Martin Luther

ChurchChurch HistoryHistory ChurchChurch HistoryHistory

IntroductionIntroduction toto ChurchChurch HistoryHistory st rd TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch AD 11st-3-3rd centuriescenturies th th TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom AD 44th-5-5th centuriescenturies th th TheThe EarlyEarly MiddleMiddle AgesAges AD 66th-10-10th centuriescenturies th th TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades AD 1111th-13-13th centuriescenturies th th TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance AD 1414th-15-15th centuriescenturies th ConquestConquest andand ReformationReformation AD 1616th centurycentury Martin Luther TheThe ReformationReformation AtAt thethe turnturn ofof thethe century,century, thingsthings gotgot worseworse 15131513 MediciMedici PopePope LeoLeo XX tooktook powerpower inin RomeRome LeoLeo lovedloved beingbeing PopePope becausebecause ofof thethe powerpower andand luxuryluxury thatthat itit broughtbrought himhim His extravagant—and morally corrupt—lifestyle actually bankrupted the Roman Catholic Church So he began selling off anything that people would buy—statues of the apostles from the Vatican, cardinals' birettas, holy offices, furniture, dishes, silverware, etc. He also sold indulgences by the score, for pretty much any sin that people could financially afford to commit His Grand Commissioner for Indulgences, Johann Tetzel, coined the phrase, “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs...” Some priests just couldn't take it any more TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses LutherLuther waswas bornborn inin 14831483 toto aa middle-classmiddle-class familyfamily inin SaxonySaxony HisHis fatherfather wantedwanted himhim toto bebe aa lawyer,lawyer, soso hehe sentsent himhim toto thethe bestbest schoolsschools hehe couldcould findfind toto learnlearn Latin,Latin, philosophy,philosophy, andand argumentationargumentation In the process, he learned a great deal about the classical philosophers, but felt that they had little to do with understanding what it meant to be a good Christian TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses LutherLuther waswas bornborn inin 14831483 toto aa middle-classmiddle-class familyfamily inin SaxonySaxony HisHis fatherfather wantedwanted himhim toto bebe aa lawyer,lawyer, soso hehe sentsent himhim toto thethe bestbest schoolsschools hehe couldcould findfind toto learnlearn Latin,Latin, philosophy,philosophy, andand argumentationargumentation AtAt thethe ageage ofof 23,23, hehe waswas almostalmost struckstruck byby lightninglightning duringduring aa thunderstorm,thunderstorm, andand realizedrealized thatthat hehe waswas absolutelyabsolutely terrifiedterrified ofof dyingdying withoutwithout knowingknowing wherewhere hehe stoodstood withwith GodGod Since he was riding on horseback at the time, he promised Saint Anna that he would become a monk and serve God He took the black robes of an Augustinian friar, and resigned himself to an unhappy life Luther later wrote about his agony living as a monk, saying, “I lost touch with Christ the Saviour and Comforter, and made of him the jailer and hangman of my poor soul” TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses LutherLuther waswas bornborn inin 14831483 toto aa middle-classmiddle-class familyfamily inin SaxonySaxony HisHis fatherfather wantedwanted himhim toto bebe aa lawyer,lawyer, soso hehe sentsent himhim toto thethe bestbest schoolsschools hehe couldcould findfind toto learnlearn Latin,Latin, philosophy,philosophy, andand argumentationargumentation AtAt thethe ageage ofof 23,23, hehe waswas almostalmost struckstruck byby lightninglightning duringduring aa thunderstorm,thunderstorm, andand realizedrealized thatthat hehe waswas absolutelyabsolutely terrifiedterrified ofof dyingdying withoutwithout knowingknowing wherewhere hehe stoodstood withwith GodGod Since he was riding on horseback at the time, he promised Saint Anna that he would become a monk and serve God He took the black robes of an Augustinian friar, and resigned himself to an unhappy life Luther later wrote about his agony living as a monk Nonetheless, he excelled at his studies, and within three years, he was called to the faculty of the University of Wittenberg By 1512, he was their resident “Doctor inin Bible”Bible” teachingteaching theologytheology TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses LutherLuther waswas bornborn inin 14831483 toto aa middle-classmiddle-class familyfamily inin SaxonySaxony HisHis fatherfather wantedwanted himhim toto bebe aa lawyer,lawyer, soso hehe sentsent himhim toto thethe bestbest schoolsschools hehe couldcould findfind toto learnlearn Latin,Latin, philosophy,philosophy, andand argumentationargumentation AtAt thethe ageage ofof 23,23, hehe waswas almostalmost struckstruck byby lightninglightning duringduring aa thunderstorm,thunderstorm, andand realizedrealized thatthat hehe waswas absolutelyabsolutely terrifiedterrified ofof dyingdying withoutwithout knowingknowing wherewhere hehe stoodstood withwith GodGod InIn 1516,1516, JohannJohann TetzelTetzel camecame toto GermanyGermany toto sellsell indulgencesindulgences toto helphelp thethe bankruptbankrupt ChurchChurch paypay forfor thethe rebuildingrebuilding ofof St.St. Peter'sPeter's BasilicaBasilica Luther found this tacky at best—and immorallyimmorally un-Biblicalun-Biblical atat worstworst “Since the Pope's income to-day is larger than that of the wealthiest