A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (with words) - Martin Luther

[jlo375]

No man will stand before God! Not anyone. Don't you know God is with us! How can you say you love God and hate your brother! How long Lord! Please come your enemies are legion!

[sprint382]

What a man! I want to see him in the eternity and have a good conversation how he challenged those SOBs. Oh...! A mighty fortress is our God. He changed the Western civilization to become what we are now. May He bring us and to fools like @FRAGIORGIO1 an atom of wisdom to have the simple understanding of his grace.

[dunlima]

God raised up Luther to reform His Church.

[edwinreb3l]

from what period was this?:)

[foodie65]

@edwinreb3l written in the 1520s I believe.

[TrudaLaurel]

Luther was a man, not God in the flesh as Jesus is/was. He obviously had problems as we all do, but was directed by God to make amazing changes in his time. God uses sinful humans to accomplish His will. We cannot look at any man to worship, except Jesus Christ, who was the perfect man.

[IdTakeJacob]

Happy Reformation Day to all Lutherans out there!

[SpidersOnDrugz]

I think religion is complete bullshit but I still love a few hymns just because they're beautiful. This is one of them.

[HiFiHymnBook]

@SpidersOnDrugz Nobody's ever stood more opposed to the rules, regulations, rituals and routines of structured religion than the historical Jesus (which ultimately got him killed) so at least when it comes to not liking "religion" you and Jesus may actually have a lot in common. :)

We really like this hymn too.

[FRAGIORGIO1]

@HiFiHymnBook I don't know how you can say that! Jesus complied with the Law, although not with some interpretations of the Law that the Pharisees made. He created a New Israel by established twelve new bases to His Church. He changed Simon's name to Kepha (Rock in Aramaic) saying, "Upon this Rock I shall build My Church and he gave authority of binding and loosing. They made "elders" and "deacons" = structure. The Last Supper was a ritual also.if you examine it !

[HiFiHymnBook]

@FRAGIORGIO1 Virtually everything Jesus did in his ministry was in opposition to the religious establishment of his day. Jesus encouraged baptism, and he asked his disciples (not us) to do communion to remember him but every other ritual the church does didn't come from Jesus, including the concept of elders and deacons (They already had the structured religion of Judaism) The problem with the modern church is that we often don't pay any attention to the actual teachings of Jesus.

[tgltyty]

@SpidersOnDrugz I dont understand how you could love the hymns but not believe that about which they are singing.

[HakNgin]

@SpidersOnDrugz May be what you think is merely like an ordinary 3 yo kid to what he think of math, a complete bullshit ! :)

[jacey1977]

@SpidersOnDrugz Your anger towards it is really your soul crying out for the truth.

[danieltwelve3]

People, do not throw out the baby with the bathwater! Luther was a great man, greatly used of God in his time. We owe to a great extent our freedom to men like Luther, who stood up for the free conscience of the individual, and put a tyrannical institution in its place. America is free from the domination of Rome and others because men like Luther stood up and demanded freedom.

[trevorf14]

The Jews aren't Judeans of the Book, they're Khazars and descendants of Cain/Esau. Research "Christian Identity", not from biased sites, but from we ourselves, look into your KJVs. Hail Yashua.

[maxbatch70]

I've read in TIME that Luther was partly to blame for persuading (?) the Germans to hate the jews, I hope they got this info. wrong, but we just can sweep TIME's allegation.

[Vandertoer]

It is NOT true that Luther hated the Jews. That is a lie, invented by the enemies of the Reformation. He only said: "We love the Jews, but they are haughty and pride." That's all! Luther expected the Jews would accept his teaching, but they didn't.

[jocko500]

in the Catholic Church Luke 9:56 Is not in they Bible like the King James KJ says For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. This is not in they Bible and not in the NAS. and the NIV also.

if it was he would have never say that and the Catholic Church would have never murdered 50 to 60 Million people in the Inquisition.

maybe that why Luther hated the Jews??? .

[megadjgrl]

@FireWhisp How do u find it?

[Edmund007013]

Martin Luther was a brilliant theologan. In regards to the Jews he happen to read their Talmud which is the jewish highest authority even over their Torah. It was written in the 5th - 7 th centuary. In the Talmud Jesus is the son of a Roman soldier and Mary is a prostitute. Also in the Talmud gentiles are beasts and only Jews are considered human. No wonder he considered their religion offensive. I teach Adult Christian education the Talmud is very hostile to the Christian religion.

