Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation - 500 years on
In my first year sociology class, I read about some major world happenings that have changed the world. They include the French revolution (1789 - 1799), Industrial Revolution (1760 - 1840), American Revolution (1765 - 1783), and the Protestant Reformation (1517 - 1648).These happenings are the reasons behind the many laws and reforms we see in our world today such as democracy, labour laws, freedom of speech, freedom of worship etc.
This year marks exactly 500 year when the Protestant reformation started. The Protestant reformation is said to have started when Martin Luther a Roman Catholic priest and Lecturer at the University of Wittenberg in Germany posted his 95 these on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in Germany. He posted the theses on 31st October, 1517.
Martin Luther
1Martin Luther was born and raised in Germany and studied philosophy and law as a young man, but soon became discouraged by those studies. He became an Augustinian Monk in 1505, but the isolated lifestyle only led him to further despair as he spent countless hours in meditation and contemplation. In 1507, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest and later began teaching theology at the University of Wittenberg. During his theology teaching years, Martin Luther grew increasingly frustrated at the excesses and abuses which he saw within the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.
On October 31, 1517, he posted his 95 Theses on the door of "All Saint's Church" in Wittenberg, which was the accepted practice for anyone at the university who wanted to engage in theological debate. The majority of Luther's theses addressed the lack of biblical knowledge, practice, and accountability among the leaders of the church, and were intended to point them back to Scripture. Martin Luther was not the first to address these issues; in fact, most of them had been pointed out by other men within the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 100 years. Despite the steady stream of critics, the Catholic Church refused to admit error or make any substantial changes.
As with the other Reformers, who were all born, baptized, confirmed and educated in the Roman Catholic Church, Luther had no intention of starting a new church, but only wanted to correct what he saw as violations of clear biblical teaching. Part of the problem was a widespread ignorance of the Bible, even among ordained priests. Carlstadt, an older peer of Luther, admitted that he was made a Doctor of Divinity before he had even seen a complete copy of the Bible. One of the driving factors in Luther's work was the desire to have clear teaching for the common questions of the people, such as, “What must a man do to be saved?” and “How shall a sinner be justified before God and attain peace for his troubled conscience?” After a series of meetings in which Luther refused to recant his views, Pope Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther in 1521.
Martin Luther's 95 Theses
Martin Luther wrote his 95 theses in 1517 as a protest against the many errors he noticed in the Roman Catholic Church. After he sent a copy of the theses to Albert of Mainz (who sent a copy to Pope Leo), Luther continued to write, elaborating on the issues raised.
He starts the theses by these words
"2Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen".
You can read all the 95 Theses here (https://www.uncommon-travel-germany.com/martin-luther-95-theses.html) .
3Martin Luther makes 3 main points in his 95 Theses. Here are the summary in his own words
3Martin Luther makes 3 main points in his 95 Theses. Here are the summary in his own words
1. Selling indulgences to finance the building of St. Peter's is wrong.
"The revenues of all Christendom are being sucked into this insatiable basilica. The Germans laugh at calling this the common treasure of Christendom. Before long, all the churches, palaces, walls and bridges of Rome will be built out of our money. First of all, we should rear living temples, not local churches, and only last of all St. Peter's, which is not necessary for us. We Germans cannot attend St. Peter's. Better that it should never be built than that our parochial churches should be despoiled. ...Why doesn't the pope build the basilica of St. Peter's out of his own money? He is richer than Croesus. He would do better to sell St. Peter's and give the money to the poor folk who are being fleeced by the hawkers of indulgences."
2. The pope has no power over Purgatory.
"Papal indulgences do not remove guilt. Beware of those who say that indulgences effect reconciliation with God. ... He who is contrite has plenary remission of guilt and penalty without indulgences. The pope can only remove those penalties which he himself has imposed on earth, for Christ did not say, 'Whatsoever I have bound in heaven you may loose on earth.'Therefore I claim that the pope has no jurisdiction over Purgatory. ... If the pope does have power to release anyone from Purgatory, why in the name of love does he not abolish Purgatory by letting everyone out? If for the sake of miserable money he released uncounted souls, why should he not for the sake of most holy love empty the place? To say that souls are liberated from Purgatory is audacious. To say they are released as soon as the coffer rings is to incite avarice. The pope would do better to give everything away without charge."