of wealthy men, why does he not build the basilica of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of impoverished believers?” TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses LutherLuther waswas bornborn inin 14831483 toto aa middle-classmiddle-class familyfamily inin SaxonySaxony HisHis fatherfather wantedwanted himhim toto bebe aa lawyer,lawyer, soso hehe sentsent himhim toto thethe bestbest schoolsschools hehe couldcould findfind toto learnlearn Latin,Latin, philosophy,philosophy, andand argumentationargumentation AtAt thethe ageage ofof 23,23, hehe waswas almostalmost struckstruck byby lightninglightning duringduring aa thunderstorm,thunderstorm, andand realizedrealized thatthat hehe waswas absolutelyabsolutely terrifiedterrified ofof dyingdying withoutwithout knowingknowing wherewhere hehe stoodstood withwith GodGod InIn 1516,1516, JohannJohann TetzelTetzel camecame toto GermanyGermany toto sellsell indulgencesindulgences toto helphelp thethe bankruptbankrupt ChurchChurch paypay forfor thethe rebuildingrebuilding ofof St.St. Peter'sPeter's BasilicaBasilica Luther found this tacky at best—and immorallyimmorally un-Biblicalun-Biblical atat worstworst But that was just one of 95 issues with the Church in general and indulgences in particular that Luther articulated in a letter to his bishop, Albrecht of Mainz TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— AccordingAccording toto tradition,tradition, hehe alsoalso postedposted hishis 9595 ThesesTheses onon thethe doordoor toto thethe churchchurch inin WittenbergWittenberg AsAs strangestrange oror aggressiveaggressive asas thisthis maymay seemseem toto usus today,today, rememberremember thatthat WittenbergWittenberg waswas aa collegecollege town,town, andand thethe church'schurch's doordoor waswas essentiallyessentially aa bulletinbulletin boardboard forfor studentsstudents andand facultyfaculty toto postpost theirtheir thoughtsthoughts onon ThinkThink ofof itit asas aa 1616th centurycentury Facebook...Facebook... TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— AccordingAccording toto tradition,tradition, hehe alsoalso postedposted hishis 9595 ThesesTheses onon thethe doordoor toto thethe churchchurch inin WittenbergWittenberg AsAs strangestrange oror aggressiveaggressive asas thisthis maymay seemseem toto usus today,today, rememberremember thatthat WittenbergWittenberg waswas aa collegecollege towntown Unfortunately,Unfortunately, wewe havehave nono ideaidea whetherwhether oror notnot thisthis reallyreally happened,happened, sincesince thethe traditiontradition isis basedbased onon anan off-handoff-hand commentcomment mademade yearsyears laterlater byby someonesomeone whowho wasn'twasn't eveneven inin WittenbergWittenberg atat thethe timetime ——butbut itit makesmakes forfor aa greatgreat visual...visual... TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment2—— WhetherWhether oror notnot LutherLuther mademade useuse ofof thatthat socialsocial media,media, wewe dodo knowknow thatthat hishis friendsfriends mademade useuse ofof anotheranother oneone toto disseminatedisseminate hishis ideasideas LutherLuther hadhad originallyoriginally simplysimply intendedintended hishis ThesesTheses toto bebe anan intellectualintellectual critique,critique, sharedshared withwith hishis bishopbishop butbut whenwhen hishis friendsfriends gotgot aa holdhold ofof thethe document,document, theythey hadhad itit printedprinted byby locallocal presses,presses, andand spreadspread copiescopies ofof itit everywhereeverywhere WithinWithin thethe spanspan ofof twotwo months,months, everyoneeveryone inin EuropeEurope waswas readingreading Luther'sLuther's thoughtsthoughts TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment3—— Luther'sLuther's problemsproblems withwith thethe veryvery conceptconcept ofof indulgencesindulgences hadhad ledled hishis lawyer'slawyer's mindmind toto considerconsider howhow thatthat playedplayed outout inin otherother CatholicCatholic doctrinesdoctrines ForFor instance,instance, if,if, whenwhen “Jesus“Jesus ChristChrist saidsaid 'Repent!''Repent!' HeHe calledcalled forfor thethe entireentire lifelife ofof believersbelievers toto bebe oneone ofof repentance,”repentance,” thenthen whywhy wouldwould specificspecific actsacts ofof penancepenance bebe necessary?necessary? EitherEither they'dthey'd simplysimply bebe whatwhat youyou asas aa ChristianChristian werewere supposedsupposed toto bebe livingliving outout already,already, oror they'dthey'd bebe over-and-aboveover-and-above whatwhat you'reyou're supposedsupposed toto bebe doing—whichdoing—which meansmeans thatthat we'dwe'd bebe addingadding toto whatwhat waswas neededneeded inin orderorder forfor usus toto bebe savedsaved AllAll ofof thatthat wouldwould undermineundermine thethe efficacyefficacy ofof Christ'sChrist's perfectperfect sacrificesacrifice onon thethe CrossCross asas wellwell asas underminingundermining thethe sincerelysincerely heartfeltheartfelt repentancerepentance thatthat we'rewe're supposedsupposed toto bebe feelingfeeling everyevery dayday TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment3—— Luther'sLuther's problemsproblems withwith thethe veryvery conceptconcept ofof indulgencesindulgences hadhad ledled hishis lawyer'slawyer's mindmind toto considerconsider howhow thatthat playedplayed outout inin otherother CatholicCatholic doctrinesdoctrines Or,Or, asas anotheranother example,example, ifif “God“God nevernever remitsremits guiltguilt toto anyoneanyone