It is (Re)-Written: Protestant ep 6/7

A BROTHERHOOD OF HEROES

"Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" (Psalms 144:1)

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Phillip the second of Macedon is credited with inventing the Phalanx battle formation. Large numbers of men in companies packed together wielding 18 foot long pikes known as the Sarisa, it was an impressive sight. With this formidable wall of spikes, his son, Alexander the Great would conquer anything and everything from Greece to India. In fact, what Philip invented was so revolutionary it became the standard of military combat formation for centuries. That is, until Marius was elected dictator of Rome. The Marian reforms turned everything on its head and produced the one thing that could defeat a phalanx. A Roman Legion. A Legion, commanded by a Legate, consisted of five thousand men, or fifty Centuries. Each commanded by a similar number of Centurions. This is the war machine that broke all who did not submit to the sacred Roman Republic. The strength of a Legion however originated from within each Century. Each was divided into ten Contuberniums: a group of eight fighting men and two auxiliaries led by a squad leader referred to as Decanus. They marched and pitched tent together, performed guard duty and cooked together. When one died in combat, it was the duty of a member of his Contubernium to inform the family of the sad news. This was a brotherhood forged in blood and steel. There have been psychologists who have attempted to decipher this phenomenon, where such friendships formed under the hazards of battle are many times valued more highly than family or even life itself. One thing is beyond doubt however, in spiritual as in physical battles the Legions fought, you are only as effective as the man fighting next to you.

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After publishing his 95 theses, our champion Martin Luther was shocked by the violent and unprecedented backlash he received. He had hoped that common sense would prevail and gather to his side many in the Church. “The reproaches and accusations which were showered upon Luther from every quarter, could not fail, however, to produce some impression on his mind. He had been deceived in his hopes. He had expected to see the heads of the Church and the most distinguished scholars in the nation publicly unite with him; but the case was far otherwise.” - (J H D’Aubigne, Hist. Reformation pg 104) We have to understand that this was not a man who was seeking rebellion. He was in fact as we should all be, a man of great spiritual insecurities. Those early years following his theses were truly years of despair, fear and privation.

“Who was I then, I, a poor, wretched, contemptible friar, more like a corpse than a man; who was I to oppose the majesty of the pope, before whom not only the kings of the earth and the whole world trembled, but even, if I may so speak, heaven and hell were constrained to obey the signal of his eyes? No one can know what my heart suffered during these first two years, and into what despondency, I may say into what despair, I was sunk.” (J. H. D’Aubigne, ibid)

In a letter dated December 14, 1518, Martin writes to John Reuchlin, “The Lord be with you my valiant hero! I praise the mercy of God that dwells in you, my learned and esteemed sir, through which you have at length stopped the mouths of those who spoke against you….I am now being attacked by the Behemoth, who are anxious to avenge upon me the disgrace they have suffered at your hands” (Letters of Martin Luther, pg 39, translated by Margaret Currie, ed. 1908) Our champion was wholly filled with desperate desire for some kind of comfort. Here was Luther, with the whole world after him not only seeking him physical injury but calling him names and exaggerating his weakness to the public. We can only wonder what pressure he must have gone through. Yes he had associates and supporters at Wittenberg, but really no one who could understand and walk with him through this experiment in terror. That is, until Reuchlin’s youthful relative arrived at Wittenberg.

“The first impression he made on them did not correspond with their expectations. They saw a young man, who appeared younger than he really was, of small stature, and with a feeble and timid air. Was this the illustrious doctor whom Erasmus and Reuchlin, the greatest men of the day, extolled so highly?” (J H D’Aubigne, ibid, pg 131)

A drawing of Philip Melancthon

“Four days after his arrival, he delivered his inaugural discourse. All the university was assembled. This lad, as Luther, calls him, spoke in such elegant latinity, and showed so much learning, an understanding so cultivated, and a judgment so sound, that all his hearers were struck with admiration. When the speech was finished, all crowded round him with congratulations; but no one felt more joy than Luther. He hastened to impart to his friends the sentiments that filled his heart. “Melancthon,” wrote he to Spalatin on the 31st August, “delivered four days after his arrival so learned and so beautiful a discourse, that every one listened with astonishment and admiration. We soon recovered from the prejudices excited by his stature and appearance; we now praise and admire his eloquence;” (J H D’Aubigne, ibid)

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There are moments when the human heart yearns for endearment and company. We have all sought for acceptance by another, a soul with whom we could be vulnerable and genuine. God knows this need, He it was that placed it within us. But in that two year silence God gave Luther we learn a indelibly grave lesson. Those years of self-flagellation, of sleeplessness, fear and loneliness, turned Luther into the indomitable lion that heaven needed for the next phase of reformation. A sense of deep clarity settled upon his mind. A determined decision was made in those days of darkness and despair, which is the second step in reformation. Only now when he had passed the test of loneliness, ridicule and ostracism did heaven see it fit to comfort his soul by the presence and friendship of Philip Melancthon. This is how God builds a man and now he is ready. Henceforth, all heaven will go on the offensive in the person of this band of brothers. Let us finish this war with a thunderclap.