October 31, 1517, just might be the most important date in the history of Protestant Christianity. This was the day when Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and a professor of theology, posted on the doors of the Cathedral of Wittenberg, Germany, his 95 Theses against the teachings and practices of the medieval Roman Church. With this event, the 16th-century Protestant Reformation was formally launched, and the stage was set for the birth of one of the Christian church's greatest hymns, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."
The Protestant Reformation, a profound movement of theological revival in the church, was built on these three main tenets:
• The re-establishment of the Scriptures. The reformers asserted "sola scriptura," declaring the Bible as the ultimate source for Christian faith and practice and a book that should be read by all.
• Clarifying the means of salvation. The Reformation proclaimed "justification by faith in Christ" rather than by works and "salvation by grace alone."
• The restoration of congregational singing. The movement defied the Roman Church tradition where only clerics were allowed to sing worship songs in public.
"A Mighty Fortress," which became the rallying cry of the Reformation, was composed by Luther, who surprised many with his songwriting skills. The exact date of the hymn is unknown, but it's generally believed to have been written for the Diet of Spires in 1529 when the term "protestant" was first used. "A Mighty Fortress" is loosely based on Psalm 46, which praises God for His deliverance from adversity and trial.
In 1853, Frederick H. Hedge translated the hymn into English from the original German. It endures to this day as one of the great anthems of the faith.
Adapted from Amazing Grace: Illustrated Stories of Favorite Hymns by Kenneth W. Osbeck (Kregel, 1999). Used by permission.
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