without,without, atat thethe samesame time,time, makingmaking himhim humblyhumbly submissivesubmissive toto thethe priest,”priest,” thenthen “The“The penitentialpenitential rulesrules applyapply onlyonly toto menmen whowho areare stillstill alivealive,, andand [by[by definition]definition] nonenone appliesapplies toto thethe deaddead”” whichwhich meansmeans thatthat itit makesmakes nono sensesense thatthat “penalties“penalties werewere changedchanged andand mademade toto applyapply toto [those[those in]in] Purgatory”Purgatory” soso thatthat paymentspayments forfor anyany indulgencesindulgences nownow couldcould affectaffect thosethose alreadyalready dead,dead, sincesince “death“death putsputs anan endend toto allall thethe claimsclaims ofof thethe Church”Church” onon thethe deceased—logicallydeceased—logically provingproving thatthat “There“There isis nono divinedivine authorityauthority forfor preachingpreaching thatthat thethe soulsoul fliesflies outout ofof PurgatoryPurgatory thethe momentmoment thatthat thethe moneymoney clinksclinks inin thethe bottombottom ofof thethe chest”chest” (as(as JohannJohann TetzelTetzel hadhad soso oftenoften claimed)claimed) TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment3—— Luther'sLuther's problemsproblems withwith thethe veryvery conceptconcept ofof indulgencesindulgences hadhad ledled hishis lawyer'slawyer's mindmind toto considerconsider howhow thatthat playedplayed outout inin otherother CatholicCatholic doctrinesdoctrines Besides,Besides, LutherLuther argued,argued, “The“The PopePope himselfhimself cannotcannot remitremit guilt,guilt, butbut onlyonly declaredeclare andand confirmconfirm thatthat itit hashas beenbeen remittedremitted byby God,”God,” duedue toto thethe genuinegenuine contritioncontrition ofof thethe penitentpenitent believerbeliever Thus,Thus, “Papal“Papal indulgencesindulgences shouldshould onlyonly bebe preachedpreached withwith caution,caution, lestlest peoplepeople gaingain aa wrongwrong understanding,understanding, andand thinkthink thatthat theythey areare preferablepreferable toto otherother goodgood works:works: thosethose ofof love”love” (for(for instance,instance, “Christians“Christians shouldshould bebe taughttaught thatthat hehe whowho seessees aa needyneedy person,person, butbut passespasses himhim by—althoughby—although hehe givesgives moneymoney forfor indulgencesindulgences —gains—gains nono benefitbenefit fromfrom thethe Pope'sPope's pardon,pardon, butbut onlyonly incursincurs thethe wrathwrath ofof God.”)God.”) TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment3—— Luther'sLuther's problemsproblems withwith thethe veryvery conceptconcept ofof indulgencesindulgences hadhad ledled hishis lawyer'slawyer's mindmind toto considerconsider howhow thatthat playedplayed outout inin otherother CatholicCatholic doctrinesdoctrines ForFor thatthat matter,matter, ifif itit reallyreally werewere upup toto thethe PopePope toto decidedecide whowho getsgets forgivenforgiven andand whowho doesn't,doesn't, thenthen “Why“Why doesdoes notnot thethe PopePope liberateliberate everyoneeveryone fromfrom PurgatoryPurgatory forfor thethe sakesake ofof lovelove (a(a mostmost holyholy thing)thing) andand becausebecause ofof thethe supremesupreme necessitynecessity ofof theirtheir souls?souls? ThisThis wouldwould bebe morallymorally thethe bestbest ofof allall reasons.reasons. MeanwhileMeanwhile hehe redeemsredeems innumerableinnumerable soulssouls forfor moneymoney,, aa mostmost perishableperishable thing,thing, withwith whichwhich toto buildbuild St.St. Peter'sPeter's church,church, aa veryvery minorminor purpose.”purpose.” ““SurelySurely aa greatergreater goodgood couldcould bebe donedone toto thethe churchchurch ifif thethe popepope werewere toto bestowbestow thesethese remissionsremissions andand dispensations,dispensations, notnot onceonce,, asas now,now, butbut aa hundredhundred timestimes aa day,day, forfor thethe benefitbenefit ofof anyany believerbeliever whateverwhatever.”.” TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses LutherLuther waswas bornborn inin 14831483 toto aa middle-classmiddle-class familyfamily inin SaxonySaxony HisHis fatherfather wantedwanted himhim toto bebe aa lawyer,lawyer, soso hehe sentsent himhim toto thethe bestbest schoolsschools hehe couldcould findfind toto learnlearn Latin,Latin, philosophy,philosophy, andand argumentationargumentation AtAt thethe ageage ofof 23,23, hehe waswas almostalmost struckstruck byby lightninglightning duringduring aa thunderstorm,thunderstorm, andand realizedrealized thatthat hehe waswas absolutelyabsolutely terrifiedterrified ofof dyingdying withoutwithout knowingknowing wherewhere hehe stoodstood withwith GodGod InIn 1516,1516, JohannJohann TetzelTetzel camecame toto GermanyGermany toto sellsell indulgencesindulgences toto helphelp thethe bankruptbankrupt ChurchChurch paypay forfor thethe rebuildingrebuilding ofof St.St. Peter'sPeter's BasilicaBasilica Luther found this tacky at best—and immorallyimmorally un-Biblicalun-Biblical atat worstworst But that was just one of 95 issues with the Church in general and indulgences in particular that Luther articulated in a letter to his bishop, Albrecht of Mainz Albrecht, thinking that Luther was teaching heresy, never responded Instead, he simply forwarded the letter on to Rome TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg (N(NOTE:: AA “Diet”“Diet” waswas aa formalformal assemblyassembly ofof thethe Church)Church) (it comes from the Greek