[trevswov]

@Edmund007013 I am a practicing Jew and I have to tell you the reason that the Talmud has stuff like that in it is largely due to the fact that once the Roman Empire became officially Christian, Jews were openly and officially persecuted, and Christianity became a horrifying, murdering force against our people. Now, clearly that is not the case today, but it was, and so the Talmud is approaching things from that perspective. You need to add some context to your lessons.

[JordanAP96]

What is a bulwark?

[alcoholic84]

@JordanAP96 I could be wrong, but I think the last time we sang this hymm at my church, out preacher told us that a bulwark is somthing like a wall that holds back floodwaters. It makes sence. "Our helper he amid the flood"

[flattop32355]

@JordanAP96 It is a wall or protective barrier.

[tamiasthechipmunk]

@JordanAP96 A bulwark is another word meaning fortification, fortress, castle, a refuge, a shelter. In the context of this hymn it is used to describe how the faithful can find the strength and will of God to be a safe place to seek refuge when besieged by evil's cruel hatred and how by accepting God and the teachings of Christ into their lives the faithful can overcome these challenges.

[TheGetterdoneboy]

danka danka danka

[02Blackbeard]

Luther broke the stranglehold of the anti-Christ in Rome, yet there be many fools who would return us to his slave ship.

[DrKorn5]

"Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding" Thats a guy I really want to be praising or how about this one "Many demons are in woods, in waters, in wildernesses, and in dark poolly places ready to hurt and prejudice people; some are also in the thick black clouds, which cause hail, lightning and thunder, and poison the air, the pastures and grounds"

[PeteRieck]

Marin Luther's message lives on!

[Tomatito42]

One of the more beautifully Hyms; both, words & melody!

[mediaevalguitartab]

How great is a hymn that won't let you stop after the first stanza! Incredibly enough, I once attended a service where only that first stanza was sung.

[MrEriesal]

Only God can judge Martin Luther. Still I believed that he was used as a vessel to lead us to the truth. 

[maxtastic20]

In Germany, during the Renaissance, Jews were the brokers and bankers alone. This was due in whole to the fact that Christians of this era were not allowed to charge interest -- as prescribed by Jesus in his teachings. As a result, the Jews were not liked by most merchant and peasant classes, and even became disliked by even the Church as well as upper and noble classes due to the financial disposition (considering that everyone owed them money). Nothing to do with Pan-Germanic/Nazi philosophy.

[titanramfan]

The huge point to be made is that we are utlimately saved by grace in all our human imperfection. We're not able to be perfect except through Christ. If Martin Luther had prejudices against Jews, can we say that his human fallacy was covered by Christ's great sacrifice to save him? Jewish people are God's children, too. Who can say how far Christ's work on the cross reached?  We must let God alone be judge...& allow fallible Christian prejudices also to be covered in Christ's great sacrifice.

[merlinforever]

Martin Luther Great Man... but like all of us with Flaws.. despite his hatred against God people the Jews which in itself is Horrible... Martin Luther remains the Great Reformationist...

[Vossiable]

Martin Luther died 1546, not 1547...

[YetAnotherDream]

Martin Luther in old age had a colon problem, he was impacted with body waste. This affected his personality and mood. Thus, what he said about the Jews was out of misery...he was not in his right head...the writings to remember are his earlier writings. Hitler used Luther's late words (before he died) to Hitler's advantage. Hitler was a pagan. Martin Luther was a man of God. In translating the bible to German, Luther unified the language of Germany to one from many languages. A blessing

[aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa9219]

@YetAnotherDream I'm afraid you have it mixed up here in the end. Germany had a German language, but a lot of dialects, which it still had after Martin Luther's translations. All he did was make the Bible intelligible to the common man in Germany, because most people did not understand Latin. However, this caused anything but unity. It caused terrible wars all over Europe over the next 150 years or so, collectively called the Religious Wars.

[BigBingFan]

@YetAnotherDream

Luther was not often in his right head. Because of him, there are over 33,000 recognized protestant denominations (and some not recognized). Jesus must weep over the divisions. On the Rock of Peter, I will build my Church. And so it was. Nowhere did Christ have Church in the plural. We eat of the one loaf, we have but one sheepfold, with Christ as the Good Shepherd. Please come home to the Roman Catholic Church, home.

