There is something I love about Luther--things like his immovable conviction and courage or his total disdain for fame (my consolation is that in time, my books will lie forgotten in the dust"). But then when I read about Luther's return to Wittenburg from the Wartbug castle, and how under certain "biblical values" he tried to wrest the reform movement back into his own hands (which meant pulling it from those of Andreas Bodenstein Von Karlstadt) Luther appears so political, and quite frankly, repulsive.
Similarly, when I read about Karlstadt, I see such a ...sad man. Nearly possessed with an inferiority complex, excessively accumulating degrees, taking criticisms personally, always feeling attacked ever consigned to second fiddle, following Luther's theology but never credited much as a leader, except perhaps of aberrant movements happily forgotten--Karlstadt seems like a man trying to find a passion that would also establish his own worth. He strikes me as a broken man, as one not whole. But then when I read of his amazing paradigm shift, of his abjuring academics for the life of a layman, for sweat and toil; or when I hear hows his tracts showed a "vigorous concern for a regenerate life of obedience to the Lord," Karlstadt seemed to have a passion and vitality that not even Luther had. He had something even Luther was missing.
Luther is protestantisms saint; but at times he seems such an unattractive man. Karlstadt...is it right to say that he protestantism's embarrasing uncle?He was such a weak man, yet there was something so strong in his heart. The complexity and humanness of these men--not even to mention their raw and prolonged animosity toward eachother--seem to me like sources that could teach me so much.
Similarly, when I read about Karlstadt, I see such a ...sad man. Nearly possessed with an inferiority complex, excessively accumulating degrees, taking criticisms personally, always feeling attacked ever consigned to second fiddle, following Luther's theology but never credited much as a leader, except perhaps of aberrant movements happily forgotten--Karlstadt seems like a man trying to find a passion that would also establish his own worth. He strikes me as a broken man, as one not whole. But then when I read of his amazing paradigm shift, of his abjuring academics for the life of a layman, for sweat and toil; or when I hear hows his tracts showed a "vigorous concern for a regenerate life of obedience to the Lord," Karlstadt seemed to have a passion and vitality that not even Luther had. He had something even Luther was missing.
Luther is protestantisms saint; but at times he seems such an unattractive man. Karlstadt...is it right to say that he protestantism's embarrasing uncle?He was such a weak man, yet there was something so strong in his heart. The complexity and humanness of these men--not even to mention their raw and prolonged animosity toward eachother--seem to me like sources that could teach me so much.
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