δίαιτα [“diaita”], meaning, “a way of life” or “a daily regimen” which is why “diet” could come to mean either a formal meeting to decide what to do, or the set of foods that one eats as part of their daily regimen of health) TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg CardinalCardinal CardinalCardinal TommasoTommaso dede VioVio grilledgrilled LutherLuther aboutabout hishis ThesesTheses andand “heretical”“heretical” teachingsteachings JustJust whowho wonwon thisthis “debate”“debate” kindkind ofof dependsdepends onon whichwhich sideside ofof thethe fencefence you'reyou're sittingsitting onon De Vio pressed Luther to capitulate to the ultimate authority of the Pope, which made Luther admit that he didn't recognize that the Pope had any ultimate authority specifically given to him by Scripture Thus, the Catholics saw the Diet of Augsberg as a rousing success for them, since it brought Luther's heresy to light while the Protestants saw the Diet of Augsberg as a rousing success for them, since it clarified Luther's take on the larger un-Biblical issues of Catholicism in general (NOTE: Luther snuck out of Augsberg when it became clear that they were going to arrest him ifif hehe didn'tdidn't recantrecant hishis views)views) TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto Foolishly,Foolishly, theythey thoughtthought thatthat Luther—whoseLuther—whose writingswritings hadhad explodedexploded acrossacross Europe—wouldEurope—would bebe aa goodgood personperson toto forceforce toto rollroll overover andand capitulatecapitulate toto thethe Pope'sPope's DivineDivine authorityauthority ButBut everyevery timetime theythey pressedpressed himhim onon things,things, hehe justjust pressedpressed backback andand drewdrew fartherfarther awayaway They pressed him about the Pope's ultimate authority, and he admitted that the Bible gave the Pope no ultimate authority They pressed him about the need for Purgatory at all, given his Thesis, and he admitted that they were right— that Purgatory made no sense, and had no Biblical basis TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto Foolishly,Foolishly, theythey thoughtthought thatthat Luther—whoseLuther—whose writingswritings hadhad explodedexploded acrossacross Europe—wouldEurope—would bebe aa goodgood personperson toto forceforce toto rollroll overover andand capitulatecapitulate toto thethe Pope'sPope's DivineDivine authorityauthority ButBut everyevery timetime theythey pressedpressed himhim onon things,things, hehe justjust pressedpressed backback andand drewdrew fartherfarther awayaway They pressed him about the need for penance for sins at all, if it wasn't required for salvation or for the reduction of time spent in Purgatory which simply made Luther admit that they were, again right—penance as a requirement for forgiveness goes against the clear teaching of Scripture that salvation is by faith alone, and should thus not be demanded from believers TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto Foolishly,Foolishly, theythey thoughtthought thatthat Luther—whoseLuther—whose writingswritings hadhad explodedexploded acrossacross Europe—wouldEurope—would bebe aa goodgood personperson toto forceforce toto rollroll overover andand capitulatecapitulate toto thethe Pope'sPope's DivineDivine authorityauthority ButBut everyevery timetime theythey pressedpressed himhim onon things,things, hehe justjust pressedpressed backback andand drewdrew fartherfarther awayaway TheyThey alsoalso weren'tweren't preparedprepared forfor hishis lawyer'slawyer's giftgift forfor notnot justjust expressingexpressing hishis casecase well,well, butbut forfor slammingslamming backback atat themthem withwith greatgreat forceforce ofof convictionconviction andand scathingscathing wit—hewit—he waswas anan absoluteabsolute nutcasenutcase,, butbut aa nutcasenutcase forfor JesusJesus Consider these actual Martin Luther put- downs...

TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto CardinalCardinal dede VioVio calledcalled forfor hishis immediateimmediate arrest,arrest, theologiantheologian JohannJohann EckEck calledcalled himhim aa newnew JanJan HusHus PopePope LeoLeo wrotewrote aa responseresponse toto thethe 9595 ThesesTheses calledcalled ExsurgeExsurge DomineDomine (“Arise,(“Arise, Lord!”)Lord!”) In it, he argued that Luther's emphasis on contrition is itselfitself the most heretical part Since no one is completely, genuinely contrite, “contrition makes one a hypocrite, indeed more a sinner” (and besides, “it is impossibleimpossible that you know all mortal sins,” so if you were to forget to be contrite about even one, you're still lost in your sinfulness) TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto CardinalCardinal dede VioVio calledcalled forfor hishis immediateimmediate arrest,arrest, theologiantheologian JohannJohann EckEck calledcalled himhim aa newnew JanJan HusHus PopePope LeoLeo wrotewrote aa responseresponse toto thethe 9595 ThesesTheses calledcalled ExsurgeExsurge DomineDomine (“Arise,(“Arise, Lord!”)Lord!”) In it, he argued that Luther's emphasis on contrition is itselfitself the most heretical part Since no one is completely, genuinely contrite, “contrition makes one a hypocrite, indeed more a sinner” And even if we could genuinely confess all of our sins, we're then stealing God's grace from Him, since “as long as we wish to confess all sins without exception, we are doing nothing else than to wish to leave nothing to God's mercy for