[HiFiHymnBook]

@BigBingFan With all due respect, when Jesus talks about building his church he's referring to all people who follow him (Jews and Gentiles), not any particular denomination or religious structure....Catholic or Protestant.

[FRAGIORGIO1]

@HiFiHymnBook Jesus changed Shimon bar Yona's name to Kepha (Rock in Aramaic, translated as Petros in Greek instead of the feminine Petra) and said "I say to you that you are Rock and upon this rock I shall build my Church (one) and I shall give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and what you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matt 16:16) He also prayed, "that they may be one, Father, as You and I are One, that the world might believe that You sent Me". (John 17:21).

[HiFiHymnBook]

@FRAGIORGIO1 Thanks for your comment but it's hard to tell if you agree that "one church" does not mean "one denomination".

No-one in history has stood more opposed to structured religion than Jesus Christ...which is ultimately what got him killed.

[FRAGIORGIO1]

@HiFiHymnBook The Church was founded upon the 12 bases of the New Israel. The Old Israel was One structured people. The New Israel had structure through the 12 and with Peter as the Rock of Unity on this Earth, Jesus being the Eternal Rock in heaven, to unite the faithful under apostolic authority and teaching. He prayed for that unity as He and the Father are One, so that the world might believe. The division of Christi's followers causes scandal to non-believers.

[HiFiHymnBook]

@FRAGIORGIO1 Whatever you say. :)

[October31st1517]

Praise His mighty name! May God have mercy on my sin sick soul.

[johnkentuckyjk]

I am only 17 yet I enjoy playing the Pipe Organ.

[15230]

I love this Hymn. I went to a Lutheran school (First Lutheran Van Nuys). The organ is an Ochestra in itself. Thanks 4 Posting

[johnbresnik]

I was raised in the Lutheran Church, but we didn't have a pipe organ. When I lived in Germany I was able to hear this great hymn played on a major pipe organ in Frankfurt -- a very powerful instrument. Thank you for posting.

[TheGrasslander]

@johnbresnik I heard that organ too. It was wonderful.

[tgltyty]

Being a Lutheran and the son of a Lutheran Minister I have sung this song many times with many different translations. I have never heard those particular words. are they the actual literal translations of Luthers original text from German to English?

[johnholby]

Glad that I am a Lutheran, but more important that I believe in the Unconditional Love of God through Christ Jesus

[Johnmartine63]

always my favorire hymn.

[madeguy89]

I have been trying to covince my Church to sing this every Lord's day...No success.

But when we do sing it...I SHOUT IT OUT LOUD!!!

CONTRA MUNDUM

[impactintact100]

I think Martin Luther is a big one, a supporter of freedom

[dsdsmitty2]

one of the best versions on you tube

[someonespadre]

Martin Luther was one tough hombre!

[rianpop]

though i am not a Lutheran. I am a Baptistic Calvinist, funny that Calvin drowned Baptists :/ I appreciate the courage he showed in the face of the wicked Catholic church. they haven't improved much if at all but we must continue to pray that souls may be saved from them and that people would come to surrender to Christ Jesus and believe that He has worked out our Salvation

[randymalcik]

Amazing thing, attending mass at the Roman Catholic St. Peter's Cathedral in Kansas City, KS this song, the anthem of the Reformation was sang as the ending hymn. I suppose Martin Luther's attempt to reform, not break away from the church has come to past in a way.

[seankinsellasean]

he protestant religion is weak look where they formoly had a huge majority like holland northern germany, estonia ect these regions are now mostly athiest

[NativeNewYorkGuy]

@seankinsellasean Then Catholicism is just as weak as in Spain the churches are virtually empty and even Italy the most Catholic with the Pope tied to a tree in their backyard is very low on Church attendance. The age of Religious fanaticism in Europe is long over. The Europeans both Catholic and Protestant have evolved past the Middle Ages.

[FillTheirVoid]

@seankinsellasean

God never promised us numerical superiority.

Few there be which enter into life.

[tommerrigan1956]

Great song, even if it was composed by a heretic, apostate, and excommunicant. We, including the Jews, are saved by the grace of God. 1 John 4:16: "God is Love. ANYONE who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him." Period.

[ellietobe]

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. Tommerrigan 1956, you cannot change holy scripture to accommodate what YOU want to believe. What happened in England after Henry the 8th had nothing to do with being a protestant or a Catholic. It had to do with error. Not abiding by the word of God always results in error. Going beyond the Word of God is rebellion. Only abiding in Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit can keep us in the love we are commanded to live in.

