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The Theologia Germanica of Martin Luther (Classics of Western Spirituality)

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_The Theologia Germanica_ is a beautiful piece of medieval mysticism, written by a Christian knight and made famous through its publication by Martin Luther. This work emerged from the "Friends of God" movement of the fourteenth century within the Catholic Church. It sought to bring man to the life of Christ, following in the example of Christ along with those who have achieved true illumination. The work contrasts these individuals, "the illumined", with those who merely follow Christ out of desire for reward and with those who follow Christ and therefore believe themselves to be perfect, "the free spirits". Much of this is in reference to the movement of the "Brothers and Sisters of the Free Spirit" which existed at that time and who interpreted Christ's resurrection as an opportunity to engage in libertine and liscentious acts. The author of this tract responds disapprovingly to this kind of behavior and shows how it deviates from true Christian piety. Thus, we see that those who follow the true light, follow in obedience but do not do so solely out of want of reward; they love God because He is Good and reject the "I, Me, and Mine". The work explains God's love of Himself as not a selfish form of love; but rather, God loves Himself because He knows He is Good and for that reason alone. In the same manner, should the follower of Christ reject himself and love God solely because He is Good. This is the message of the mystical author.

This tract had some influence in the medieval mystical movements and is similar to the mystical writings of the Dominicans Johann Tauler (who Luther at first believed to be the true author, later rejected) and Meister Eckhart. Luther regarded this book as the third most important book he came into contact with, after the Bible and the writings of Saint Augustine. Subsequently, the book had some influence in Protestant theology and orthodox Lutheranism, as well as some interest for Catholic scholars. A must read for all interested in medieval mysticism or for those looking for spiritual fulfillment in the Christ-life.

The Theologia Germanica is a work written by anonymous author probably somewhere around 1350. In the midst of political and religious upheaval, rivalries, power plays, and other chaotic complications, "there were some who sought that peace which could not be found on earth, in intercourse with a higher world. Destitute of help and comfort and guidance from man, they took refuge in God, and finding that to them He had proved `a present help in time of trouble', `as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land', they tried to bring their fellow-men to believe and partake in a life raised above the troubles of this world...With this aim, like-minded men and women joined themselves together, that by communion of heart and mutual counsel they might strengthen each other in their common efforts to revive the spiritual life of those around them."(19-20) They called themselves Gottesfreunde (Friends of God), and it is one of these Friends that authored this work.

In my mind one of the strongest messages espoused here is the razor sharp distinction between the Self and God. So much of this seems to me to be based on two passages from Scripture, to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and that if we wish to follow Christ we must deny the self. "God saith, `I will not give My glory to another.' This is as much as to say, that praise and honour and glory belong to none but to God only. But now, if I call any good thing my own, as if I were it, or of myself had power of did or knew anything, or as if anything were mine or of me, or belonged to me, or were due to me or the like, I take unto myself somewhat of honour and glory, and do two evil things: First, I fall and go astray as aforesaid: Secondly, I touch God in His honour and take unto myself what belongeth to God only. For all that must be called good belongeth to none but to the true eternal Goodness which is God only, and whoso taketh it unto himself, committeth unrighteousness and is against God." (39).

I discovered this book after seeing some quotes from it in If Thou Wilt Be Perfect by Oswald Chambers. I have noticed this emphasis - loving God for His sake only without any consideration of myself - often appearing in Chamber's work. This Theologia Germanica might be the source of that influence and certainly contains the essence of that teaching, drawn deeply from the well of Scripture. Martin Luther said "Next to the Bible and St. Augustine, no book has ever come into my hands from which I have learnt more of God and Christ, and man and all things that are," and a letter to the translator states that "with Luther, I rank this short treatise next to the Bible, but, unlike him, should place it before rather than after St. Augustine." (25)

I must wholeheartedly agree. There is so much truth in these pages, a truth that is desperately needed in the world today, particularly in American Christianity in its present state. Perhaps there are similarities between the environment in which this book was written and the one we find ourselves in. This message is just as important now as it was then. It is antithetical to any form of humanism, and consists of pure devotion to the Living God. I will be returning to this work in the future, I am certain of it, and recommend it highly to anyone.

This book is a wonderful antidote to our "me" centered age. Its theme is that at the heart of human sin is our assertion of "I," "Me, and "Mine," and that if Christ and his will are to live in us then we need to die to all "selfdom." It is sometimes labelled "mystical," yet its key "mystical" element is biblical, i.e. that all genuine followers of Christ live in Christ and Christ lives in them. As St Paul writes, "It is not longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

This book is often couched in the language of Neoplatonism, but the content is more biblical than Neoplatonic. It is dualistic, but the dualism is not between matter and spirit as in Platonism, but between God and everything else as in the Christian understanding of creation. Anyone who wants to understand the roots of Luther's theology of the cross, his rejection of the monastic flight from the world in favor of a renewed engagement with the world out of love for one's neighbor, his theology of sanctification, his treatise "On the freedom of the Christian," and his understanding of human sin as being curved in on oneself, ought to read this book. It clearly expresses the theology of "grace alone" that was so important to the Reformer, even though it doesn't articulate his understanding of salvation through faith alone.

This is a good book with lots of insightful spiritual advice which is written in a simple format. Another good thing is that it works for all the major Christian denominations and not just Catholicism.
My favorite part was the cover because that guy looks so grumpy!