pardon” TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto CardinalCardinal dede VioVio calledcalled forfor hishis immediateimmediate arrest,arrest, theologiantheologian JohannJohann EckEck calledcalled himhim aa newnew JanJan HusHus PopePope LeoLeo wrotewrote aa responseresponse toto thethe 9595 ThesesTheses calledcalled ExsurgeExsurge DomineDomine (“Arise,(“Arise, Lord!”)Lord!”) In it, he argued that Luther's emphasis on contrition is itselfitself the most heretical part So forgiveness requires a priestly mediation before God, not penitence of heart—“if you have obtained the absolution of the priest, and firmly believe yourself to have been absolved, and you will truly be absolved, whatever there may be of 'contrition''contrition'.” TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto CardinalCardinal dede VioVio calledcalled forfor hishis immediateimmediate arrest,arrest, theologiantheologian JohannJohann EckEck calledcalled himhim aa newnew JanJan HusHus PopePope LeoLeo wrotewrote aa responseresponse toto thethe 9595 ThesesTheses calledcalled ExsurgeExsurge DomineDomine (“Arise,(“Arise, Lord!”)Lord!”) In it, he argued that Luther's emphasis on contrition is itselfitself the most heretical part So forgiveness requires a priestly mediation before God, not penitence of heart In fact, “If... he who confessed was not contrite, or the priest did not absolve seriously... if nevertheless he believes that he has been absolved, he is most truly absolved.” Thus, “No one ought to answer a priest that he is contrite, nor should a priest inquire,” since the question is pointless—or even blasphemous TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto CardinalCardinal dede VioVio calledcalled forfor hishis immediateimmediate arrest,arrest, theologiantheologian JohannJohann EckEck calledcalled himhim aa newnew JanJan HusHus PopePope LeoLeo wrotewrote aa responseresponse toto thethe 9595 ThesesTheses calledcalled ExsurgeExsurge DomineDomine (“Arise,(“Arise, Lord!”)Lord!”) In it, he argued that Luther's emphasis on contrition is itselfitself the most heretical part He used the Eucharist as an example, saying that it's those who prostrate their hearts in contrition before God who thus “eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:29) Christians do not come to the table to express contrition, but in anticipation “that they will attain a [sacramental] grace” TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto CardinalCardinal dede VioVio calledcalled forfor hishis immediateimmediate arrest,arrest, theologiantheologian JohannJohann EckEck calledcalled himhim aa newnew JanJan HusHus PopePope LeoLeo wrotewrote aa responseresponse toto thethe 9595 ThesesTheses calledcalled ExsurgeExsurge DomineDomine (“Arise,(“Arise, Lord!”)Lord!”) In it, he argued that Luther's emphasis on contrition is itselfitself the most heretical part He used the Eucharist as an example, saying that it's those who prostrate their hearts in contrition before God who thus “eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:29) In the same vein, he declared it “a pernicious poison” to teach that “Purgatory cannot be proved from Sacred Scripture which is in the canon” TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto CardinalCardinal dede VioVio calledcalled forfor hishis immediateimmediate arrest,arrest, theologiantheologian JohannJohann EckEck calledcalled himhim aa newnew JanJan HusHus PopePope LeoLeo wrotewrote aa responseresponse toto thethe 9595 ThesesTheses calledcalled ExsurgeExsurge DomineDomine (“Arise,(“Arise, Lord!”)Lord!”) InIn response,response, LutherLuther wrote,wrote, “Whoever wrote this bull, he is Antichrist. I protest before God, our Lord Jesus, his sacred angels and the whole world that with my whole heart I dissent from the damnation of this bull, that I curse and execrate it as sacrilege and blasphemy of Christ, God's Son and our Lord. This be my recantation, O bull, thou daughter of bulls!” And later, “I was wrong—I admit it—when I said that indulgences were 'the pious defrauding of the faithful.' I recant and say, 'Indulgences are the most pious frauds and imposters of the most rascally Pontiffs, by which they deceive the souls and destroy the goods of the faithful.'” TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ButBut that'sthat's kindkind ofof thethe wholewhole point,point, whenwhen itit camecame toto MartinMartin LutherLuther PopePope LeoLeo waswas underunder firefire fromfrom allall frontsfronts forfor hishis obviousobvious excessesexcesses andand corruption,corruption, soso hehe reallyreally neededneeded aa “whipping“whipping boy”boy” toto divertdivert attentionattention toto CardinalCardinal dede VioVio calledcalled forfor hishis immediateimmediate arrest,arrest, theologiantheologian JohannJohann EckEck calledcalled himhim aa newnew JanJan HusHus PopePope LeoLeo wrotewrote aa responseresponse toto thethe 9595 ThesesTheses calledcalled ExsurgeExsurge DomineDomine (“Arise,(“Arise, Lord!”)Lord!”) InIn response,response, LutherLuther wrotewrote AsAs youyou mightmight imagine,imagine, LeoLeo excommunicatedexcommunicated LutherLuther asas aa result,result, callingcalling himhim “the“the slaveslave ofof aa depraveddepraved mind”mind” andand anan “infectious“infectious animal”animal” whosewhose diseasedisease hadhad toto bebe keptkept fromfrom thethe healthyhealthy membersmembers ofof thethe flockflock But even then—in large part because his fame and popularity continued to grow—Luther was given one last chance to