Luther - Works of Martin Luther Vol. 6 - Righteousness is Love

40One really wonders at the courage with which this situation was met; onedoes not wonder at the hesitation and indecision so frequently evident inthe way in which it was met; and one is bound to honor the spirit whichproduced the guiding suggestions and which continues to live in theresults. The hope seemed to be: “This, — so much, — for the Now. TheFuture? — meet the need as it comes!” But the important part was to makethe “This” the right, the fundamental, the evangelical beginning and yet dono outrage and cause no offense in establishing it.Not all of the men who reached a position of more or less prominence inthe early years of the Reformation Movement were blessed with ability toanalyze conditions and to think things through to practical issues. Toweigh; to view the many-sided situation genuinely, carefully; to moveslowly, — much of this is prominent by its absence! Step by step crisesarise and issues are met. How much of impulse, of sudden determination,of ill-advised action, is buried behind many a writing or statement or deed!Carlstadt, for example, flames forth as an impetuous soul bent on cleansingthe Church and its cultus of all that offends, clutters and enshrouds thepure worship of God in one grand gesture. His rather suddenly institutedand far-reaching changes in the worship of the Wittenberg church probablywere nothing more than the culmination of a variety of efforts at reformduring the preceding year or more. All of these changes are indicative ofhis personal attitude and inclination, of his enthusiasm and impulsiveness.He did not show any strength in thinking things through carefully andsolidly. His actions smack more of a resolve to go the limit according to hisown interpretation of certain evangelical principles which had beenthoroughly threshed out and firmly established. His zeal was one thing; hispurpose another; and his accomplishment a third. All three combinedeventuated in being one of the situations which forced Luther to enter andvirtually take the lead in this particular field of activity also.Late in 1521, another interesting personality in the Reformation drama waspresent at Wittenberg and more or less closely associated with CarlstadtThis was Thomas Munzer. Carlstadt’s lead was not copied slavishly byMunzer, although it probably gave him the assurance he needed to goforward with reform in the cultus on his own account. His activities in thisdirection appeared shortly at Zwickau and later at Alstedt.Here was another intense spirit, zealous, purposeful, adventurous. Buthere, too, and in this connection oddly enough, was deep appreciation, a