involved a person’s internal reactions to the external evils. Luther identified this internal suffering of the trial of faith as “anfechtungen”; they are satanic temptations to doubt God.
To capitalize on Luther’s idea anfechtungen, there is great evidence that he counseled with this theology. In 1519 Frederick the Wise, the Saxon Elector, was stricken with serious illness and feared for his life. Record states that Fredericks chaplain, George Spalatin, asked Luther to provide a written letter to comfort Frederick. Luther would fulfill his request by writing “The Fourteen Consolations: For Those Who Labor and Are Heavy-Laden”. His letter to Frederick illustrates how Luther dealt with both the external and internal suffering. Luther very much …show more content…
Resulting from this, Luther’s principal focus in soul care was specifically on sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding. The Gospel foundation found in sustaining is that the Christ of the Cross understands suffering. The focus in this step is to empathize and embrace/comfort. Within the step of sustaining, Luther aimed to maintain faith in God’s character and His goodness; when life is not a bed of roses, you should remember the one who wore the crown of thorns. His primary focus was urging those who he was caring for to focus on Christ (Coram Deo Faith). Luther’s idea of coram Deo emphasized in his method of sustaining that true faith perceives and invites the presence of God within the existence of suffering. Coram Deo is a Latin phrase that defines faith as “before the face of God, in the presence of God, and in the sight of God”. Luther used this phrase to define his idea of people living their lives face-to-face with God. Luther’s answer to the questions of suffering was namely Christ Jesus. In the letter mentioned above to Frederick, Luther presented Christ and explained how He himself understood and experienced human suffering but also that He is still with us in the midst of our own
To capitalize on Luther’s idea anfechtungen, there is great evidence that he counseled with this theology. In 1519 Frederick the Wise, the Saxon Elector, was stricken with serious illness and feared for his life. Record states that Fredericks chaplain, George Spalatin, asked Luther to provide a written letter to comfort Frederick. Luther would fulfill his request by writing “The Fourteen Consolations: For Those Who Labor and Are Heavy-Laden”. His letter to Frederick illustrates how Luther dealt with both the external and internal suffering. Luther very much …show more content…
Resulting from this, Luther’s principal focus in soul care was specifically on sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding. The Gospel foundation found in sustaining is that the Christ of the Cross understands suffering. The focus in this step is to empathize and embrace/comfort. Within the step of sustaining, Luther aimed to maintain faith in God’s character and His goodness; when life is not a bed of roses, you should remember the one who wore the crown of thorns. His primary focus was urging those who he was caring for to focus on Christ (Coram Deo Faith). Luther’s idea of coram Deo emphasized in his method of sustaining that true faith perceives and invites the presence of God within the existence of suffering. Coram Deo is a Latin phrase that defines faith as “before the face of God, in the presence of God, and in the sight of God”. Luther used this phrase to define his idea of people living their lives face-to-face with God. Luther’s answer to the questions of suffering was namely Christ Jesus. In the letter mentioned above to Frederick, Luther presented Christ and explained how He himself understood and experienced human suffering but also that He is still with us in the midst of our own