recant... TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms SinceSince hehe waswas alreadyalready dodgingdodging anan arrestarrest warrant,warrant, andand sincesince he'dhe'd alreadyalready beenbeen excommunicated,excommunicated, LutherLuther onlyonly appearedappeared afterafter he'dhe'd beenbeen promisedpromised safesafe conductconduct byby PrincePrince FriedrichFriedrich IIIIII ofof SaxonySaxony JohannJohann EckEck happilyhappily servedserved asas thethe prosecutorprosecutor andand hehe laidlaid Luther'sLuther's writingswritings beforebefore thethe assemblyassembly andand askedasked LutherLuther ifif hehe stoodstood byby theirtheir contentscontents Luther took a day to pray, talk with his friends, and consider before he responded: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason—for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves—I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me. Amen.” TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms SinceSince hehe waswas alreadyalready dodgingdodging anan arrestarrest warrant,warrant, andand sincesince he'dhe'd alreadyalready beenbeen excommunicated,excommunicated, LutherLuther onlyonly appearedappeared afterafter he'dhe'd beenbeen promisedpromised safesafe conductconduct byby PrincePrince FriedrichFriedrich IIIIII ofof SaxonySaxony JohannJohann EckEck happilyhappily servedserved asas thethe prosecutorprosecutor EckEck remindedreminded LutherLuther thatthat allall hereticsheretics quotequote Scripture,Scripture, soso ScriptureScripture itselfitself cannotcannot bebe trustedtrusted (Instead, its truths must be interpreted and understood through the filters of tradition and proper Church authority) (NOTE: It was in this context that Eck first coined the term “Lutheranism” to speak derisively of Luther creating his own, personal religion) TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms SinceSince hehe waswas alreadyalready dodgingdodging anan arrestarrest warrant,warrant, andand sincesince he'dhe'd alreadyalready beenbeen excommunicated,excommunicated, LutherLuther onlyonly appearedappeared afterafter he'dhe'd beenbeen promisedpromised safesafe conductconduct byby PrincePrince FriedrichFriedrich IIIIII ofof SaxonySaxony JohannJohann EckEck happilyhappily servedserved asas thethe prosecutorprosecutor EckEck remindedreminded LutherLuther thatthat allall hereticsheretics quotequote Scripture,Scripture, soso ScriptureScripture itselfitself cannotcannot bebe trustedtrusted andand (Spanish)(Spanish) HolyHoly RomanRoman EmperorEmperor CarlosCarlos II calledcalled forfor Luther'sLuther's immediateimmediate arrestarrest andand executionexecution Which is why (German) Prince Friedrich III— who had promised Luther safe conduct— whisked him away to safety at Wartburg Castle, deep in Saxon territory (even though Friedrich himself was a devout Catholic who had spent a small fortune on indulgences and relics) TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms SinceSince hehe waswas alreadyalready dodgingdodging anan arrestarrest warrant,warrant, andand sincesince he'dhe'd alreadyalready beenbeen excommunicated,excommunicated, LutherLuther onlyonly appearedappeared afterafter he'dhe'd beenbeen promisedpromised safesafe conductconduct byby PrincePrince FriedrichFriedrich IIIIII ofof SaxonySaxony JohannJohann EckEck happilyhappily servedserved asas thethe prosecutorprosecutor EckEck remindedreminded LutherLuther thatthat allall hereticsheretics quotequote Scripture,Scripture, soso ScriptureScripture itselfitself cannotcannot bebe trustedtrusted andand (Spanish)(Spanish) HolyHoly RomanRoman EmperorEmperor CarlosCarlos II calledcalled forfor Luther'sLuther's immediateimmediate arrestarrest andand executionexecution Which is why (German) Prince Friedrich III— who had promised Luther safe conduct— whisked him away to safety at Wartburg Castle, deep in Saxon territory In response, Carlos declared it a crime to give Luther food or shelter, and that anyone was legallylegally allowedallowed toto killkill himhim ifif theythey foundfound him,him, without any legal repercussions (which is why Luther stayed at Wartburg for a year—producing a lot of writings) TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms Thus,Thus, Luther'sLuther's influenceinfluence continuedcontinued toto grow,grow, thethe moremore thatthat RomeRome attemptedattempted toto suppresssuppress itit NotNot onlyonly diddid hehe winwin overover Friedrich,Friedrich, butbut thethe facultyfaculty atat WittenbergWittenberg themselvesthemselves tooktook upup hishis bannerbanner andand continuedcontinued hishis teachingsteachings One of the professors—Philipp Melanchthon —became a leader in his own right Expressing his doctrine of salvation by faith alone to Melanchthon from his exile in Wartburg, Luther wrote, “Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but letlet youryour trusttrust inin ChristChrist bebe stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides...” TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ItIt waswas exactlyexactly thatthat sortsort ofof comment—andcomment—and thethe day-to-dayday-to-day ChristianityChristianity inin GermanyGermany thatthat waswas tacitlytacitly beingbeing preached—thatpreached—that broughtbrought LutherLuther intointo conflictconflict withwith ErasmusErasmus AsAs wewe discusseddiscussed lastlast week,week, ErasmusErasmus arguedargued ““You declaim bitterly against the luxury of priests, the ambition of bishops, the tyranny of the Roman Pontiff, and the babbling