7. The Element of Personal Experience
Concepts and ideas dwell in the minds of living individuals. The actual experiences of those persons exert a formative influence on their ideas, however abstractly these may be conceived. It is a mistake to study the history of theology apart from the personal experiences of the theologians themselves. To overlook the influence of personal experience in Luther's work would be to disregard the really dynamic and masterful force in his life and work. In these personal experiences we can see in part the divine guidance which, after all, was what directed Luther.
a. Moments of Spiritual Illumination
Unbiased students of Luther's life are ever and again reverently impressed by the remarkable experiences which came to him, experiences in which he received sudden revelations of light that for him were epochal in significance. Such important moments are narrated on page 155 (where reference is made to the influence which German mystics had on Luther), on pages 156, 157, 193-205 (where is sketched Luther's life through early stages of education and the monastery experience, and in which reference is made to incidents of the kind under consideration here), on page 203 (where the revelation to Luther in the Erfurt monastery is compared with Paul's experience on the road to Damascus), and on page 432ff.
b. The Influence of Personal Experience on Luther's Views and Teachings
It is one of the admirable traits of Lindsay's volume, that he places adequate stress on this important aspect of the Reformer's work. On Pages 190-193 he gives a veritable classic of an answer to the question, "Why did Luther succeed?" Here he makes this significant statement, "Men could see what faith was when they looked at Luther." On pages 256 and 426ff., is set forth and ably demonstrated the thesis which rightly interprets the Lutheran Reformation, "The Reformation did not take its rise from a criticism of doctrines, but from religious need." Notice on page 434 the significant statement, "Doctrines indeed are never the beginnings of things; they are at best the storehouses of past and blessed experiences." And again, "We must be in touch with God to know Him in the true sense of knowledge." On page 474 and onward is further demonstrated the close connection of doctrine and experience in Luther in connection with the interpretation of "The Person of Christ."
8. Providences
It is scarcely probable that a devout student of Biblical and church history, would fail to see the manifestations of God's providences on behalf of those who have sought to serve Him faithfully. In Luther's life and in the course of his movement, such providences are not hard to recognize. First of all, in the conversion experience of Luther (page 197), then in his rescue on the return from Worms and his safekeeping in the Wartburg (page 297). At times when Charles V had made preparation to advance against the Lutheran forces and crush them with his army, he was repeatedly prevented from doing so either by the oncoming Turk (page 374), or by friction and even open hostilities with his own religious allies, France on the one hand (pages 341,342) and the pope on the other (pages 342,343, 378).
9. Miscellaneous Items
A careful study of the above-enumerated aspects of the German Reformation will result in a fair understanding of it. However, the interested student will undoubtedly wish to investigate items of special interest to himself which are probably not listed here. Unfortunately, the Lindsay volume omits the treatment of Luther's views regarding the Sabbath and the advent, but does give ample material on other topics of special interest to us. Such may be the topics of faith, justification, preaching, sacrament, church, scripture, etc. The pages for these various items may be found in the index.
The foregoing suggestions have been made from the viewpoint of one who is greatly interested in the significant period of the Reformation and for the purpose of arousing a similar interest and understanding in those who will approach it through the medium of the Ministerial Reading Course selection of the Lindsay volume. It is hoped that this volume will receive the wide and thorough study which it truly merits.
College Place. Washington.
