what are
you doing here?”
The voice was familiar; it was his old
friend. Martin said, “Alexius? You shouldn’t walk out like that; you
practically scared me to death.”
Alexius said, “I wanted to come out and see
what sort of thing would be posted on the church door.”
Martin said, “I have posted a list of
grievances with the practice of indulgences. They are an obstacle to salvation.
They are against true repentance and I cannot believe the Pope has sanctioned them.”
Alexius said, “It looks like my feeling was
correct. I thought there would be a good debate posted tonight.”
Martin said, “Another professor was here and
posted a debate on Plato. I think I will agree with his premises, but I think
my argument has much greater weight.
Alexius said, “I will have to look at his
thesis as well.”
Martin said, “I am glad to see you, old
friend, but I must get back to sing vespers.”
Alexius said, “Of course. I wish you well.”
Here is another article; Martin Luther refuses to recant
his 95 thesis
The rest of
Martin Luther’s story can be found in my new book, would you do what they
did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from
Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our
Past
It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It
is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John
Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.
Come, tame a
wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a
ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the
faith.
I have excepts
of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,
Thank you for
reading.
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