I’ve started working on book 14: Martin Luther’s Pastoral Counseling: Counseling Under the Cross. In my previous post, I shared snippets from chapter 5: Gospel-Centered Comfort for Suffering.
Today, I’m offering a taste of chapter 7: Christ’s Medicine for Suffering.
Counsel of the Word
In 1523, two Augustinian friars, Henry Vos and John van den Esschen, were burned at the stake in Brussels for their dogged adherence to the Evangelical faith. In the same year, a third Augustinian, Lambert Thorn, was arrested for the identical reason. Thorn spent five years in prison where he eventually died in 1528—without recanting.
On January 19, 1524, early in Thorn’s imprisonment, Luther sent Thorn a letter of spiritual encouragement. Luther leads with reminders of Thorn’s union with Christ and the strength this union provides.
“Christ, who is in you, has given abundant testimony that you do not need my words, for he himself suffers in you and is glorified in you. He is taken captive in you and reigns in you. He is oppressed in you and triumphs in you.”
Christ in us is not only the hope of glory; it is our sure hope this side of glory.
Luther continues by underscoring the relational nature of Thorn’s union with Christ and again links that union to courage during life’s storms.
Lambert is to be “mindful that you are not suffering alone but that He is with you who says, ‘I will be with him in trouble; because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him. I will set him on high because he hath known my name…. Be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart.”
Luther’s counsel is the counsel of the Word. “He has said: ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’”
Luther’s reasoning is faith-based. “Do not argue with Satan but fix your eyes on the Lord, relying in simple faith on Jesus Christ, and know that by his blood we are saved.”
Luther draws out the courage already resident within Thorn by applauding the impact Lambert’s testimony was having on Luther and the whole world.
“He strengthens you inwardly by his Spirit in these outward tribulations and consoles you with the double example of John and Henry. Thus both they and you are to me a great consolation and strength, to the whole world a sweet savor, and to the gospel of Christ a special glory.”
It is not going too far to say that Luther “brags on” Thorn. “I rejoice with you and congratulate you with my whole heart, giving thanks to the faithful Saviour who has given me to see in you the rich and splendid increase of his grace.”
Luther concludes with words of challenge and comfort:
“You have become a member of him by the holy calling of our Father. May he perfect his calling in you to the glory of his name and of his Word. Amen. Farewell in Christ, my brother.”
Timeless Truth for Life and Ministry Today
In a letter of approximately 600 words—less than a brief blog post by today’s standards—Luther illustrates three dynamic aspects of gospel-centered pastoral counsel. Luther speaks gospel healing to the soul, the mind, and the will.
Luther heals the soul through constant conversations about the Christian’s union with Christ. Satan seeks to misuse suffering to suggest a breach in our relationship with God. This sucker punch can stagger even the strongest Christian. Luther becomes the Spirit’s advocate by reintegrating God’s children with their heavenly Father through emphasis on their union with Christ.
Luther heals the mind through gospel conversations that urge Christians to fix their “eyes on the Lord, relying in simple faith on Jesus Christ, and know that by his blood we are saved.” Satan seeks to misinterpret suffering to insinuate that God is angry with us. This kidney punch can double-over even the most mature believer. Luther becomes the Spirit’s advocate by teaching Christians how to reinterpret their suffering through a gospel lens. The gospel is the divine smelling salt that jolts our minds back to the eternal reality that in suffering God is not getting back at us, he is getting us back to himself.
Luther heals the will through encouragement counseling. En-courage—to implant courage into our wills by enlightening our minds to the reality that Christ is implanted in and united with us. Satan seeks to dis-courage us—to suck the courage out of us—by causing us to doubt God and ourselves. This one-two combination can knock to the canvas even the greatest spiritual athlete. Luther becomes the Spirit’s advocate by challenging Christians to reinvigorate their faith. “Be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart.”
