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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You are so right. Catholics do not worship Mary.
If you wish, but at the moment of your death, I doubt that he would be too happy about people ignoring his Mother.
And Protestants do not dishonor her; neither do they see her as an intercessor, there is one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus.
Gee, I thought that this was the FREE Republic where we were allowed to express our opinions without being excoriated for doing do. :o)
Get out a cup of coffee: this is a long'un, but it SHOULD explain where I'm coming from regarding being a Christian.
You sort of twist things around yourself but I guess you haven't read too many of my posts. If you had, you wouldn't even be questioning me about my Christianity.
My husband and I lived in Saudi Arabia for five years when he worked for ARAMCO (Arabian American Oil Company). I had the chance to live and work in a country that was totally foreign to me. I used to sign my letters home (WAY before the Internet) "from the dark side of the moon."
Those experiences colored my life. My husband called those years "an adventure of a lifetime." This was in the early-mid 1980's.
We got to travel A LOT as ARAMCO knew that we Americans and Christians HAD to get out of the kingdom often. We traveled around the KSA, to Egypt twice (because it was so marvelous and the Egyptians liked Americans), India, China, Bahrain, Jordan, Syria (when Hafiz Assad was president), Turkey (Ephesus, where Mary's house was when John took her with him on his missionary) and almost all of Europe.
My Saudi boss was one of the kindest, most humble people I ever met. We had a priest on camp and my SAUDI BOSS let me leave work every work day (Their work week is Saturday - Wednesday.) at 9:00 A.M. to attend daily Mass. The Mass was held only across the street on camp, so I was only gone for 25 minutes.
Yes, we had a priest on camp, also a vicar for the six Anglicans and a minister for all the Protestants. My boss was a very good Muslim too. He had never learned to read and write (Most middle easterners were illiterate back then.) so he MEMORIZED all the things he had to do for the day.
My Catholic Indian coworker REALLY objected to me taking off 25 minutes to go to Mass. HE didn't care to go to Mass but I did. Anyway he told me that if I continued to go to Mass, leaving work for 25 minutes, he would tell my boss on me. I always made up the time at my lunch time (one hour).
So Harry DID tell on me. I followed him into my boss's office and listened while he snitched. I will NEVER forget what my Saudi boss said:
"Harry, God is number one. There is always time for God. 'Cloud mountain' (not my real name of course) can go to pray whenever she wants."
I don't know WHOSE jaw dropped faster or farther, Harry's or mine...but from then on I went to daily Mass during my work week.
So, when I talk about Muslims and the middle east, I DON'T do it because I am not a Christian, I do it because I still remember so much about it.
Before we lived there I attended ONLY Sunday Mass and holy days. TO THIS DAY I still attend daily Mass. Imagine, a Saudi boss was pivotal into turning me into a better Christian.
One could NOT live there and NOT learn anything about Allah. Allah is SO different from our own God.
Allah is alone; we have Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Allah is the master; we are slaves. The name ABDALLAH means "slave of Allah."
Allah is NOT a father image as our Father is.
We are NOT Allah's beloved children, as we are to our Father.
The list goes on. Truly I came to have tremendous faith (Catholic) because of my years in an Islamic country. We would NEVER have stayed if it was, in any way, not a good place to be. I thank GOD for that wonderful experience. It drew my husband and me even closer than ever.
Sorry for the length!
This is a prime example of the danger of one verse theology. Catholics have taken this one verse out of all the NT and have built this notion that Mary somehow instructs Jesus on what to do for the rest of His life. The Bible teaches that He came to do His FATHER's will.
This has somehow morphed into the false worship/prayers to Mary and all of the other non-Biblical attributes assigned to her.
Your entire screed rests upon the premise that Rome - the Latin church - alone assuredly defines what the True Church is, and thus these fundamental questions must be asked. If you will not answer them and be consistent with your premise, then i see it as not desiring to become more of an argument against Rome than you have in the past.
The question is, what is the basis for your assurance of truth?
For the RC argument is see most often expressed is that an assuredly (if conditionally) infallible magisterium is essential for determination and assurance of Truth (including which writings and men are of God, and their meaning), and to fulfill promises of Divine presence, providence of Truth, and preservation of faith, and authority. (Jn. 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:13; Mt. 16:18; Lk. 10:16, etc.)
And that being the historical instruments and stewards of Divine revelation (oral and written) means that Rome is that assuredly infallible magisterium. Thus those who dissent from the latter are in rebellion to God.
Does this fairly represent what you hold to or in what way does it differ?
Great post!
I don’t think she directs Jesus. She wanted to be in the background and have Jesus get the glory.
We have not taken this verse out of context at all.
“Do whatever HE says.”
Yes you are free to express your opinions here. No that doesn’t mean you will never be excoriated for them. Like telling someone that their belief in Christ’s righteousness is like a belief in Allah for example. Not above excoriation.
Scandalized??
I gaze in awe at the pearl-clutching panic of this “theologian”.
So we are the hateful ones? We see thread after thread attacking Protestants, the definition of which is so wide you can drive a Unitarians Scientology Swedenborgian 747 thru it, and or advertizing and promoting Rome, far far beyond the number of threads you see attacking RCs, and then they complain when the pretensions of Rome are challenged and exposed.
One thing is evident, which is RCs are in bondage to promote and defend as if it were their god, and are the loudest victim mentality whiners when challenged.
But i have never encountered you on the RF, so this does not necessarily include you, and civil debate it more needed.
“This is a prime example of the danger of one verse theology”
Then this must be the primest example of the mostest dangerest of multiple verse theology:
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.x
46
Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.y
47
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
48
I am the bread of life.
49
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;z
50
this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.
51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”a
52
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?”
53
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
54
Whoever eats* my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
55
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
57
Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.b
58
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
For the Greater Glory of God
Finally a protestant that admits they engage in IDOLATRY.
Catholics believe that worship is reserved for GOD ALONE, not an inanimate manmade object. Clear proof that prots are pagans.
Call it what you will: arrogance, over confidence, pride, it all smells just as bad.
Reforms planned by Alexander VI??? The Borgia Pope, you mean? Yeah, like he was the right person for the job! I’ve heard it all now.
As a Catholic, I don’t find Lutheranism to be a heresy - and that’s acknowledged by the Church. Schismatic yes, but not heretic. There are non-catholic groups that broke off from Lutheranism that have ventured into heresy, but Lutheranism, no.
The Whore of Babylon most likely was the British Empire in the 20th century. While it was good enough under Queen Vicky, this degenerated in the 20th. Though even under Queen vicky, it kept the Ottoman Empire alive, leaving Turks in charge of millions of Christians and in charge of Constantinople
‘We have not taken this verse out of context at all.
“Do whatever HE says.”
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The context of the passage concerns simply a wedding and Christ’s first miracle. Beyond that is out of context.
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