Martin Luther
Saint or Sinner
What I Think
Martin Luther in the times of his ideas (1483-1546) I believe was seen as both a saint and a sinner. In the eyes of his follower Lutherans he was seen as a saint who showed the corruption of the Catholic Church. But to the Pope and members of the Catholic Church he was most likely seen as a sinner who took members away from their religion and spoke badly about their ways.
Examples of Both
saint
Speaking out against Indulgences
He wanted the church to follow the ways of god he believed the indulgences were not a way to clear your sins so he spoke out against the indulgences so the people would no longer use there money to buy the churches lies. This makes him a saint because he wanted to protect the people from the ''unholy'' indulgences.
95 Theses
Martin Luther's 95 Theses make him a saint. Although they went against the church and targeted the corruption in it they still were faithful to god. The Theses showed/warned people about the unholiness in indulgences and how the church was trying to get money from the people. Which can make him be a saint like figure.
Spread Lutheranism
Street preachers like the one in the picture helped the spread of ideas. Lutherans were followers of Luther's ideas who left the Catholic Church to follow him. To the Lutherans Luther must have been seen as a saint for going against the powerful Church to show his idea the right ways to follow god. It makes him a saint because he was spreading more ideas on how the god should be followed the right way.
Sinner
95 Theses
The picture is supposed to be a funny representation of the 95 Theses of Luther and how the Catholic Church was a big problem to him. Martin Luther's 95 Theses had content that showed how the church was bad, and corrupt he went against his religion, the church, and the pope. Most would believe after doing all of that he is a sinner.
Preaching about the Churches Corruption
Luther would preach to crowds about the corruption in the church like in this picture. He would speak bad about the church and especially the churches corrupt use of indulgences. This makes him a sinner because he was going against the church a place of god and against others religion.
Taking Members away from the Church
The picture shows someone confused with their religion like Luther's ideas would have made them. During the spread of Luther's 95 Theses the church lost members to Luther's followers Lutherans. Some of the members of the Catholic Church who agreed with Luther's ideas left the church to be Lutherans. This makes him a sinner in the Catholic Churches eyes because he was taking members away from the church that they needed.