[fortunate1950]

This song matches the most holy faith in all regards to suffering and adversity. I myself suffered persecutions from zealous brethren who were following mere traditions of men. Let's be careful to love and serve Jesus plus nothing. It is His covenant and it is perfect and has no need of human additions or modifications. We humans must avoid exalting our opinions, knowing that in these last days, God has given us the last Word through Jesus Christ and the Apostles moved by the Holy Spirit.

[pegcage]

People who want only to discuss Luther's statements about the Jews throw out the baby with the bathwater. This was a great man, who stood for the true gospel and one would do well to study his writings. He is a true hero of the true gospel. One of the greatest heros of the faith.

[thedagonjones]

@pegcage Really? Mix a lot of hatred, say some religious goggligook through dreams and trances and call it Godly. Jesus called it DECEPTION and identified a similiar man Saul the deceiver in Rev2 for teach to eat idol meat and being a false apostle.Paul tells timothy "everyone in Asia has desearted me."All the Churches of Jesus were in Asia.Paul=Rome which is the bloody whore of Revelation.Peter was selected as the gentile Apostle 15ACTS.Saul says liar in Gal2.I believe Peter and Jesus.

[assisacpel]

adicionei em 24/09/2010

[MrJonathanSwift]

The words are probably the most popular in the English speaking world. However I think the words in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) are closer to the original German.

[bamatommy]

This is one of my FAVORITE hymns.

[sgmainstay]

Man this will always be one of my anthems

[ifuliki]

I regard Luther as a very important person in our voyage from superstition to rationality. There will always be people who cling to old outmoded ideas expressed by the Iraelites and later by Paul of Tarsus. I exclude the important teachings of Joshua ( called Jesus by the Greeks) which have become much perverted.

[luvwolvez]

This the most reverent of all I have listened to not for show but of the Spirit!

[assisacpel]

adicionei em 24/07/2010

[dgalem]

Luther was talking religion not in real life,, the Jews fought with the Keizer in ww1,, many of whom were decorated war heroes.. a large percentage lived in the Lutheran areas,, also when Luther wrote this,, he was older,, racked with pain,, and yes,, he could be opinionated,,an understatement!! the Nazis started in catholic areas,, and backed by the rhinelanders,, catholics,, they thought they could control hitler,,

[ellietobe]

Though Luther did bring back to the people the truth of God's word that we are saved by grace through faith he did fall into error in later life by encouraging persecution of the Jews which is specifically denounced by Paul in the New Testament writings. His teachings on how the Jew should be regarded and treated shaped the attitude toward Jews that helped lead to their plight in Nazi Germany. How sad that this teaching of the Catholic church followed him later in life.

[HiFiHymnBook]

@ellietobe Well said. Hoping we'll all get back to just talking about music and leave the heavy duty discussions about religion to other channels. :)

[MrMeraby]

@HiFiHymnBook @ellietobe : Earlier in his life, Luther was supportive of Jews. He believed the reason they weren't coming to Christ was the horrid abuses of the Catholic Church. Later, when Martin Luther was experiencing that same rejection of the gospel from the Jews, it led him to believe they were anathema since they rejected Christ. In truth, I would believe that he held the same attitudes to any people-group what rejected Christ. He's a product of his time and culture-sadly.

[FRAGIORGIO1]

@MrMeraby Did you know that the popes were protectors of the Jews at their own petition. Many Catholics (as well as later Protestants) did terrible things against Jews, but that wasn't the Catholic Church. Also remember that bishops were frequently chosen by the local rulers from among sons of local nobles, a terrible abuse that didn't get better under Protestants. But better, let's listen to this lovely hymn.

[maple1212]

@HiFiHymnBook whoops! I'm sorry I didn't see this.

[ifuliki]

@ellietobe We owe a lot to Luther but as a bible scholar he never discovered all the inconsistencies in those books. He was an intelligent man & I find this very strange.

However a lot of smart people ignore those inconsistencies even today. Our bible teaching tends to be selective, does it not?

Aled

[ukrainianboy]

@ellietobe he did more for the cause of Christ than you and me together. It is never wrong to follow a man down the right path...just dump him when he slips, All flesh is grass. Eat the chicken and throw out the bones!

