Martin Luther was a German monk, theologian and reformist. Luther played a huge role in the Protestant Reformation movement in Europe in the 1500s. He challenged the authority of the papacy by stating that the bible is the only source of religious authority. Luther believed that salvation can only be gained through faith in Jesus Christ and does not necessarily require the church's assistance.
Luther's stand helped spur the Protestant Reformation in the West. It was the catalyst of change that fanned discontent among Catholics.
1500's Upheaval
In 1516-17, Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar who served as a papal commissioner for indulgences was sent by the Roman Catholic Church to Germany for the purpose of selling indulgences to have money for the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. “Indulgence” refers to reduction of punishment because of the forgiveness of sins. Indulgence is often granted through sacrament of confession. In the granting of indulgence the extension of merit from Treasure House of Merit occurs. This Treasure House is a collection of merits from the good deeds of saints. These merits could be sold and bought by the Catholics.
Luther protested the practice by writing a letter to Albert, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg on October 31, 1517. Luther enclosed a copy of “Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” or later referred to as The 95 Theses.
His Thesis 86 asks a very sensitive question “Why does not the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than the money of poor believers?”
Johann Tetzel further fueled Luther's ire by saying “as soon as the coin the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs”. Luther refuted this claim in his letter by stating that forgiveness is God's prerogative alone, selling indulgences and promising the absolution were not acceptable. Christians must win salvation by following Christ not by buying indulgences.
Luther posted a copy of the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg the same day he wrote the letter which fueled the Protestant Reformation movement or known today as the Reformation Day. Within two weeks, the theses were all over Germany and in a month's time had reached the entire Europe.
Luther's break from the Catholic Church
Luther breaks from the Catholic Church by no fault of his own. He was excommunicated by Pope Leo X on January 3, 1521 after he refused to recant 41sentences from his writing within 60 days.
Luther was made to appear before the Diet of Worms, an assembly of the estate of the Holy Roman Empire.
Luther was found to be guilty of a crime of notoriety. As a punishment, he was declared, his writings were banned and he was to be arrested.
When Luther was arrested, Prince Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, a known supporter of Luther, had him intercepted by masked horsemen and brought to Wartburg Castle. He grew a beard to hide his identity for eleven months.
During this exile at Wartburg, Luther translated the New Testament from Greek to German. This work was published in September 1522 which sold 5,000 copies in two months. In the introduction of the New Testament he said that good works are derived from faith.
Around this time also Luther set upon himself to translate not just the New Testament but the entire Bible to German so ordinary people can understand it. The new German Bible was published September 1522.
Luther and his supporters began to break ties with the Roman Catholic Church.
Each Prince then were made to decide of the Lutheran teachings be allowed in their individual territories. Those who accepted Lutheran teachings formed part of the states known as Protestants or states that resisted the Edict of Worms.
Lutheranism became separate from Protestantism during 1530 at the Diet of Augsburg where Philipp Melanchton presented the core of Lutheran beliefs called Augsburg Confession. German princes signed the document to identify the “Lutheran” territories.
Protestant Reformation Movement
The Protestant Reformation movement began with Martin Luther's protests in 1517 and ended with Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The movement was intended to introduce changes to the Catholic Church. The Christians were appalled by the hypocrisies and misconduct they observed in the Roman Catholic Church such as selling indulgences, buying and selling church positions and corruption.
Martin Luther was soon followed by John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli started his protests in Switzerland about the same time Luther did in Germany. After the excommunication of Luther, Calvin's writings help spurred the movement by uniting various groups operating independently in Switzerland, Scotland, Hungary, Germany and the rest of Europe.
Luther, Calvin and Zwingli were all referred to as Magisterial Reformers because the movements they started were supported by magistrates. In the case of Luther, Frederick the Wise was behind him. Zwingli and Calvin were protected by the city councils of Zurich and Geneva.
The important Protestant groups formed due to the reformation were the Lutherans, the Reformed/Calvinists/Presbyterians, the Anabaptists and the Anglicans.
A series of religious wars were waged during the Reformation which ended in the Thirty Years War. For thirty years which spanned 1618 to 1648, Catholic Habsburgs and followers waged war against Protestant princes of Germany. The Reformation period ended when Catholic France broke ties with the Habsburgs and fought side by side the Protestants in the battlefields. Feuding parties signed the Peace of Westphalia which brought them peace.
Differences between Catholic and Lutheran church
Lutheran church beliefs are bible based or Christ centered. The central teaching of Lutheran Church is that salvation is reaped by faith in Christ alone. Catholics believe in Sacraments as the way to salvation. Communion in Lutheran Mass is celebrated by partaking both the Body and Blood of Christ.
Roman Catholic Church believes that the church was founded by Apostle Peter and this authority is passed to the bishops. Lutherans believe that the church is founded by Jesus Christ and that the authority rests solely on Jesus not the authorities such as Peter.
The teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are derived from both scriptures and traditions of the church interpreted by the popes. Lutherans believe that all doctrine should be based on the Bible and that salvation is based in Jesus Christ alone. Tradition has no authority over the Bible in Lutheran churches.
The doctrine on salvation is another point of difference for Catholics and Lutherans. Catholics believe that faith and love will give them salvation. Lutherans, on the other hand, believe that it is to be gained by faith alone as a gift from God not through actions.
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