Luther's 95 Theses
Posted on 06/08/2014 1:59:17 PM PDT by matthewrobertolson
In 2017, we will witness the 500th anniversary of one of the most important, influential and regrettable events in Church history: the Protestant Reformation, or the Protestant Rebellion, as some prefer to call it. Indeed, the latter term would suit me better, too. But, being German, I am used to the former expression and should I ever refer to said event as die protestantische Rebellion, people would think me some sort of radical. On that thought, perhaps it is worth noting that rebels are often quite radical themselves, which is one thing we can definitely say of the so-called "Reformers". To mark this anniversary, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has planned a number of events, beginning with a "Lutheran Decade" from 2008 to 2017. Each year has it’s own theme in the form of "The Reformation and…", i.e. Education, Freedom, Music, Tolerance, Politics and others.
The decade will culminate in the celebratory year of 2017, to which the President of the Evangelical "Church" in Germany (EKD), Nikolaus Schneider, has even invited Pope Francis. But, really, how likely is it His Holiness will hop on a plane and join in the celebration of someone his predecessor excommunicated? One might ask, is there any room for Catholics to take part in some sort of event? This is the question that is circulating in the mother country of the Reformation: Germany. The Most Reverend Gerhard Feige, Bishop of Magdeburg, is the Bishops' Conference's representative for ecumenical affairs. He has dedicated a lot of thought and time to the question how Catholics should view this event.
It begins with the name: Do we call it an anniversary, something that could imply happiness, or a commemoration of an event that has wrought such great damage upon the Body of Christ, His holy Bride, the Catholic Church? The German bishops have chosen the latter term. There is still confusion on the whole thing, though: The EKD is not being very clear on what exactly they want to celebrate. One hears catchy words such as "diversity", "conscience", and the like stuck onto the Reformation in their talk, but never do we hear of heresy, schism or even the antisemitism of Luther and his ilk. Indeed, who in his right mind would celebrate the chaos and harm inflicted on the Church by the so-called "Reformers"? Not even the Protestants organizing the event dare to say thus. Yet, one gets the impression that the whole event is not actually interested in critically evaluating the past, or their theology for that matter, but rather praising it as the dawn of an era of "tolerance" and "liberty".
Could this be any further from the truth? Professor Heinz Schilling of Berlin, a member of the advisory board for the anniversary, stated in an interview that Luther was "everything but tolerant" and criticized the EKD as "quite understandably not interested in any of the research’s findings". He went even further and said that the organizers made themselves appear "laughable among scholars" by claiming what they do. Margot Käßmann, who is the anniversary’s ambassador and a former Lutheran "bishop", once claimed that it was thanks to Luther that her sect had female "bishops". The professor criticizes this as yet another inaccuracy and something that Luther certainly did not envision. Is it any wonder, then, that the EKD has not come out clearly and said what the entire occasion is about for them, as the bishops have repeatedly bewailed, if even their own board members see through their catchy slogans?
What about us Catholics? Is there any way in which we can join our separated brethren in their commemoration? I argue: no. Some will disagree, but to me, the Reformation is intrinsically connected to fracture in the Body of Christ, heresy and the resulting total chaos. I could never join any such "commemoration", even if one doesn't call it an "anniversary" for the sake of appeasing Catholics. When have we ever "commemorated" the schism of 1054, or any heresy, for that matter? I believe we would do great harm to the effort of achieving Christian unity by taking part in any way. It obscures the borders between Catholicism and Protestantism, confuses people, and may even cause scandal.
The aforementioned Margot Käßmann suggested the following kind of participation of Catholics and Protestants: Each group could begin a pilgrimage on their own route, and reach one common destination. She would also like the program to achieve that all people learn "that 31 October is Reformation Day and not Halloween", to which Bishop Feige of Magdeburg replied "and the eve of All Saints". But the problem I see with Käßmann’s proposal is this: Although the idea might seem nice, it suggests that Protestantism and Catholicism are somehow equals. They most definitely are not. And certainly not according to Luther himself! Catholics know that their Church is the Church Christ the Lord founded on St. Peter, and Protestantism's very name already suggests otherwise. The Reformers made that point very clear. From a Catholic point of view, a heretical movement that splits the Church cannot be of equal worth as the One True Faith. Just think how we would have fought Arianism if such had been our position! This is not to say that Protestants aren't Christians, of course, but we must realize that Protestantism is not what our Lord willed us to have or believe: Catholicism is. Thus, two equal pilgrimages reaching one destination à la Käßmann would cause scandal and confusion. I assume she does not want it to symbolize the way we might some day find unity, but rather the common destination means Christ. But that is precisely the point: The Catholic Church is the ark of salvation, the Body and Bride of Christ, and She alone has "the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). She is Christ in this world apart from Whom "no one comes to the Father" (John 14:6). Protestantism has distorted those words of eternal life fundamentally, and thus cannot be on equal footing with Holy Mother Church. If Christ is "the Way, the Truth and the Life" apart from Whom there is no salvation, then so is the Catholic Church, for She is His Body (Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:24).