[tommerrigan1956]

@ellietobe What's really sad is that Luther, a Catholic priest, abandoned his vows, was excommunicated by his Pope, and, as a consequence, is now in hell. That's what's really sad, as well as the large amount of knuckleheads who believed his BS.

[hekaersa]

@tommerrigan1956 Abandoned his vows because the Catholic church was denying people the right to read scripture for themselves and adding lies to God's word, such as the idea of indulgences. According to you he is "now in hell" for being excommunicated by the Pope. Where in the Bible do you find support for that belief - that you're damned if you leave Catholic priesthood? The Pope is a mere man, horribly over-exalted when Christ is the only man who ever deserved such glorification.

[dasshnitzel05]

@tommerrigan1956 I'm sure those Popes are also in hell as well thinking they were like Christ!! Luther was excommunicated cause he brought to light what he didn't agree with by posting the 95 thesis on the church door! I feel sorry for the the people who believed confessing their sins to a Pope will get them to heaven, many believed their BS. People are really stupid bowing down to a Pope, kissing his hand. I only bow down to God!

[tommerrigan1956]

@ellietobe  On the contrary, it would have behooved Luther to continue to practice his faith. How sad that the Protestant Apostates closed all the monasteries in England, forced the monks to give up their faith or perish. How sad the Protestans murdered St. Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher. How sad that you intentionally misconstrue the teachings of the Church. It is okay for you to disagree with Church teachings; it is not okay for you to misrepresent them.

[hekaersa]

@tommerrigan1956 This is the whole point of Christianity - so protestant apostates murdered St. Thomas More? Well, what about the Borgias? What about all the protestants murdered by Catholics? The truth is, we're all sinful, we all mess up, we can all be corrupted. Thus the need for Christ. Catholics & Lutherans alike - even the Pope - are all in desperate need of a savior who is Christ Jesus. If you read Luther's Small Catechism, you'll see this is what he taught, and it's quite Biblical.

[tommerrigan1956]

@ellietobe Sorry, you are mistaken. The "truth" is that we are saved by the GRACE of God. How sad he renounced his Catholic priesthood in order to ply his misguided notions of "the truth." If he acted in good conscience, i supect God has forgiven him the error of his ways. This song almost makes up for his mistakes.

[maple1212]

@ellietobe he did not. He was in error at the beginng and he is in error at the end.

I will say that he WAS right on the corruption with which men of the Church were in, however, breaking away from the broque of Peter and making one's own church is WRONG.

[usvet02]

@ellietobe Replace the DOT with "."  I think the Jewish Virtual Library has a good perspective on this issue. wwwDOTjewishvirtuallibraryDOTo­rg/jsource/anti-semitism/Luthe­r_on_Jews.html

[selviskk]

@ellietobe Sir, with all due respect, I disagree. The persecution of the Jews during Nazi Germany had nothing to do with Luther. The Jesuits through their labour Zionist movement called "NAZIism" instigated the perscution of Jews in order to fool the world into accepting the bloody and wicked zionist state of Israel. And the Jesuits with their futurist dispensationalism hoax have succsessfully beguiled Christiand into becoming zionists, and turning agains reformed theology. Its a Popish hoax

[soccer21928]

@ellietobe luther was not some type of superhuman. its unfortunate, but antisemitism is found all over the world. Luther did remain with some catholic beliefs, but the amount he accomplished in such a short time is unbelievable. i dont think many people can say they would have done a better job.

[eddings33]

@ellietobe Luther and everyone else's anti-semitism in Luther's days was of religious nature. The Nazi's anti-Semitic views were based on racism and social-darwinism.

[tdislamhater]

@ellietobe

if he hated the Jews, he would not have followed one, Jesus, King of the Jews. Get your facts straight before you insert your foot into your mouth.

[NOVATICANWARS]

@tdislamhater Well Hitler and the Nazi,s followed Jesus and well, you know the rest

[HiFiHymnBook]

@NOVATICANWARS Actually, they didn't follow Jesus at all. The problem with Christianity (then and now) is that many of us Christians follow our denomination rather than following our founder. In World War II Germany that resulted in the church thinking that since Germany was a very "Christian" country, the best way for the world to have more Jesus was for it to have more Germany...and we all know how terribly wrong that went.

[takforce06]

@NOVATICANWARS

Hitler and the Nazis killed and persecuted Christians.