of the sophists; against our prayers, fasts, and Masses; and you are not content to retrench the abuses that may be in these things, but must needs abolish them entirely... But look around on this ‘‘Evangelical’ generation, and observe whether amongst them less indulgence isis givengiven toto luxury,luxury, lust,lust, oror avarice,avarice, thanthan amongst those whom you so detest. Show me any one person who by that Gospel has been reclaimed from drunkenness to sobriety, from fury and passion to meekness, from avarice to liberality,liberality, fromfrom revilingreviling toto well-speaking,well-speaking, from wantonness to modesty. I will show you a great many who have become worse through following it...” TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ItIt waswas exactlyexactly thatthat sortsort ofof comment—andcomment—and thethe day-to-dayday-to-day ChristianityChristianity inin GermanyGermany thatthat waswas tacitlytacitly beingbeing preached—thatpreached—that broughtbrought LutherLuther intointo conflictconflict withwith ErasmusErasmus AsAs wewe discusseddiscussed lastlast week,week, ErasmusErasmus arguedargued Or,Or, asas ErasmusErasmus wrotewrote toto Melanchthon,Melanchthon, lookinglooking atat thethe armedarmed rebellionrebellion thatthat waswas growinggrowing inin Germany,Germany, ““I know nothing of your church; at the very least it contains people who will, I fear, overturn the whole system and drive the princes into using force to restrain good men and bad alike. The gospel, the word of God, faith, Christ, and Holy Spirit—these words are always on their lips; but look at their lives and they speak quite another language.” TheThe ReformationReformation FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ItIt waswas exactlyexactly thatthat sortsort ofof comment—andcomment—and thethe day-to-dayday-to-day ChristianityChristianity inin GermanyGermany thatthat waswas tacitlytacitly beingbeing preached—thatpreached—that broughtbrought LutherLuther intointo conflictconflict withwith ErasmusErasmus ToTo helphelp combatcombat this,this, LutherLuther returnedreturned toto preachpreach atat WittenbergWittenberg HeHe taughttaught thethe peoplepeople fromfrom thethe pulpitpulpit ofof hishis church,church, ““Do you know what the Devil thinks when he sees men use violence to propagate the Gospel? He sits with folded arms behind the fire of hell, and says with malignant looks and frightful grin: 'Ah, how wise these madmen are to play my game! Let them go on; I shall reap the benefit. I delight in it.' But when he sees the Word running and contending alone on the battle-field, then he shudders and shakes for fear...” TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill ArguingArguing againstagainst Luther,Luther, ErasmusErasmus contendedcontended thatthat justjust becausebecause GodGod knowsknows somethingsomething isis goinggoing toto happen,happen, HisHis foreknowledgeforeknowledge doesn'tdoesn't logicallylogically demanddemand HisHis predestinationpredestination LikeLike anan astronomerastronomer whowho seessees thatthat anan eclipseeclipse isis coming,coming, butbut didn'tdidn't createcreate thethe eclipse,eclipse, GodGod cancan foreseeforesee somethingsomething thatthat HeHe inin nono wayway broughtbrought aboutabout Thus,Thus, we'rewe're savedsaved when,when, byby thethe actionaction ofof ourour freefree will,will, wewe choosechoose toto acceptaccept thethe gracegrace thatthat GodGod hashas freelyfreely givengiven usus TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill 15251525 LutherLuther publishedpublished OnOn thethe BondageBondage ofof thethe WillWill ArguingArguing againstagainst Erasmus,Erasmus, LutherLuther contendedcontended thatthat itit isis illogicalillogical toto conceiveconceive ofof anan omnipotentomnipotent GodGod whosewhose foreknowledgeforeknowledge doesn'tdoesn't predestinepredestine HumanityHumanity isis completelycompletely soldsold toto sin,sin, andand cannotcannot choosechoose goodgood overover evil—weevil—we havehave nono freefree willwill toto choosechoose toto acceptaccept God'sGod's savingsaving gracegrace Thus,Thus, whenwhen GodGod savessaves us,us, HeHe doesdoes soso regardlessregardless ofof ourour will,will, remakingremaking usus completelycompletely soso thatthat wewe are—forare—for thethe firstfirst timetime—— finallyfinally ableable toto choosechoose goodgood overover evilevil inin ourour liveslives TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill 15251525 LutherLuther publishedpublished OnOn thethe BondageBondage ofof thethe WillWill ArguingArguing againstagainst Erasmus,Erasmus, LutherLuther contendedcontended thatthat itit isis illogicalillogical toto conceiveconceive ofof anan omnipotentomnipotent GodGod whosewhose foreknowledgeforeknowledge doesn'tdoesn't predestinepredestine RegardingRegarding ErasmusErasmus himself,himself, LutherLuther wrote,wrote, “There can be no doubt in the mind of a true believer, who has the Spirit in his nostrils, that his mind is alienated from and utterly hates all religion together; and especially, the religion of Christ...” TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill 15251525 LutherLuther publishedpublished OnOn thethe BondageBondage ofof thethe WillWill 15271527 TheThe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch becamebecame thethe ChurchChurch Friedrich'sFriedrich's brotherbrother andand successor,successor, Johann,Johann, officiallyofficially declareddeclared thethe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch