Martin
Luther in 3-D
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From the Open Files of: |
Lower Susquehanna Synod - ELCA |
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Contributed by: |
Diana Griffith, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lancaster, PA |
Production notes:
For simplicity "Martin" will refer to young Martin Luther.
"Luther" refers to a mature Luther reflecting with his wife,
Katie.
Organ prelude of several of Luther's hymns (NOT A Mighty
Fortress)
Pastor : Welcome to our dramatization of Martin Luther in 3-D. This is more than a show for your entertainment. It is our hope that you will learn something about the founder of the Lutheran Church and the Father of the Reformation Movement of Western Christendom. Perhaps you will learn something for the first time. Maybe you will be reminded of something you once knew and have forgotten. It is our hope that Luther will come alive for this short time and that we might all be inspired to reflect on his faithfulness and service, and put them to work in our lives. Three scenes from Luther's life will be presented-each with some conversation between Luther and his wife, Katie, and each with a flashback to a significant moment in Luther's life.
Let us begin by praying together a prayer by Martin Luther published in his Little Book of Prayers.
Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled.
My lord, fill it. I am weak in faith: strengthen thou me. I
am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love
may go out to my neighbor. Strengthen my faith and trust in
thee. I am poor; thou art rich, and didst come to be
merciful to the poor. I am a sinner; thou art upright. With
me there is an abundance of sin; in thee is the fullness of
righteousness. Therefore, I will remain with thee, from whom
I can receive, but to whom I can give nothing. Amen.
Let us continue by singing together the first verse of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God", Hymn #229. Between scenes we will sing other verses from this hymn by Martin Luther. You can take your cue from the organ introduction.
Scene 1: The Discovery (Road near Stotternheim , 1505, near Erfurt, Germany) The church is darkened except for the lights above the steps. The lights above the altar are flashing as lightning. Sound effects of a thunderstorm begin. Martin, wearing layman's clothes and a cloak pulled tightly about him, carrying a stack of books makes his way from the back of the church to the front, fighting imaginary winds and rain, dodging lightning. Once he reaches the steps all is black for one second, then the lights flash brightly as a bright bolt of lightning flashes.
Martin (dropping to his knees, spilling his books, and
cowering behind his cloak, cries out): Help, save
me, St. Anne, I will become a monk!
Lights dim
Luther (standing in the pulpit, feather pen in hand
writing furiously, looks up reflecting, shakes his head, and
goes back to writing)
Center stage there is a pair of chairs with a table
between them upon which sit two mugs and a loaf of
bread.
Katie: (rises from a chair) Martin,
Martin! (She crosses over to the base of the pulpit,
cups her hands, and calls again) Martin!
Luther: (startles) What is it Lord
Katie?
Katie: Dinner is passed and I have saved you some ale
and bread, which is not easy to do given the hungry and
thirsty mob we have as guests these days.
Luther: I am thankful for your thoughts of me. I
don't know what I would do without you looking to my health
and well-being.
Katie: I'll tell you what you would do. You would be
back to the skeleton of a man I married, forgetting about
food and drink and thinking only of your writing, preaching,
and debates.
Luther: I hunger and thirst only for the Lord.
Katie: And that is exactly why the Lord brought me
into your life, to keep you from starving yourself to
death!
Luther: (Coming down the pulpit steps
patting his stomach) I am hardly starving now,
thanks to you, my Morning Star of Wittenberg. (Crosses
over to the left chair and sits down.
Takes a long drink from the mug) Ahhh. What did I do
before I tasted your famous homemade ale? It is your ale
which attracts the guests and visitors.
Katie: (Smiling at the compliment) No, it is
the great Dr. Luther who attracts the crowds. They all come
here hoping for a morsel of your wisdom to drop from your
table. What are you working on now up there in your tower
room, Martin?
Luther: I am continuing my work on the translation of
the Bible.
Katie: Do you still struggle with translating it into
German?
Luther: Good heavens, how hard it is to make the
Hebrew prophets speak German! They resist giving up their
native tongue for a barbarous idiom, just as the nightingale
would not change her sweet song to imitate the cuckoo. But I
just now was distracted by a past memory.
Katie: What memory was that? The memory of our
romantic courtship?
Luther: Ha! Will you never let me forget that I first
resisted the idea of our marriage?