Read the Story of a good Lutheran Christian named Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was martyred by the Nazi regime.

[dannytibi]

@tdislamhater "Therefore the blind Jews are truly stupid fools...

Moreover, they are nothing but thieves and robbers who daily eat no morsel and wear no thread of clothing which they have not stolen and pilfered from us by means of their accursed usury. Thus they live from day to day, together with wife and child, by theft and robbery, as arch-thieves and robbers, in the most impenitent security."

Martin Luther, On the Jews and Their Lies

[HiFiHymnBook]

@dannytibi

Luther loved Jesus (who was a Jew) but definitely didn't have much good to say about the Jews of his day who he perceived as attempting to pull Christians away from Jesus. Here's another quote from that text...

"For why do they curse us? Solely because we confess, praise, and laud this Jesus, the true Messiah, as our consolation, joy, and delight, from whom we win not he parted or separated by weal or woe, in whom and for whom we will confidently and willingly live and die."

[dannytibi]

@HiFiHymnBook You make it sound like he was railing against the elders and leaders of sinagogs, but the vituperation is very clearly directed against all jews, when someone says that jews are NOTHING but thieves and robbers, who do not eat or wear ANYTHING that they have not stolen, that goes beyond criticising their religious opinions, it is an attack on the people...

[HiFiHymnBook]

@dannytibi I'd say he was really angry about how some Jews were behaving and he used very foolish words in the passage you quoted but it's really not helpful to dredge stuff up that will create a rift between our Lutheran and Jewish friends. I don't know about you but I've spouted stuff in anger that I probably shouldn't have, and I suspect Luther was guilty of doing the same when he wrote "On the Jews and Their Lies".

[dannytibi]

@HiFiHymnBook I am sure that it was an outburst of anger brought about by specific circumstances, but I don't think this invalidates the hypothesis of Luther being an anti-semite. No matter how much any one black person, or group of black people annoyed and or enraged me, I would not be compelled to write and publish anything defamatory on black people as whole... I think it is very clear that Luther had serious personal issues with the Jews as a people.

[HiFiHymnBook]

@dannytibi I know what you mean but I'd hate to see more hatred stirred up because of mistakes Luther made a very long time ago. Most people would say he was a great man in spite of the obvious flaws.

[dannytibi]

@HiFiHymnBook Luther was abmirable in his challenges to the abuses of the clergy, I certainly respect him for that. What I have trouble with regarding Luther is his anti-semitic sentiments and his flagrant disregard for science.

[athensengineer]

Having taken several religion classes taught by Lutheran Seminary Professors on which this specific topic was raised, not one of them deny the antisemitic attitude and remarks made by Luther, only that they hoped for understanding of a man in the declining years of his life, perhaps afflicted with medical issues not known at that time.

[jes381990]

@tdislamhater I have read some of his writings. He was, indeed, very anti-Semetic. Check the Wikipedia article entitled "Martin Luther and antisemitism" for a sample of some of those writings.

[proffromgview]

@ellietobe You mean to tell me that a 16th-century Christian was an anti-semite?? I'm shocked. He was one of millions. He also wrote about "stabbing and slaughtering the murderous hordes of peasants." Calvin signed off on cooking Servetus. Welcome to the study of history....

[streetcornerprophet]

@ellietobe

I came across your comment and I would disagree a little. We have to look at the context about Luther and the Jews. He noted something that is very true today about most Jews in the West. They hate Christianity and have done everything in their power to destroy the Christian foundations of our nation and have succeeded. Even the apostle Paul said for the gospel sake they are enemies but for election the are still in god's plans. p.s. im not a hater or anti-semite. blessings. sp

[cgerard100]

@ellietobe You wrote: "How sad that this teaching of the Catholic church followed him later in life." Under no circumstances does the Catholic Church teach now nor has it ever taught that persecution is permissible. It's posts like this that continue to inflict damage to the Church and help promulgate falsehoods.

[OddityArt]

@cgerard100 Ummm did I miss the CE 1000 - CE 1300? Something that is called the Crusade sanctioned and blessed by the Roman Popes of the Catholic religion.

[takforce06]

@OddityArt

Exactly what Luther was against. During the time of the Crusades young men would join the battles in order to receive a plenary indulgence which would wipe clean their sins and need to buy indulgences. These indulgences were a money making scheme of the Roman Church to build St. Peters Basilica.

