What was Martin Luthers influence on Christianity?
The answer to this question will depend on your perspective. If you are responding in a secular way, there will be one answer. If you are looking at a purely religious answer, there will be slightly different response. Allow me to do both. Secular historians view the Reformation as a revolution against the Roman Catholic Church as it had developed during the Middle Ages. In this connection Martin Luther is viewed as the leader of the opposition against a church controlled by a bureaucracy located in Rome. The secular viewpoint suggests that German nationalism fought against the influence of non-German influences. As a result Luther felt compelled to break with the Roman Church and establish a German church. Historical theologians view the Reformation as the result of a return to Scripture. Martin Luther was searching for peace with a God, whom he viewed as an angry judge. In studying Scripture the Lord led Luther to rediscover the truth of justification by faith alone. Our salvation is
