Kneeling with Giants: Part 2 - Martin Luther

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

 Few of us think of prayer at the mention of Martin Luther.  Rather, visions of Reformation and cries of "Sola Fide!" dominate our imaginations at the sound of his name.  However, an entire chapter of Gary Neal Hansen's illuminating book Kneeling with Giants is devoted to his teaching on prayer.  Those who are looking for a framework to organize their daily prayer time are likely to find Martin Luther's emphasis on the Lord's Prayer to be helpful and productive.

Luther's 95 Theses

By way of introduction for those who know little of church history, Martin Luther (1483-1546) was the founder of the Reformation in Germany.  He was not alone in his efforts, but he was almost certainly the most influential in this revolutionary movement.  It is probably fair to say that all those who call themselves Protestants owe the existence of their faith - in some measure - to this rebel monk.  On October 31st, 1517, Luther posted his 95 Theses (later published as Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany.  

Heroes of the Reformation

Drawing the attention - and ultimately the wrath - of the Catholic leadership, Luther became the focal point of frustrations with the excesses and authority of the Catholic Church institution.  His later writings and protestations secured his excommunication as well as his place in history as the dominant voice of the Reformation.  However, Luther was fundamentally a pastoral-minded leader, concerned with the development and health of those in his circle of influence.  It is from this heart that much of his writings are drawn, including his teachings on prayer.  

Hansen details Martin Luther's emphasis on The Lord's Prayer (the longer form found in Luke 11:2–4).  For Luther this Prayer - as taught by Christ himself - was to be the foundation of all Christian prayer.  Not simply by repetition, but as a framework for one's prayer.  Following is a limited summary of this framework:

1.  Our Father in Heaven  -  Thank God for his intimacy with us and his role as loving Father (fundamental for Luther) as well as his sovereignty.

2.  Hallowed be Your Name - Praise God for his holiness (his "wholly other"ness to borrow from Karl Barth) and his goodness.

3.  Your Kingdom Come - Prayers, hope and resolution in contemplation of the coming of God's Kingdom in time and eternity.

4.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven - Recognize God's plans are more important than our own and owning the humility and desire for obedience in light of that recognition.  Prayer for God's will in specific instances.

5.  Give us this day our daily bread - Acknowledge our dependency on God and pray for our needs.

6.  Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors - Forgiving and praying for strength to forgive others and ourselves.

7.  And do not bring us to the time of trial - Ask God to keep us close to Himself and away from "temptation."  Hansen points out that Luther considered temptation under three categories (taken directly from Kneeling with Giants, p. 48-49):

    World:  "the negative influence of society on our character and behavior"

    Flesh:  "when we want to misuse its pleasures" 

    Devil:  "spiritual temptation" (unbelief, false security, stubborness and despair)

8.  But rescue us from the evil one - "asking God for protection from all the things that worry us."


Pros:  Martin Luther's teaching on prayer provides the undisciplined person with a framework within which one can experience a more robust prayer experience, avoiding a prayer "rut" of treading the same territory over and over again.  It draws our attention back to the fundamental issues in prayer without quite the formula-driven process of the Book of Prayer (chapter 1).  A good solution for those of us with restless minds and spirits.

Cons:  Perhaps too formulaic for some.  As Hansen points out, for some who get carried away at each point this prayer may take several days to complete.  It apparently did for Luther (p. 51)!  This may be frustrating for some, I found it to be only mildly troublesome and sometimes it was nice to be able to just focus on one or two sections of the Lord's Prayer per day for my prayer time.