Roland Bainton, in his landmark work on the life of Martin Luther entitled Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, presents a thorough and straightforward recounting of the life of the reformer. Bainton doesn’t hide Luther’s humanity but rather shows how God used him, his struggles, his weaknesses, and experiences to shine light on the darkness which covered the Catholic Church. As one reads the book, it becomes clear that Luther never set out to be, nor thought of himself as, anything like the nearly superhero figure so many today think him. Rather, Martin Luther is consistently shown as a humble servant of God, who was held captive by the guilt of his own sin and who only found freedom in the death and resurrection of Christ. Luther’s conscience was bound to Scripture and sickened by the abuse of the church. He deeply desired for the church to be set free by the light of the Gospel of Christ. This mixture of personal torment and scriptural enlightenment birthed what we now call the Reformation.

It is no secret that Luther didn’t always have the best judgment or exhibit the strongest discernment. This can be seen in his statements concerning the Jews, Anabaptists, the papists, the Roman Empire, and even in his writings on polygamy. However, Luther was a man of convictions. A man who was deeply troubled by sin, ruthlessly attacked by the devil, buffeted by depression, and who cleaved to grace found in Jesus Christ.

Luther’s impact was and still is deeply felt, changing the course of history, not only for the Germans, but the entire Roman empire, and world. God used him as a measuring rod, striking the church and bringing reform to its practices and offering hope to broken lives. Roland Bainton does a wonderful job illustrating how God used a depressed, fearful monk as an instrument of His grace, glory, and truth. Although the book was hard to read at times due to its age and use of older language, it was enlightening and encouraging to see Luther not as a superhero bashing the mountain of the Papacy, but as a sinner striving to live in the light of the Gospel of Christ.

Pr. Eric Christenson
Amery Free Lutheran Church
Amery, WI

Order your hardcover copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store 
Order your paperback copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store