Southeast Circuit Update: Week Twenty-Seven Southeast Circuit Reformation Update: Week Twenty-Seven Martin v. v. Urlich Zwingli Urlich Zwingli Rev. Adam Moline Rev. Adam Moline

What is it that we receive in the Lord’s Supper? Is Christ’s body re- What is it that we receive in the Lord’s Supper? Is Christ’s body re- ally present? Or is the supper just symbolic? This is a question for ally present? Or is the supper just symbolic? This is a question for which much debate has been had between Protestants throughout which much debate has been had between Protestants throughout the years. It was no different in the first years of the Lutheran Refor- the years. It was no different in the first years of the Lutheran Refor- mation. mation. The main stage for this debate in the early years of the reformation The main stage for this debate in the early years of the reformation was at the Colloquy, a debate between Martin Luther and was at the Marburg Colloquy, a debate between Martin Luther and Urlich Zwingli October 1-4, 1529. Urlich Zwingli October 1-4, 1529. Zwingli was the leader of the reformation in Switzerland. He based Zwingli was the leader of the reformation in Switzerland. He based his reformation in the city of Zurich, working there beginning in 1519. his reformation in the city of Zurich, working there beginning in 1519. His Zurich-led reformation spread throughout all Switzerland, but was His Zurich-led reformation spread throughout all Switzerland, but was more radical than Luther’s. Zwingli pushed things faster further, al- more radical than Luther’s. Zwingli pushed things faster further, al- most leading war in June 1529. A Zurich led army met a Catholic ar- most leading war in June 1529. A Zurich led army met a Catholic ar- my on the battle field, but at the last minute the fight was averted. my on the battle field, but at the last minute the fight was averted. Shortly after this, the Swiss reformers were invited by Phillip of Hesse Shortly after this, the Swiss reformers were invited by Phillip of Hesse to to see if it would be possible to unite the two refor- to Germany to see if it would be possible to unite the two refor- mations. If they could unite, they would have more numbers to with- mations. If they could unite, they would have more numbers to with- stand pressures from the Roman Catholic church to abandon their stand pressures from the Roman Catholic church to abandon their beliefs. beliefs. Luther and Zwingli began a public discussion on the points of their Luther and Zwingli began a public discussion on the points of their teachings and doctrine. They were able to agree and find unity on teachings and doctrine. They were able to agree and find unity on 14 points of doctrine, but on the question of the Lord’s Supper, there 14 points of doctrine, but on the question of the Lord’s Supper, there was division. was division. Zwingli taught that Christ’s body and blood could not be present in Zwingli taught that Christ’s body and blood could not be present in the supper since Christ’s human body was located at the right hand the supper since Christ’s human body was located at the right hand of God in heaven. Instead he taught – wrongly – that the bread of God in heaven. Instead he taught – wrongly – that the bread “signifies” the body and that the blood “signifies” the wine. There- “signifies” the body and that the blood “signifies” the wine. There- fore, the Supper was little more than a memorial meal where the fore, the Supper was little more than a memorial meal where the people in the pew remembered that Jesus died for their sins. Since people in the pew remembered that Jesus died for their sins. Since that time, we have come to call their view the “Sacramentarianism.” that time, we have come to call their view the “Sacramentarianism.” 500 Years of the Lutheran Reformation 500 Years of the Lutheran Reformation Southeast Circuit North Dakota District Southeast Circuit North Dakota District Google “Osiander Marburg GHDI” to read a first person account of the Margurg Colloquy! Google “Osiander Marburg GHDI” to read a first person account of the Margurg Colloquy!

Luther however, would not limit God with human reason, instead Luther however, would not limit God with human reason, instead choosing to take God at His own word. Luther taught a sacramen- choosing to take God at His own word. Luther taught a sacramen- tal union of Body and bread, wine and blood. Or in simple terms, tal union of Body and bread, wine and blood. Or in simple terms, since the Word said, “This is,” Luther believed “This is.” The body since the Word said, “This is,” Luther believed “This is.” The body must be “really present” in the bread. There also must be a “real must be “really present” in the bread. There also must be a “real presence” of the blood in the wine. Otherwise, Christ was a liar. presence” of the blood in the wine. Otherwise, Christ was a liar. Luther even stated that if the Zwinglians couldn’t admit the sac- Luther even stated that if the Zwinglians couldn’t admit the sac- ramental union, they weren’t really Christians. He went so far as to ramental union, they weren’t really Christians. He went so far as to write the words “This is my body, this is my blood” on the front of write the words “This is my body, this is my blood” on the front of the table with chalk on the desk so that Zwingli could see it. Point- the table with chalk on the desk so that Zwingli could see it. Point- ing to it, he said, “Here is our Scripture. You still haven’t taken it ing to it, he said, “Here is our Scripture. You still haven’t taken it away from us, as you claimed away from us, as you claimed you would. We need no other.” you would. We need no other.” The mediator of the discussion The mediator of the discussion asked if there was any way for asked if there was any way for the two to come to agreement. the two to come to agreement. Luther replied, “I see no other Luther replied, “I see no other way except for them to honor way except for them to honor the Word of God and adhere to the Word of God and adhere to our faith.” Zwingli replied that our faith.” Zwingli replied that they could neither understand they could neither understand nor believe that the body of nor believe that the body of Christ is present [in the ]. Christ is present [in the Eucharist]. Luther said, “Then we should let Luther said, “Then we should let you leave and commend you to you leave and commend you to the just judgment of God. He will the just judgment of God. He will know well, who is right.” know well, who is right.” This issue still faces us today. This issue still faces us today. We are surrounded by Protestants who deny Christ’s presence in We are surrounded by Protestants who deny Christ’s presence in the Lord’s Supper. We Lutherans take Christ at His Word. Since He the Lord’s Supper. We Lutherans take Christ at His Word. Since He says, “this is,” we believe Him. We don’t add additional questions says, “this is,” we believe Him. We don’t add additional questions to those words like “when, how, or does it end?” We believe what to those words like “when, how, or does it end?” We believe what the Word says, no more, no less. the Word says, no more, no less. Zwingli ended up dying along with 24 other Sacramentarian pas- Zwingli ended up dying along with 24 other Sacramentarian pas- tors in the 2nd battle of Kappel in 1531, when a superior force of tors in the 2nd battle of Kappel in 1531, when a superior force of Roman Catholics crushed the unorganized army of Reformed Roman Catholics crushed the unorganized army of Reformed commanded by Zwingli. commanded by Zwingli.

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