Katie: But I would not be discouraged, would I?
Luther: You were stubborn and willful. You were in my
care, and yet repeatedly refused the matches I made for
you.
Katie: You wanted to match me with old men, and
stern, unsmiling men.
Luther: I was an old man.
Katie: Only 41.
Luther: Yes, but I also was an outlaw in seclusion,
hiding out from the Pope and his henchmen. What kind of
future would that be for a young 26 year-old woman?
Katie: And was it my father's wealth that convinced
you to marry me? (Laughing)
Luther: No, you know it was MY father's edicts
and pleas for me to marry. It was his, "Honor your father
and mother", that finally pushed me over the
edge.
Katie:
(Giving him a playful shove) And
have you been so miserable in this forced marriage?
Luther: No, my dear Katie, I would not exchange you
for France or Venice. God has given you to me... Besides,
other women have worse faults. (She is up on her feet
with her hands on her hips. Luther fakes
cowering) Don't you want to know what DID
distract me in my work?
Katie: (Sitting back down) Well, yes,
what was it?
Luther: It was my recurring memory of what sent me
into the monastery in the first place.
Katie: The thunderstorm again?
Luther: Yes.
Katie: I often hear your veteran students sharing
that dramatic account with the new ones.
Luther: Yes, they all seem to know of it.
Katie: To them it represents the Lord pressing you
into his will for your life.
Luther: I am still wondering about that.
Katie: You incurred the wrath of your father because
of your decision.
Luther: He contended that it was not the will of the
Lord, but the delusion of the devil that sent me to the
monastery. And... my friends tried furiously to discourage
me. They told me I was not bound by a vow in a storm. But,
that vow in a storm altered my life, and still haunts
me.
Katie: The Lord provided councel for you. You were in
good hands at the monastery.
Luther: Ah yes, I don't know what would have become
of me had it not been for Father von Staupitz. Ah, I
remember those days...
Lights fade. The screen comes down to cover the
Luthers. When they come up again, young Martin is kneeling
on the steps in a white, hooded robe and Father von Staupitz
is standing over him in a black one.
Staupitz: What do you seek?
Martin: God's grace and your mercy.
Staupitz: (Bids Martin to stand) Are you married?
Martin: No, I am not.
Staupitz: Do you have obligations to anyone that are
binding?
Martin: No, I do not.
Staupitz: Are you diseased?
Martin: No, I am not.
Staupitz: Are you willing to suffer poverty,
humility, and chastity? This life will be a strenuous and
harsh one.
Martin: Yes, with God's help, in so far as human
frailty permits.
Staupitz gives Martin the two-sided embrace and they
walk out together exiting through the Sacristy.
Martin reenters and lays face-down across the steps.
Staupitz enters.
Staupitz: Brother Luther, why do you torture
yourself with prayers, fasting, vigils, and freezing so that
you almost die of cold?
Martin: I want God to see how well I keep the rule of
the order and how strict a life I can lead. God is a stern
and horrible judge. My heart is in a constant state of sin.
I must constantly pray and confess as new, sinful thoughts
enter my head.
Stauptiz: Be moderate in your self-discipline.
Maltreating your body is itself a sin.
Martin: But our rule also says, "Woe to the monk who
loves his health more than holiness".
Staupitz: According to the Creed we believe in the
forgiveness of sins. Despair is a deadly sin. God has
commanded you to hope.
Martin: Yes, but no one dare hope without merits;
your words do not apply to me
Staupitz: Don't worry so much over God's justice.
Think of his mercy. (Staupitz exits. Martin
climbs to the pulpit and opens the Bible.)
Martin: Now to keep me busy, I have been given
increased duties. I am to study theology, teach, and preach.
I don't have times for my bouts with despair. I am now
preparing lectures on Romans... Romans 1:17 It is written, "
The righteous shall live by faith." What does this mean?
(He comes down from the pulpit and Staupitz enters
through the sacristy door)
Staupitz: You are suffering again from your
spiritual attacks. I cannot pretend to understand these
bouts of despair, but they seem more necessary to you than
food and drink. They seem to catapult you forward in your
journey. God will use you to accomplish great things.
Martin: How can I love a God who keeps men confused
and uncertain whether or not he has chosen them for
salvation?
