Luther's Overwhelming Guilt

In a way, the Reformation began in one monk's overwhelming guilt. Martin Luther was riddled with guilt and filled with anxiety because he could see that he could not live up to God's standard of righteousness.

God's righteousness stood above him like a sword of Damocles, as he scrupulously tried to unearth and confess every one of his sins—again and again—afraid that he might overlook a transgression. Instead of a few minutes in confession, he would spend hours in the confessional.…