[NOVATICANWARS]

@cgerard100 There is viscious anti - Semitism in the New Testemant.From the time of Constantine through the Ages Jews have been pesecuted and murdered by Christians. Almost 2000 years of Anti- semitic rhetoric, by Lay Christians, preists, bishops and pope.s, and the hate filled writngs of Martin Luther led to The holocaust. Almost all Nazi and Fasicts leaders, Functionaries and collaborrators were Anti Semitic Christians A Minority,of Christians said it wasnt permissable. The Majority Didnt.

[HiFiHymnBook]

@NOVATICANWARS Just want to throw in our 2 cents...

Christians may have been anti-semitic but the New Testament definitely wasn't...Jesus was a Jew.

[takforce06]

@NOVATICANWARS

The Lutheran Church (ELCA) denounces the Anti-Semitic writings of Luther.

The Lutheran Church does not follow Luther, rather they follow Christ and accept Luther's understanding of the faith.

[bobwaters]

@ellietobe Actually not. While he did write a couple of notoriously anti-Semitic pieces in the last few years of his life, they had little if any influence on German anti-semitism. This myth was popularized by journalist William Shirerer, who was unable to produce evidence to support it and simply said that it was something he surmised from "general reading." See The Fabricated Luther, a book on the subject by Gene Veith, available from Concordia Publishing House.

[ellietobe]

Is it true that Luther hated the Jews and actually persecuted them?

[HiFiHymnBook]

@ellietobe Being politically correct wasn't his thing! I'm certainly not a scholar on Martin Luther but "hated the Jews" is the wrong phrase to use here. It's probably fair to say that he hated that they refused to move on from the old covenant and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord. He was also afraid that Jewish arguments would lure Christians away from their faith. "They insist that they are right, and if God himself were to do other than they think, he would be in the wrong." - Martin Luther

[NMikeM]

@HiFiHymnBook

Umm... no... he hated the Jews. He supported their brutal persecution.

He actually supported killing whole bunches of people... Jews, uprising peasants, quite a number of Catholics. He wasn't exactly a nice guy.

[barondesena]

@HiFiHymnBook Politcally correct? What does that mean except veiled totalitarianism it says either agree with me or else..!

[frzam7]

@ellietobe He did write a pamphlet called "On the Jews and their Lies" which was later abused by the Nazis. Luther was tired of the fact that he had tried to bring the Gospel to the Jews but that they continued to refuse it. However, he had earlier critized the treatment of Jews by the Church as well. Luther's take on the Jews is altogether rather ambiguous, as with all Reformers. Interstingly, his pamphlet was heavily influenced by the writings of a contemporary Jewish convert to Christianity..

[tonyb408]

@ellietobe lots of prots took on Catholic theology when they formed their new churches. Luther and Calvin were no different. They took on covenant and replacement theology;that is the "Church" has replaced the Jews as God's chosen ppl. If you ever read Calvin you will see how much he quotes Augustine. Augustine was a heretic in his own right and "popularized" what is now called covenant/replacement theology. Lutherans did persecute ana-baptists. read the augsburg confession.

[Festizzle]

Perhaps I came across a little strong and you're right I am proud.  I apologize for my foolish remarks and hope to be a bit more tolerant of everyone's feelings and opinions. Sorry everybody.

[HiFiHymnBook]

@Festizzle When we're really passionate about something it's hard to avoid occasionally saying something that we wish we could take back. Thanks so much for one of the coolest comments ever.

[atheismisbad]

@Festizzle It's all good man, I just gotta look out for my brothers you know, there are some nasty people on the web that are destroying God's people with little slips and It sucks seeing them go down.

[Festizzle]

Hey Pope Benedict, I'll be happy to sit down with you and go through the 95 thesis. We Lutherans forgive anyone for taking the wrong path and there is always hope for the Catholics.

[atheismisbad]

@Festizzle PRIDE has overtaken You! turn back to the Lord and his Son who gives us life giving water (We Lutherans forgive anyone for taking the wrong path) that statement is bleeding pride all over my screen!

[NMikeM]

@Festizzle

The Catholic Church addressed Luther's Theses at the time... and Pope Benedict XVI has written extensively about Luther's errors. Pope Benedict is an excellent scholar... possibly the greatest theologian alive today. If the two of you sat down together, I'm sure the Pontiff would treat you very nicely... but I'm sure he would also tear your arguments to shreds.

