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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Oh, so suddenly you’re so sensitive? Look to your own sins, friend.
I’m afraid that after years of defending evangelicals to my liberal friends (because of the charm and humor of Jerry Falwell) FR taught me that you are very angry people with a complete hate-on towards Catholics. Sorry but if the shoe fits...
amen, the bible does in fact mention what to do if you encounter these people.
How is that chaos?
do not forget luther wasn’t only spewing harsh words at the jews, you should read what he said about his fellow Germans. just as bad.
i think being old and sick and frustrated that people kept voluntarily returning to legalism again and again wore him out.
Your thread title Protestant Chaos. History shows there was Chaos under Catholic church’s rule.
Doesn’t matter who Rome welcomed the fact is Catholic ruler expelled them and was still in good standing with Rome after.
Doesn’t matter who killed more what matters is Chaos happened under a Catholic ruler.
Again your thread is about Chaos and Protestant while Chaos happened even without Protestants under Catholic rulers.
You must have known this thread would bring up the Catholic faith bloody history. It is not free of Chaos.
You are right. The Bible says so.
what you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, what you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven....do you suppose that He would allow for error there???
You’re conflating the temporal with the eternal, anyway. A common mistake.
“chaos” - a state of disorder and confusion
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.
Jesus is the Head of the Body of Christ, which is made up of ALL Believers. He did not suffer, die, and rise from the grave to start a religion, or a denomination - those are merely human constructs. God started a family of children who are blessed with all spiritual blessings and Jesus’ joint heirs. Relationship with your Heavenly Father is far superior to anything religion could ever conjure.
Stop worrying about trivial earthly matters. Resist these devilish temptations to sow strife and division. Worship God the way he wants - in Spirit and Truth (John 4).
Just because there is more than one church does not mean there is disorder or confusion.
Okay. Don’t celebrate or commemorate the event. No biggie.
We have, as Christians, bigger fish to fry.
The pagans of this world are denying the Creator, murdering babies, celebrating sodomy, forcing people into slavery to the state, and destroying freedom of religion—making the government the Sovereign to be obeyed. Lovers of Jesus, whether they are Roman, Eastern, or Protestant ought to hold hands in standing against such devilish statism.
“Just because there is more than one church does not mean there is disorder or confusion.”
Some support divorce, some support queers pretending to be married some support women in the pulpit, and others do not. That is rank disorder and confusion FRiend.
Everybody go & read post #18. Those are Luther’s Ninety Five Theses which he nailed to the doors of the cathedral at Wittenburg (not out of disrespect; the wooden doors served as a community bulletin board).
Never saw them written out before. Then again, I’m Catholic.
Martin Luther’s bagatelle with Rome was soon followed by the Thirty Years’ War. Most of what we now call Germany was exterminated in the fight over what the Communion Host really consists of.
Great to be alive, isn’t it?
So you believe that everyone must believe the same thing? and there should be one church?
Starting to sound like NAZI’s
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).
Wait a minute, you are purposely misquoting scripture.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me
No mention of the Catholic church there. The only way to salvation is Jesus Christ. He is the ark of salvation not some church created by man.
Knew there was something not quite biblical with this thread.
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