Essentials Of The Faith / Midweek Devotional

Theologia Germanica

Introduction to the Author
     Martin Luther, in his 1516 preface to the Theologia Germanica, observes that only God knows who wrote this book. As best we can discern, it grew out of the 14th century German renewal movement known as 'The Friends of God'. Taking it's name for Jesus' words in John 15:15 'I have called you friends' this dynamic movement stressed intimacy with God, piety of life and complete obedience to the commands of Christ.
     Written about 1350, the Theologia circulated as a kind of 'tract' urging people to experience the living and present Christ. In 1516 Martin Luther came upon a short version of it as was so impressed that he immediately wrote a brief introduction and had it printed in Wittenberg. Two years later he found a more extensive copy, and gave it a more elaborate introduction, and published it in 1518. Luther said that next to his Bible and St. Augustine, he had never read anything as helpful as The Theologia.
     The driving aim of the Theologia Germanica is to move our knowledge and experience of God from the outer person to the inner person. It urges us to take quite seriously Jesus' words that out of the heart come the issues of life. (Matt. 15:19) Therefore, it brings an important message to us today just as it did to those who lived in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Excerpts from 'The Theologia Germanica of Martin Luther'

1. God wills this ordered life
     One says and rightly so, that God is above and without rules, measure and order yet renders to all things rules, order, measure and moral integrity. This should be understood in the following way. God wills this ordered life. For as far as word, work and deportment are concerned, we always stand in a choice between, on the one hand, rule and righteousness, or, on the other hand, disorder. Now, orderliness and righteousness are better and nobler than the opposite.

2. Sour and burdensome
     People deal with order, command and rule in four different ways. First, there are some who lead an ordered life neither for God's sake nor out of any particular personal desire, but simply because they are compelled. they so the least possible and it all turns sour and burdensome for them.
     A second group of people observe laws and rules for the sake of the reward. That is. people who believe it is possible to earn the kingdom of heaven and eternal life. They consider that person holy who keeps the most rules. If you neglect even a little rule you are lost to the Devil. They show a great diligence and seriousness in keeping these rules yet in the end it all turns sour and burdensome for them.
     A third group of people are the wicked, false people who think of themselves as perfect and are quick to tell you how perfect they are. They think they do not need any rules and laws and in fact scoff at any talk about order.

3. Out of love
     The fourth group have been illuminated by God and guided by the true Light. They do not practice the ordered life in expectation of reward.  No, they do what they do in the ordered life out of love. They are no so concerned about the outcome, about how a particular behavior will turn out, how soon and so on. Their concern is rather that things will work out well, in peace and inner ease. They want to keep the rules, but they know their happiness and salvation are not dependent on the observation of rules. therefore they are not as anxious as others.

4. Keeping to the middle
     Quite often those in the 4th group are commanded and judged by persons in groups two and three. But the 4th group, illuminated by the Holy Spirit of God, keep to the middle. For a lover of God is better and more pleasing to God than a hundred thousand  rule followers who do not live God.
     Note that it is the inner person who receives God's law, His Word, and all His teachings. These show him how to become united with God. Where this happens, the outer person is structured and tutored by the inner person.

5. To peer into the eternal
     The created soul of man has two eyes. One represents the power to peer into the eternal. the other gazes into time and the created world, enabling us to distinguish between the lofty and the less lofty. But it is to be notes as well that these two eyes can not function at the same time. If the soul is looking to eternity through it's right eye, the left eye must cease all it's undertakings as if it were dead. If the left eye is to dominate by looking on the things of this world, the right eye would be lost and not see eternal things.

6. Remaining within
     It is better that people deeply within themselves learn and understand the what and how of life. They need t learn what God is working and doing in them and how God wishes to use them and not to use them. Thus the saying is still true: No outgoing was ever so good that a remaining within was not better.

7. Only wait for God
     It should be pointed out that eternal bliss is rooted in God alone and nothing else. And if people are to be saved, this one and only God must be in their soul. Bliss and blessedness in life does not come from the wealth of things but from God. In other words, bliss and blessedness do not come from any created thing or in any created persons work, but only on God and His works. Therefore I should say only wait for God and His work and leave aside all creatures with all their works, first of all my own self.

8. The false light and the true Light
     All that is contrary to the true Light belongs to the false light. It is an essential quality of the true Light that it does not know deceit, is not inspired by the will to deceive. But the false light is deceived and constantly pulls others into its deceit. The true Light is God, is divine; the false light is nature, or natural. As God is the true Light, void of all I and self and all self-indulgence, so conversely, the mark of the natural creature and the false light is to pamper the I, me and it's outgrowths.
     Man fancies himself to be what he is not. He fancies himself to be God, yet he is only natural, a created being. From within that illusion be begins to claim for himself the traits that are the marks of God. Note: those who live in the true Light, perceive that everything they might desire is nothing compared to that which has already been desired by God. This realization leads them to let go of all desire and reliance on worldly things, surrendering themselves completely to God.

Read: John 3:1-8
Reflection

1. List the four kinds of people who try to live an ordered, moral life. Which of the four are you most like?

2. The right eye of the soul looks to the eternal, while the left eye looks to the things of this world. Which is your dominate eye?

3. The author of Theologia Germanica stresses the importance of being motivated from the inside, not merely from the outside. Which kinds of inner and outer motivations prompt you to engage in the spiritual disciplines?

4. Our whole world runs on a system of rewards and punishments. Yet the author suggests that obedience must be loved for God Himself, not merely for rewards or fear of punishment. How does God's grace fir into the struggle?

5. According to John 3:3 what is the result of being born from above? Which eye according to the Theologia Germanica would Nicodemus need in order to understand what Jesus was trying to explain to him?

6. Begin looking for the motivation behind your actions this week. Are you doing a certain thing out of duty, reward, rebellion or love?

7. Blessedness, says the author, does not depend on material possessions. this week learn to enjoy God in simple ways, such as taking a walk in a park, viewing a sunset or spending time with your family. Allow God's presence to season every aspect of your life.