Thoughts and Reflections on: Freedom of a Christian

     Martin Luther is one of the most significant figures in the history of religion. He is best known for causing the distinction between Catholic and Protestant, and even has a Christian sect named after him. Luther caused this rift in Christianity with his short manifesto published in the early sixteenth century. In it, he stated the current problems with the church, and how a true Christian must be free. When Luther discusses freedom, he says that a Christian can only be truly free in spirit. If he, that is to say the Christian, is inwardly viruous, he has little need for laws or rulers. For the spirit of the Christian faith is not at all dependent on one's outward actions. Anyone can fast, meditate, or speak prayer, but only a pious man is worthy to go before God. Thus, the condition of the inward man is not at all dependent on the condition of the outward one. As Luther would have it, a faithful Christian has spiritual power which, in some sense, is greater than that of any king's. This power is not power over other men, but rather the power to make all things work towards his salvation.