Staupitz: Look
at it through the wounds of Christ. Real repentance is not
an elaborate technique; it is simply and unaffectedly
casting yourself upon God's mercy. It begins in your love
of God. It is not a way to win God's love.
Martin: I am beginning to see. Once there was no word that I
hated more than penitence. Now there is no word sweeter. God
is my Loving Savior to whom I can turn again and again for
help. By faith I can live. (They exit down the center
aisle as the organ begins an intro for verse two.)
Congregation sings verse 2 of "A Mighty Fortress is our
God".
Scene 2: The Decision. (The screen goes up
and the Luthers are sitting in their chairs).
Katie: What next, Martin? Where will you be off to
next?
Luther: I will stay here for a while and continue
working on my translation of the Bible. I have some other
projects going as well. These days I can hardly keep up with
the requests for my council. I have some sermons to write,
and as you know, I am not feeling well enough to travel
lately.
Katie: You do love to preach.
Luther: I love to bring the good news of the Gospel
to every person. I remember being called to pastor the
Stadtkirche.
Katie: Yes, the city church in Wittenberg. It gave
you an outlet for your newly discovered truths.
Luther. It gave me a way to reach earnest ears.
Katie: The crowds came. THEY were hungry and thirsty
for the Word, and you were eager to feed it to them.
Luther: But there were no crowds on October 31,
1517.
Katie: Yes, there were crowds, but they were coming
to receive Holy Communion, and view the Relics of Frederick
the Wise. Few noticed your parchment hanging on the church
door.
(Screen comes down. Martin is in the pulpit. Staupitz
is on the steps.)
Staupitz: What are you doing now, Martin. You have fire
in your eyes. For us, that usually means trouble. Are you
planning a sermon to attack the papacy in Rome on the eve of
Ail Saints Day?
Luther: I want only the chance to debate my views
with other theologians, I see so many things in our Church
which don't seem to be founded in the scriptures. I want
only for someone to show me the basis for the practices and
traditions of the church. If someone can show me I will be
silent.
Staupitz: Yes, find your answers, Martin, but do it
quietly. Do it in a way that will not bring dishonor upon
our order.
(Staupitz exits. Luther writes for a moment longer
then storms down from the pulpit with a parchment and hammer
in his hand. He kneels on the steps facing the alter
(screen) and prays. He rises and walks toward the back of
the church with a deliberate step ... a man on a mission. He
nails the parchment to the church door and exits through it.
Screen goes up on the Luthers.)
Katie: You didn't intend for your 95 theses to be
the talk of Germany.
Luther: And Rome?
Katie: And Rome.
Luther: No, I only meant it to be a wakeup call for
the Church. The church was so off course, and taking the
whole of humanity with it. I feared for the souls of
everyone, so easily lead astray. I only wanted to see God's
Church back on the right track. That is why I wrote them in
Latin, the language of the scholars, and not German, the
language of the people.
Katie: Yes, but they were translated immediately, and
thanks to the printing press, they were in the hands of all
of Germany in a short time. Did you set out to write 95
complaints against our church?
Luther: Not at all. I was mostly disturbed about the
whole issue around indulgences. It upset me so much when the
parishioners would come to me for confession and declare
their sins already forgiven. When I asked about this
forgiveness I learned about Tetzel's operation across the
border. Frederick forbade him from selling here in Saxony. I
had no idea so many of our Wittenbergers were traveling as
far as twenty miles to find him. I heard he was a shrewd
salesman, entering the towns with a fanfare of trumpets and
bells. He would preach of hell and purgatory. Then he would
set up his table and begin to sell.
Katie: What was his little slogan?
Luther: "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the
soul from purgatory springs." What upset me even more was
that he professed that these pieces of paper released
already departed relatives from an eternity in
purgatory.
Katie: All the while fattening the treasury of Leo
for his building of St. Peters.
Luther: All for his own vanity and glory, not the
glory of God. What angered me most was the number of common
folk who flocked to Tetzel turning over their money for
false forgiveness.
Katie: When it was not his to grant.
Luther: When I looked closely and began to question
the sale of indulgences, I had to question the whole issue
of forgiveness, and thus looked from issue to issue and
became very discouraged with the state of the Church. I had
hope for reform. I had plans for change. I had no plans for
dividing the church. The Word was my guide. I couldn't
abide, and I won't to this day, abide with idolatry and
traditions based on the church, the pope, or councils of
men. If there is no basis in scripture there is no
obligation to follow.
