Luther

Yesterday was apparently the anniversary of Martin Luther's birth. We protestants (and I would argue the Christian community period) owe Luther an immeasurable amount of gratitude. He brought the faith back from superstition and Popish tomfoolery to its roots in the Word. Not so much a reformation as a return to the truth. Unfortunately, protestantism would eventually (even during Luther's own life) splinter and faction and embelish and obfuscate as much as the Catholic Church. Yet Luther translating the Bible into the common tounge, and taking it out of the hands of the elite remains one of the greatest actions by a single man, religious or otherwise, to this day.

In his honor, one of his hyms:

A mighty fortress is our God,
  A bulwark never failing;
  Our helper He, amid the flood
  Of mortal ills prevailing;
  For still our ancient foe
  Doth seek to work us woe;
  His craft and power are great,
  And, armed with cruel hate,
  On Earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
  Our striving would be losing;
  Were not the right Man on our side,
  The Man of God's own choosing;
  Dost ask who that may be?
  Christ Jesus, it is He;
  Lord Sabaoth, His name,
  From age to age the same,
  And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
  Should threaten to undo us,
  We will not fear, for God hath willed
  His truth to triumph through us;
  The Prince of Darkness grim --
  We tremble not for him;
  His rage we can endure,
  For lo, his doom is sure,
  On little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,
  No thanks to them, abideth.
  The Spirit and the gifts are ours
  Though Him who with us sideth;
  Let goods and kindred go,
  This mortal life also;
  The body they may kill;
  God's truth abideth still,
  His kingdom us forever.