3. Buying indulgences gives people a false sense of security and endangers their salvation.
"Indulgences are positively harmful to the recipient because they impede salvation by diverting charity and inducing a false sense of security. Christians should be taught that he who gives to the poor is better than he who receives a pardon. He who spends money on indulgences instead of relieving want receives not the indulgence of the pope but the indignation of God. ...Indulgences are most pernicious because they induce complacency and thereby imperil salvation. Those persons are damned who think that letters of indulgence make them certain of salvation. God works by contraries so that a man feels himself to be lost in the very moment when he is on the point of being saved. ...Man must first cry out that there is no health in him. He must be consumed with horror. This is the pain of Purgatory. ... In this disturbance salvation begins. When man believes himself to be utterly lost, light breaks. Peace comes in the word of Christ through faith. He who does not have this is lost even though he be absolved a million times by the pope, and he who does have it may not wish to be released from Purgatory, for true contrition seeks penalty. Christians should be encouraged to bear the cross."
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was the 16th-century religious, political, intellectual and cultural upheaval that splintered Catholic Europe, setting in place the structures and beliefs that would define the continent in the modern era. Historians usually date the start of the reformation to 1517 when Martin Luther pasted his 95 Theses in Germany. This action spark a great awakening in the Europe and the world at large. In northern and central Europe, reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin and Henry VIII challenged papal authority and questioned the Catholic Church’s ability to define Christian practice. They argued for a religious and political redistribution of power into the hands of Bible and pamphlet-reading pastors and princes. The reformation triggered wars, persecutions and the so-called Counter-Reformation. This is because the Catholic Church was not ready to accept the challenge but force the protestants to rescind their decisions.
This not withstanding, the Protestant Reformation gathered momentum throughout the
world. 4This worldwide movement brought the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church under
attack. The beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church that were attacked included:
- Purgatory
- Devotion to Mary (Mariology)
- The intercession of and devotion to the saints
- Many of their sacraments
- Celibacy requirement of the clergy (including Monasticism)
- The authority of the Pope
A. Doctrinal issues of the reformation
All though the reformation took place in different countries at the time, all the reformers were in agreement when it comes to their doctrine.1. Bible Only (Sola Scriptura): The Reformers declared the Bible to be the only rule of faith and practice. They believed that God had made a revelation in written form to men in the Bible. They taught that the Bible was inspired by God and authoritative, and that it took precedence over the declarations of popes, church tradition and church councils. They asserted that men, under the illumination of the Holy Spirit, are to study the Bible to learn about God, Christ, salvation, and church government and practices. They encouraged Christians to read and study their Bibles in a scholarly way so as to form a biblical theology based on the authority of the Scriptures alone. The Bible, hitherto written in Latin and read only by the clergy, was translated anew into the vernacular tongues of Europe and made a book of the people.
2. Christ Only (Solo Christo): Salvation is located not in the church, an organization, but in the person Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ actually secured and procured the salvation of all who are saved by grace through faith in Christ.
3. Grace Only (Sola Gratia): The Reformers believed that salvation was caused totally by God’s grace. Man is not saved by works but by God’s grace in Christ. No man deserves salvation, and if he is saved it is because of God’s unconditional grace.
4. Faith Only (Sola Fide): Faith alone is consistent with God’s grace in calling to salvation. Thus the Reformers taught that salvation was appropriated by faith alone. Good works could not save but only Christ can save those who believe in Him. Every and any person who trusts the Saviour will be saved, but even a person’s faith is a gift from God.
5. God’s Glory Only (Soli Deo Gloria): The underlying, foundational doctrine of the Reformers was that God’s glory was the ultimate purpose of all things. They held tenaciously to the doctrines of God’s sovereignty in election, predestination and the efficacious call of God in salvation, and saw how these contributed ultimately to God’s glory rather than to man’s or to the church’s. The Reformers taught super-naturalism and the necessity of a new birth from God.
B. The Reformers attitude towards Rome
5The Reformers did not believe that Roman Catholicism and Protestantism were just two different forms of Christianity. They believed and taught that Roman Catholicism was heretical and apostate. Roman Catholicism was a religion of works, but Protestantism was the true Christian religion based on God’s grace appropriated by faith. The Reformers were not tolerant of Rome, for they sincerely believed that Rome was holding souls in bondage with no hope of salvation.
Note that - there can be no fellowship between grace-based salvation and law-based salvation, between faith-based salvation and works-based salvation, just as there can be no fellowship between light and darkness. Roman Catholicism is a legal religion, but Protestantism is evangelical Christianity. Catholicism is ruled by the principle of human authority, but Protestantism by the principle of freedom in Christ. Catholicism leads to bondage, but Protestantism to the true gospel and spiritual freedom. This not withstanding, the protestants did not condemn every member of the Catholic church. They believed that there were many people within the Catholic system who were genuine believers in God. For this reason they were spreading the message for such people to know and turn away from the Church.
C. Differences between the Protestants and the Catholic Church
Before the reformation, there was only one church in the world (Roman Catholic Church). The Protestant Reformation brought about two different types of Christians - the established Catholic church and the Protestant churches. Without the reformation, there would still have been one church in this world even at this time.The differences in beliefs between the Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches were very wide.