toto bebe thethe official,official, statestate churchchurch ofof SaxonySaxony So Luther and Melanchthon spent years putting together the basic structure and catechism of the new Church Luther decided to keep as much of the Catholic structure to their services and ecclesiology as he could, and simply tweak the theology behind the structures There were still priests, but now they could marry—like Luther did when he married a former nun TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill 15251525 LutherLuther publishedpublished OnOn thethe BondageBondage ofof thethe WillWill 15271527 TheThe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch becamebecame thethe ChurchChurch Friedrich'sFriedrich's brotherbrother andand successor,successor, Johann,Johann, officiallyofficially declareddeclared thethe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch toto bebe thethe official,official, statestate churchchurch ofof SaxonySaxony So Luther and Melanchthon spent years putting together the basic structure and catechism of the new Church Luther decided to keep as much of the Catholic structure to their services and ecclesiology as he could, and simply tweak the theology behind the structures There were still priests Priests still consecrated the Eucharist—at which point it became absolutely one with the Real Presence of the flesh and blood of Jesus—but it didn't become the flesh and blood of Jesus TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill 15251525 LutherLuther publishedpublished OnOn thethe BondageBondage ofof thethe WillWill 15271527 TheThe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch becamebecame thethe ChurchChurch Friedrich'sFriedrich's brotherbrother andand successor,successor, Johann,Johann, officiallyofficially declareddeclared thethe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch toto bebe thethe official,official, statestate churchchurch ofof SaxonySaxony So Luther and Melanchthon spent years putting together the basic structure and catechism of the new Church Luther decided to keep as much of the Catholic structure to their services and ecclesiology as he could, and simply tweak the theology behind the structures There were still priests Priests still consecrated the Eucharist (and everyone in church was allowed to eat the bread and drink the cup) TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill 15251525 LutherLuther publishedpublished OnOn thethe BondageBondage ofof thethe WillWill 15271527 TheThe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch becamebecame thethe ChurchChurch Friedrich'sFriedrich's brotherbrother andand successor,successor, Johann,Johann, officiallyofficially declareddeclared thethe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch toto bebe thethe official,official, statestate churchchurch ofof SaxonySaxony So Luther and Melanchthon spent years putting together the basic structure and catechism of the new Church Luther decided to keep as much of the Catholic structure to their services and ecclesiology as he could, and simply tweak the theology behind the structures There were still priests Priests still consecrated the Eucharist Infants were still saved through baptism, but a catechetical follow-up was required to confirm that they'd been saved TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill 15251525 LutherLuther publishedpublished OnOn thethe BondageBondage ofof thethe WillWill 15271527 TheThe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch becamebecame thethe ChurchChurch Friedrich'sFriedrich's brotherbrother andand successor,successor, Johann,Johann, officiallyofficially declareddeclared thethe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch toto bebe thethe official,official, statestate churchchurch ofof SaxonySaxony So Luther and Melanchthon spent years putting together the basic structure and catechism of the new Church Luther decided to keep as much of the Catholic structure to their services and ecclesiology as he could, and simply tweak the theology behind the structures There were still priests Priests still consecrated the Eucharist Infants were still saved through baptism Mass was still performed, but now everything was in German TheThe ReformationReformation TheThe ChurchChurch getsgets aa much-neededmuch-needed ReformReform 15171517 MartinMartin LutherLuther protestedprotested withwith 9595 ThesesTheses 15181518 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof AugsbergAugsberg 15211521 LutherLuther appearedappeared atat thethe DietDiet ofof WormsWorms 15241524 ErasmusErasmus publishedpublished TheThe FreedomFreedom ofof thethe WillWill 15251525 LutherLuther publishedpublished OnOn thethe BondageBondage ofof thethe WillWill 15271527 TheThe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch becamebecame thethe ChurchChurch Friedrich'sFriedrich's brotherbrother andand successor,successor, Johann,Johann, officiallyofficially declareddeclared thethe LutheranLutheran ChurchChurch toto bebe thethe official,official, statestate churchchurch ofof SaxonySaxony So Luther and Melanchthon spent years putting together the basic structure and catechism of the new Church Luther decided to keep as much of the Catholic structure to their services and ecclesiology as he could, and simply tweak the theology behind the structures They ultimately summarized the new church for Emperor Carlos at another Diet of Augsberg in 1530 (in a document that has come to be known as the “Augsberg Confession”)