Martin Luther – A Clever Leader

Martin Luther

Reform is a critical theme within the Reformation Period. Reform can be defined as to correct, to improve, and to make changes. Such historical restructure could not have survived without Martin Luther, a leader with empowering use of logos and personal virtue of integrity. Many of us can learn from Martin Luther to spark reform within our own lives and leadership.

Logos 

Luther refused to accept the faulty logic of the Church and refuted superstition and appeals to emotion by using the Bible as the source of truth and not the papal rule of man. For example, Luther quotes Jeremiah in Article 32 from his Explanations of the 95 theses which states: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm.” Here, Luther clearly tries to convey and influence the common person to use critical thinking skills to determine and question truth for themselves from God without blindly following the Roman Catholic Church. Through many of his arguments he uses scripture as logos to employ reason to defend these new ideas.

Integrity

Within "Faith Comes From What Is Heard: The Reformers on the Ministry of the Word and the Holy Spirit”, Luther wondered, “How anyone can hear the gospel without someone to proclaim it?” From this very thought Luther exemplifies the core value of integrity and his awareness of his moral responsibility to reform the immoral patterns of Roman Catholic Church. He understood that the current state of the Church was tainted by false teaching and desired to lead Church leadership and its followers to a new future grounded in truth from his honest stand point.

Personal Implication

Within my own Church I have a leadership responsibility to lead and guide a fairly large group of women. Having studied about Martin Luther, his courage has impacted the way I can influence others for good. Luther could have easily maintained the quiet life of a monk and remained with the status quo- the easy route for most leaders. However, he took risks to pursue a vision he knew was right regardless of the possibility of damaging his own reputation.

So when faced with ethical dilemmas or lack of vision as a leader what will I do? I hope to stand as Martin Luther with direction through God’s words and a character of integrity for standing with what I know is right.


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