Katie: You still feel strongly after all of these
years. After hundreds of writings, sermons, letters. You
still have the passion and the unbelievable mission to
publish it for all to read. Where do you get your
energy?
Luther: I get my motivation and energy from God and
His Word. There is still more to do.
Katie: I am concerned about your health. I know you
are feeling ill many days. You are often in pain.
Luther: I would be in more pain if I were idle.
Katie: And you would have a worse disposition too.
Write Martin. Go to your tower room and write. I'll call you
when it is time to eat again. (They both Exit)
The Congregation sings
the third verse of A Mighty Fortress...
Scene 3: The Defense (Martin is
in the pulpit,
writing.)
Martin: (Speaking as he writes)
Dear Lord Frederick
the Wise,
It is the eve before my appearance at the Diet of Worms. I
am ever grateful for your protection and support. You have
kept me safe, allowing me to accomplish much. Even for this
trip to Worms I was granted "safe passage" by Rome, thanks
to you. Through your protection, I have been able to do much
writing to educate our German brothers and sisters. I have
been asked to recant my writings many times. I would do so
in a minute if just once I could be convinced of where I am
wrong in my teachings, according to the Scriptures. But the
arguments against me are always based on the tradition of
the Holy Catholic Church, not the Gospel of Christ. I am
asked where I get my authority. I get it from the Word of
God, from the Bible itself. I believe that a Christian is a
perfectly free lord of all, subject to no MAN. These are the
very words of St. Paul. But, also, a Christian is a
perfectly dutiful servant of all men, subject to all.
Faith is the "wedding ring" which unites us with Christ, so
that what he has done for us becomes effective in us.
This is the power to make us cheerfully obedient to
God. Faith makes us all kings and princes in Christ.
I am closing now, your highness as I need to pray, read, and
prepare for tomorrow when I stand before the Diet of Worms.
I am hoping for the chance to speak. I want one more chance
to try to convince the church of the need for reform. This
is the cause of God, of all Christendom, and of the whole
German nation-not that of a single man, much less mine. The
issue here is the gospel of Christ. You fear for my safety,
lord. No one's danger can be considered here. We must rather
take care not to expose the gospel to the mockery of the
ungodly, and thus give our enemies a reason for boasting
over us that we dare not confess what we have taught.
(Bows his head)
Dear Lord God,
We commend our cause, once again, to you.
(Lights dim. Martin leaves the pulpit. From behind
the scenes we hear a short debate.)
Spokesman: Gentlemen, we have assembled here at Worms.
What is our best strategy for this Luther? How do we best
work this to our advantage?
Other member: We must be very careful. All of Germany
is in full revolt. Nine-tenths raise the war- cry 'Luther!'
While the watchword of the other tenth, who don't care about
Luther, is 'Death to the Roman Court!'. But, now that
Emperor Charles has summoned the honorable, dear, and pious
Dr. Luther to this hearing here at Worms we must be about
our business.
Spokesman: He and his companions entered the city
with a triumphal procession. He preached in towns along the
way.
Other member: I am told thousands have come here to
see him. They hail him as a hero.
Spokesman: We must be careful how we proceed.
Other member: You must not permit him to speak. Above
all else. Do NOT give him the floor!
(Martin enters from the back of the church, and walks
up the center aisle)
Martin:
(Looking
around in wonder) God will be with me!
(He climbs the steps and faces the congregation. Near the
Baptismal Font is a small table littered with Luther's book
and writings. The spokesman enters from the back of the
church and walks mid-way up the center aisle.)
Spokesman (speaking sharply) Do you acknowledge
that these books are yours? And do you intend to defend them
and stand by them?
Other member: (From behind the scenes)
Let the titles be read!
Martin: (Walks over to the table of books. In a low
voice) The books are all mine, and I have written
others. As for the second question, however, that concerns
faith and the salvation of souls, and the Word of God. To
say too little or too much would be dangerous. Christ said,
"Whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my
father." Therefore I beg, with all respect, that your
Imperial Majesty (turns toward the congregation) will give
me time to think it over (Desperately) I need
more time!
Spokesman: Martin, you knew why you were summoned
here. There is no reason why further time should be granted.
