I was absolutely floored to find out today that buried in some of Martin Luther’s writings, as far back as 1526, he was of the opinion and thought that the only real church was that which was not publicly celebrated where any pagan off the street could come in and “participate” and “go through the motions” and no one would ever know.

But instead, Martin Luther advocated the same kind of life for those living in his 14th century as what was practiced in the 1st century. That is, as in Acts 2… “Daily in public and from house to house” where everyone was bound together by sacred oaths and who had no need of pomp or fluff or traditions of men where a “religious show” was put on. But rather that men would gather together spontaneously, on their own (because they truly were born a second time and weren’t merely responding to en event on the calendar where anyone can “show up” for a few hours and “look good” — but an actual kind of life that not only would allow those truly born from above to recognize the merely religious and the pretenders, but that they should do something about them.) A place here men were taught to “obey all that [Jesus has] commanded” and not just passed along “information” about God.

He said that the only reason he didn’t follow through on living that way was (1) he didn’t see the kind of leadership (ie. Ephesians 4 giftedness) to pull it off, and (2) because, like in today’s world… he didn’t see anyone around who really wanted to live that way.

Check this out. Some comments are in order since the translation into English is a little archaic and the idioms don’t quite carry over:

Excerpted from German Mass and Order of Divine Service by Martin Luther (1526):

Next, there is the German Mass and Divine Service, of which we are now treating. This ought to be set up for the sake of the simple laymen. Both these kinds of Service then we must have held and publicly celebrated in church [buildings] for the people in general. They are not yet believers or Christians. But the greater part stand there and gape [ie. most are there simply to be entertained], simply to see something new: and it is just as if we held Divine Service in an open square or field amongst Turks or heathen. So far it is no question yet of a regularly fixed assembly wherein to train Christians according to the Gospel: but rather of a public allurement to faith and Christianity [ie. what we have is what is "culturally accepted" and expected -- but this is not truly church as any heathen can do it and it's not any real Christian training in obedience, according to Luther -- this is Luther's version/view of "seeker friendly" and his description of the true constitution of it].

But the third sort [of Divine Service], which the true type of Evangelical Order should embrace, must not be celebrated so publicly in the square amongst all and sundry [ie. this is the true "holy ground" and not just for any and everyone off the street who is nothing more than merely a religious "attender"]. Those, however, who are desirous of being Christians in earnest, and are ready to profess the Gospel with hand and mouth [ie. are ready to obey it instead of just giving homage to it], should register their names [eg. by "registering" he means some kind of actual, binding, promissory commitment to one another as in Acts 2 -- "sign on the dotted line"] and assemble by themselves [ie. on their own because they want to (Acts 2:42) and are truly second born, and not because of some "serve-us" already scheduled on the calendar] in some house to pray, to read, to baptize and to receive the sacrament and practise (sic) other Christian works. In this Order, those whose conduct was not such as befits Christians could be recognized, reproved, reformed, rejected, or excommunicated, according to the rule of Christ in Matt. xviii. Here, too, a general giving of alms could be imposed on Christians, to be willingly given and divided among the poor, after the example of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 9. Here there would not be need of much fine singing [ie. no need for a big "show."] Here we could have baptism and the sacrament in short and simple fashion [no fluff and tradition and "pomp"]: and direct everything towards the Word and prayer and love. [..] In one word, if we only had people who longed to be Christians in earnest, Form and Order would soon shape itself [ie. the spontaneity of 1 Corinthians 14 would give rise to Order all on it's own]. But I cannot and would not order or arrange such a community or congregation at present. I have not the requisite persons for it, nor do I see many who are urgent for it [ie. "I don't see any true giftedness to pull this off and... I don't see anyone who really wants to do this anyways..."] But should it come to pass that I must do it, and that such pressure is put upon me as that I find myself unable with a good conscience to leave it undone, then I will gladly do my part to secure it, and will help it on as best I can. In the meantime, I would abide by the two Orders aforesaid; and publicly among the people aid in the promotion of such Divine Service, besides preaching, as shall exercise the youth and call and incite others to faith, until those Christians who are most thoroughly in earnest shall discover each other and cleave together; to the end that there be no faction-forming, such as might ensue if I were to settle everything out of my own head.

(all emphasis mine)

He’s saying by the last part “I’m hopeful that in the meantime, if we just maintain ‘seeker friendly’ and put the ‘information’ out there and go ahead and “hold religious serve-us”, someone, somewhere, will wake up and realize what really needs to be done and will press me into doing what God really, ultimately Wants and Intends.”

History has shown that to not be the case — people are much more willing to merely put on airs, act religious, play it safe so their lives aren’t challenged in any kind of real way, and attend a “show” once a week than to “become Christians in earnest,” as he put it — to actually bind themselves together in sacred oath and allegiance to one another daily and in such a way that those who are only pretenders to the Faith could be easily recognized and should be, according to Luther, dealt with. That a pure Bride could be made spotless and ready by the acts of righteous obedience done by true, unleavened saints.

This is not a new concept. Anyone who has had the courage to take an honest look at scriptures, as Luther did, would have to come away with the conclusion that much of what we call “christianity” today was not reflected or practiced by the saints in the 1st century, but rather was very, very different.