Thus, let me emphasize again: Celebrating the Reformation, or even commemorating it with Protestants, will blur the sharp line between the One True Church and those communities that came from the Protestant Reformation. It will scandalize and, actually, almost certainly make Christian unity harder to achieve. For in pretending Protestantism is somehow equally valid or of the same dignity as Catholicism, we take away the very reason for Christian unity: to be united in the one Church that our Lord left us, founded on Peter in the person of the Roman Pontiff.
Therefore, I hope the German bishops decide not to participate – however unlikely that is. It remains to be seen whether the ecumenical progress in achieving unity hoped for will come about. Let us pray, that 2017 will bring to many people's attention the Truth of Catholicism and the scandal that the separation of Christians is, fostering in them the desire for unity with Christ in His Bride, which is Holy Church.
Luther's 95 Theses
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Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Why are you trying to read my mind??????
I do know what I am talking about. Is the Gospel of Luke in your Bible? Perhaps you could read and meditate on it.
After reading through 155 posts, finally one that cuts to the chase. The RCC masquerades as the church Christ established, they insist everybody else who are not RCC are heretics and a cult - as on this thread - truth is, they are the biggest heretical cult in the world.
?Say it proudly sister
155 posts = 135 posts
Well, you’re WELCOME. No telling where Rome would be if we hadn’t made you reform.
So your response to my complaint of faulty exegesis is faulty capitalization? The words of the Creed (381), one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
Before the council of 381, the Edict of Thessalonica clearly defined the term catholic. Christians who held to the council of Nicea were properly called catholic. Others who did not hold to the council were called heretics.
There is no creed that requires obedience to a pope or declares a line of succession.
Trying to retroactively apply the words of the creed to mean submission to Rome is just as sad as the faulty interpretation of the Biblical verses I complained about.
The more I read the posts of RC’s here on FR, I tend to agree with you. They have made something so simple into a chaotic mess. They sound so desperate to recruit new members by intimidation and threats of “HERESY”. Sad, really. SMH
My you do have a way of twisting things.
Got something against Christ? Is that why you for whatever reason bring up Allah in comparison?
Christ provided his own righteousness for all who have faith in him when he died on the cross. The father and holy spirit we’re in complete agreement ; it was Christ dying as both man and God which is our bridge to heaven.
A comparison with Allah is strange and repulsive for you to make.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
Why should I take your word for it, by what authority do you make such an obnoxious and absurd claim?
This article is delusional. From the Jewish standpoint, Christianity is a rogue heretical offshoot of their religion. Are they right?
Let’s not forget that the RCC is but one of several sects within the catholic church, such as Orthodox, Syriac, and Coptic, among others. Are they heretical as well?
As far as that goes, Constantinople was the center of Christendom for nearly 1000 years. Rome certainly never acknowledged their authority, and in fact did everything to rebel against them and establish their own dominion across Europe and even their own sponsored empire and spheres of influence. Does their rebellion mean they’re heretics?
I tire of the arrogance of some in the RCC. The idea that they are the one true church and all others are heretics is beyond hypocritcal.
This is why we should rely upon the Word of God and the Word of God alone.
One question, where in the Bible is the Catechism? Oh, it's not in the Bible. Did they claim it came from the Holy Spirit?
Interesting that an omniscient God forgot to inspire the Catechism in the Bible when he had the Holy Spirit inspire it.
That or man wrote it in order to have power over others...
Expunging #152 is the weakest move I’ve seen on Free Republic in 15 years, especially since the entire thread tiptoes right up to the edge of infringing one the stated rules, “It is never ok to express hatred toward _________ , because some Freepers are __________.”
well, he made a statement not backed up by the facts of his own faith. Did he mistype? I don’t know. He said “We don’t worship Mary”. Catholics address prayers to Mary and ask for her intercession. I copied the “Hail MAry” and posted it.
Maybe he does know what he is talking about. I’m not a mind reader. But to say Catholics don’t worship Mary is incorrect.
I didn’t plan on returning to this thread until I saw your comment. If someone makes a factual assertion that is demonstrably false, what are we to do?
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