[Gary7Gann]

Amen Amen,!!!

[DreamsofMajesty]

scribd (dot) com/nb812

[marcelovideira1970]

My life and ministry was deeply influenced by reading the biography and inspirational studies of this precious brother. Thanks for the great german people for this gift.

[yewtreelodge]

nice hymn - sad he was excommunicated by holy mother church!

[someonespadre]

Martin Luther was one tough hombre. He took on the awsome power of the only Church at that time.

[94David]

Even though I'm a Catholic I have to say I love this hymn!

[karpov89]

@94David This hymn is also in Cecilia, the Catholic hymnal book in Sweden, so it is perfectly alright for Catholics to sing it.

[Alistairville]

This is the version we sang - is it legit Martin Luther?

A fortress sure is God our King,

a shield that ne'er shall fail us;

his sword alone shall succour bring,

when evil doth assail us.

With craft and cruel hate

doth Satan lie in wait,

and, armed with deadly power,

seeks whom he may devour;

on earth where is his equal?

[someonespadre]

@Alistairville Luther's version was probably in Deutsch.

[faithhopelove1993]

Thank you for posting ! It's truly a Blessing to me...Yes - A Mighty Fortress Is Our GOD !!! Praise His Holy Name!!!

[luxlucis777]

Beautiful. All glory to God.

[richardquartimain]

theres nothing wrong if this song is being sung in Catholic Churches. .anyway its nice

[MasterTycoon2008]

I agree, I think everyone should be able to sing this song, it's the best ever in my opinion. But did you ever notice, the Catholics change the words? =P

[richardquartimain]

they did? hmmm . .this song is not familiar w/ me, hmm. .

[MasterTycoon2008]

Yeah, Luther wrote something about "God is on our side," but the Catholic Church rewrote it, along with many other parts. Basically, they took away Luther's message and wrote a standard hymn. Still sounds great, it just doesn't have any meaning!

[AmericaTops]

@richardquartimain Of course not! It's doctrinally correct and totally Biblical! The words should NOT be changed, either.

[Fersomling]

This is actually sung in Catholic parishes, too.

[martinspecialeffects]

If they sing THAT song in Catholic parishes...there's hope for the Roman Catholics after all ...That being the REFORMATION hymn ...

[karpov89]

@martinspecialeffects No matter about that; the words should not be interpreted as against the Pope and the Catholic church. That is why it is a part of the Catholic hymnal book.

[karpov89]

@Fersomling Yes it is a part of the Catholic hymnal book in Sweden; the hymn as it is interpreted in the 20th and 21st century is not against the Pope.

[nauort23]

Finally. I've been searching for the real thing. This is the real thing.

[martinspecialeffects]

While the tune is correct..the words are not. It is not the Martin Luther version of the Hymn (text)

[nauort23]

As there's NO singing in this particular version of the hymn. I'll stand by what I wrote. This is the REAL thing--unlike so many of the syncopated, jazzed-up nonsense that others have posted on YT. So, I see someone's commented that Catholics are actually singing this now, too!!! LOL... That should have ML rolling in his grave! Maybe I'll go back to Mass... Naaah.... I prefer YouTube.

[thedagonjones]

I hope you do not mind the FACT that this song was written shortly after Martin Luther wrote, "On Jews and Their Lies" advocating the killing of Jews and burning their homes. Google and buy this book for your Pauline hate filled library. One cannot run from the fact Luther spoke violently against the chosen of God and he is honored.Hitler loved Luther and the Pauline hatred.Jesus warned about Paul as the wolf who came to fold another way,not the gate..dreams trances.Rev2 Jesus Id false Paul.

[nauort23]

@thedagonjones Hey, I just love the hymn--and it's hard to find a version on YT that is not "New Age" or "rearranged" in some way or other to suit mor modern tastes. I'm not Lutheran or advocating any Lutheran doctrine--about which I know nothing. But having been brought up Catholic, I have to say I truly love and respect what he nailed to the door of his church. As far as Jews go, I waited tables and tended bar in NYC for several years--but I wouldn't go so far as killing any of them...

[fisheroftheworld]

@thedagonjones Dont talk about things in which you have no idea what you are talking about. 

[love2live2learn]

@nauort23 well, Davie and Goliath would like to both respectfully disagree.

[groundhog713]

One of my favorite hymns in church...