Nevertheless, His Imperial Majesty graciously gives you one
day to deliberate.
(Lights dim. Spokesman exits)
Martin: (falls to his knees and prays. When he rises he
turns to the congregation.) With Christ's help, I
shall not recant a single particle.
Other member: (from behind the scenes) It is
now the next day, April 18,1521. Late in the day Luther and
the Emperor's Spokesman return to the hearing. You are no
longer the congregation of Redeemer. You are the crowd at
Luther's hearing. Watch and listen closely for your cue. You
will take your cue from Luther.
Spokesman: (Enters the church from the rear and again
takes his place at the center aisle. Martin enters through
the Sacristy door and takes his place on the steps facing
the congregation, standing tall and confident. Speaking
sharply) Do you acknowledge that these books are
yours? And do you intend to defend and stand by them?
(Martin enters through the Sacristy door and takes
his place on the steps facing the congregation, standing
tall and confident.)
Martin: All my books are not one kind. (Walks over
to table and picks them up as he speaks of them.)
Some of them deal with faith and life so simply and
evangelically that even my enemies must regard them as
useful for Christians... These I cannot recant without
damning the truth which all confess. A second group assails
the papacy, whose evil teaching and example have devastated
the world. IF I withdrew these books, I would open the door
to more tyranny and ungodliness. A third class contains
attacks on certain individuals who tore down my Christian
teaching. I admit that I have been more caustic than is
becoming of a minister. But I am being judged not for my
life, but for the teaching of Christ. I cannot
renounce these works either, without promoting tyranny and
ungodliness.
Spokesman (severely) Luther, you have not
answered to the point. Give a simple, unambiguous answer.
Will you recant or not?
Martin: (Addressing the congregation. Starting
calmly) Your Majesty and your Lordships ask for a
plain answer. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain
reason- I do not accept the authority of popes or councils,
since they have often contradicted one another- my
conscience is captive to the Word of God ( voice rising to
near anger). I cannot and WILL NOT recant anything, for to
act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I
stand, I cannot do otherwise! God help me! Amen. (He
bows his head. Lights dim . Martin exits. The screen rises
to show the two empty chairs. Luther is in the pulpit and
Katie enters through the Sacristy door.)
Luther: (Looks up from his writing) Katie,
is that you?
Katie: Yes, Martin. I am surprised that you even
heard me. You must be distracted again.
Luther: I am. I wonder at the faithfulness of the
Lord. I marvel at how he has protected me from my
enemies.
Katie: You have friends in high places.
Luther: God in his providence often works his will
through the deeds of princes.
Katie: Yes. Your disappearance after the diet at
Worms was a blessing and saved your life, surely.
Luther: (Reflecting) I will
never forget that trip as long as I live. The night still
haunts me. Even though I knew of the plans for my
kidnapping, I was still caught unprepared. Even Frederick
did not know where they were taking me even though it was
his doing that I was abducted.
Katie: Frederick insisted he NOT know for his own
protection, as well as yours. They called him Frederick the
Wise for a reason.
Luther: I was blessed by his protection and the
protection of his successors.
Katie: All of Germany was relieved when your pen
began to write again. You wrote as much in these last
fifteen years as you did the previous twenty! Even in your
illness you continue to write.
Luther: Would that all of my 60,000 pages disappear
and there would remain only the Bible. Speaking of the
Bible, I must get back to my most important project
ever.
Katie: The German translation of the Bible. The
Luther Bible.
Luther: (Coming down out of the pulpit and walking
toward Katie on the steps) I ask that people call
themselves not Lutherans, but Christians. Who is this
Luther? My teaching is not my own, nor have I been crucified
for anyone. Why should it happen to me, miserable stinking
bag of worms that I am, that the children of Christ should
be called by my insignificant name? I am not anybody's
master, nor do I wish to be. With the one church I have in
common the teaching of Christ who alone is our master.
(Both exit down the center aisle. All actors walk down
the center aisle, remain in costume, and go to the Narthex
to greet people as they leave the Nave.)
Congregation sings the final verse of "A Mighty
Fortress"
Written by: Diana Griffith - Redeemer, Lancaster, PA
Edited & Revised by Rev. Wayne Moritz - Redeemer,
Lancaster, PA
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