1. Church Services and the Bible:
Catholics believed that Church Services and the Bible should be in Latin, as it had been for 1000 years.
The Protestants on the other hand believed that Church Services and the Bible should be in the language of the people so that the ordinary people could understand them.
2. Priests:
Catholics believed that Priests were the link between God and the people and that the Pope was ordained by God. Priests were special and expected to devote their lives to God and remain unmarried and wear elaborate robes.
Protestants believed that people could find God without a priest or a Pope and that Ministers were ordinary people who should lead normal lives and wear ordinary robes
3. Sins
Catholics believed that Priests and the Pope were able to forgive sins - at a price. Gifts, or indulgences, were given to the church
Protestants believed that only God could forgive sins
4. Churches
Catholics believed that Churches celebrate God and elaborately decorated with statues and shrines
Protestants believed that Churches should be plain allowing the congregation to concentrate on the sermons
Benefits of the Protestant Reformation
The Protestant reformation has had great effect on the world be it; politics, science, economics, religion, human right etc. Some of the effects of the reformation has been written below;1. Historical Benefit: It is impossible to understand modern history including the history of Europe, England or America without studying the Reformation. For example, in America there would never have been Pilgrim Fathers if there had not first been a Protestant Reformation. Also Protestants rejection of the Papal political rule greatly shaped the events of Europe and the government structure of the United States.
2. Democracy and Political Benefit: The Reformation has profoundly affected the modern view of politics and law. Prior to the Reformation the Church governed politics; she controlled emperors and kings and governed the law of lands. Countries were not independent and could not make independent laws to govern themselves prior to the reformation. The reformation marked the beginning of political independence of Countries.
3. Literature and Writing: The meaning of much western literature is really quite meaningless apart from an understanding of the Reformation. The art of writing and printing increased tremendously because of the reformation. Moreover, for all practical purposes Martin Luther stabilized the German language. He stabilized the German language by translating the Bible from Latin to German.
4. Scientific Benefit: In the realm of science, it is generally granted by modern historians that there never would have been modern science were it not for the Reformation. All scientific investigation and endeavor prior to that had been controlled by the church. Many scientist like Copernicus and Galileo where persecuted for their scientific discoveries such as the Earth revolves around the Sun but not vice versa. Only through sheer ignorance of history do many modern scientists believe that Protestantism, the true evangelical faith, opposes true science.
5. Freedoms and Rights of individuals: The Reformation laid down once and for all the right and obligation of the individual conscience, and the right to follow the dictates of that individual conscience. Many men who talk lightly and glibly about “liberty” neither know nor realize that they owe their liberty to this event.
6. Religious Benefit: The benefits of the reformation has being pervasive in the religious setting (Christianity) than the other areas mentioned above. We cannot underestimate the role of the reformation to the development and spread of Christianity. Below are some of the benefits of the reformation to Christianity.
- The Bible has became easily available to everyone who wants to read it as a results of the reformation. Until the reformation, the Bible remain secret and only a privileged few could have access to it. Today, the Bible is easily available in all forms (print, mobile app, PDF, Audio verse etc).
- The Bible was translated into different languages. The Bible was in Latin and only the Priests who could read Latin and explain had access to it. Martin Luther and John Wycliffe translated the Bible to German and English respectively. Today, the Bible has been translated into many languages to enable everyone one read and understand.
- The reformation revived a great interest in Bible study unlike before. As a result, many people became enlightened and spent much time researching the Bible to know more. They spent most of their time studying and teaching the Bible to increase their knowledge of the word of God.
- The reformation encouraged Bible based doctrines rather than tradition based theology. The Protestants advocated for the Bible to be the basis for every doctrine but not the the Priests, Pope or traditions.
- The doctrine of salvation by Faith and not by works was clearly expounded by the reformers. Before the reformation, the general belief was "Salvation by works". The early Christians erroneously believed that they would gain salvation by their own efforts. Martin Luther and the reformers discounted that belief and proclaimed forcefully the theology of "SALVATION BY FAITH AND FAITH ALONE". They based this doctrine on Romans 1:17 that reads "The Just shall live by Faith"
Conclusion
We cannot write the world's history without talking about the contribution of the protestant reformation. The benefits of the reformation goes beyond Christianity to include science, law, politics, democracy etc.
Just like the reformers, let us always stand for the truth irrespective of the consequences. Luther and the other Reformers did not fear for their lives but chose to stand for the truth. The same way we should not fear for our lives but stand for the truth all the time.As the world celebrate 500 years of the Reformation, I would encourage everyone to revisit the tenets of the reformers (Sola Scriptura, Solo Christo, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide and Soli Deo Gloria), study for yourself and know the truth. For you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
God bless you.
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