CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY Luther and the Principle: Outside of the Use There Is No Sacrament Fn\\T A RD F. PETERS The .Meaning of Advent: Implications for Preaching FRANK C. SENN Adolf Stoecker: A Christian Socialist Advocate of the "Free Folk Church" RONALD L. MASSANARI The Reformation as a Youth Movement JOHN W. CONSTABLE Homiletics Book Review Vol. XLII November Number 10 The Reformation as a Youth Movement J OHN W. C ONSTABLE The author is chairman of the Department of Historical Theology and associate professor in that department at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. n our day there has been a growing in­ The parallels between then, the period I terest in the factors that bring about of the Reformation, and now are striking: change in society. Theodore Roszak calls changing social patterns brought on by a attention to the phenomenon of a growing growing money economy, a movement that new "counter culmre": grew out of the university experience of How shall we characterize the counter cul­ the reformers, a period of more time for ture they are in the way of haphazardly as­ thought, young people that were beginning sembling? Clearly one cannot answer the to criticize the society in which they found question by producing a manifesto unani­ themselves, and an establishment against mously endorsed by the malcontented which many were directing their darts of younger generation : the counter culture is opposition. scarcely so disciplined a movement. It is something in the nature of a medieval cru­ The new century of the period of reform sade : a variegated procession constantly in brought some very rapid changes into the flux, acquiring and losing members all late medieval world. The emergence of along the route of march. Often enough it modern states with stronger rulers gave finds its own identity in a nebulous symbol evidence that there were changes afoot. or song that seems to proclaim little more The rise of a newly organized and rapidly than "we are special . we are different growing class of wealthy men with both . we are outward-bound from the old time and money to spend on new ideas was corruptions of the world." Some join the symbolic of changes yet to be seen. The troop only for a brief while, long enough to enter an obvious and immediate strug­ children of these men of growing means gle: a campus rebellion, an act of war-re­ were to become some of the significant sistance, a demonstration against racial in­ leaders of the new movement. Many of justice. Some may do no more than flour­ this newer generation found themselves in ish a tiny banner against the inhumanities the expanding universities on the continent of the technocracy; perhaps they pin on a of Europe. The university movement was button declaring "I am a human being: do the source of many of the new ideas that not mutilate, spindle, or tear." Others, hav­ permeated the changing society. The rise ing cut themselves off hopelessly from so­ cial acceptance, have no option but to fol­ of criticism of both society and the church low the road until they reach the Holy began to find expression in the works of City. No piecemeal reforms or minor ad­ those educated in the church schools. justments of what they leave behind would There was, above all, a monolithic societal make turning back possible for them.1 ter Culture (Garden City, N. Y. : Anchor, 1968), 1 Theodore Roszak, The Making of a Cotln- pp. 48-49. 671 672 THE REFORMATION AS A YOUTH MOVEMENT structure, the church, against which the Small Catechism of 1529. He wrote to the criticism could well direct itself in such city councilmen: formative days. Harold Grimm has di­ If children were instructed and trained in rected attention to these significant changes schools or elsewhere where there were in the early days of the 16th century in a learned and well-trained schoolmasters and very direct manner.2 schoolmistresses to teach the languages, the other arts, and history, they would hear Given the fact that many of the changes the happenings and sayings of all the that were taking place in the beginning of world and learn how it fared with various the 16th century are analogous to those cities, estates, kingdoms, princes, men, and pressing us today, one is forced to examine women; thus they could in a short time set them to see not only their roots but also before themselves, as in a mirror, the char­ the consequences for the history of the acter, life, counsels and purposes, success W estern world. and failure of the whole world from the The leadership in the movement of the beginning. As a result of this knowledge, 16th century_w hich we have chosen to call they could form their own opinions and adapt themselves to the course of this out­ the Reformation was in the hands of a ward life in the fear of God, draw from change-minded group of rebellious youth, history the knowledge and understanding or "young Turks." Over the space of nearly of what should be sought and what four and a half centuries this fact has often av u~ cled in this outward life, and become eluded us. In the sense that this century able <;lso by this standard to assist and di­ could have maintained a revolt of any kind, rect others.3 it was a dramatic change brought about by Many of Luther's opponents in the ec­ both young theologians and youthful lay­ clesiastical establishment were comfortably men. The history of the western world has on the other side of 30. Leo X (1475 to often colored them older than they were, 1521) was 46 when he announced the ex­ while their own contemporaries more often communication of the German priest. His despised their youth. successor, Clement VII, showed little in­ The "Young Luther" school has for years clination to do anything .about the spread stressed the importance of the formative of the Lutheran ideas and his age at his years upon the reformer of W ittenberg. death (56) put him in line with the older Much of Luther's significant work was pro­ men of his day. Paul III (1468-1549) duced in the years before 1521, when he ascended to the papal throne in his 66th was 38. Those who participated in the year. He did depend, however, on the ef­ Reformation were often members of the forrs of the young Lainez and Salmeron at "under thirty generation." the Council of Trent after 1545. After Luther's relative youth may in part ac­ 3 To the Councilmen 0/ All Cities in Ger­ count for his strong interest in the educa­ many that They Establish and Maintain Chris­ tion of children. One of his most influen­ tian Schools, Martin Luther, Works of Martin Luther, Lenker Edition, IV (Philadelphia: tial works was dedicated to youth - the United Lutheran Publishing House, 1915 to 1932), 106-7. See Luther's Works, American 2 Harold Grimm, The Reformation Era Edition, 45 (Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, (New York: Macmillan, 1965), Chap. 1. 1962), 368-69. THE REFORMATION AS A YOUTH MOVEMENT 673 several aged and interim popes, the scepter might, their wiles were not able to make fell to Paul IV (1476-1559) , who had him move an inch from his propositions. some early reform experience while he was His sweetness in answering is remarkable, a member of the Oratory of Divine Love. his patience in listening is incomparable, in his explanations you would recognize The pope who closed the age of reform the acumen of Paul, not of Scotus, his and also the Council of Trent, Pius IV answers, so brief, so wise, and drawn from (1499-1565), was in his 60s while en­ the Holy Scriptures, easily made all his gaged in reestablishing the Roman Church hearers his admirers.5 in Europe. There were exceptions in the In 1519, Luther and the new university leadership of the church. Albert of Mainz at Wittenberg became the center for the (1490-1545) was only 23 when he be­ expanding Reformation. Both seemed to came archbishop in 1513. attract a growing number of the budding On the Third Sunday After Easter, theologians from Germany and many other April 25, 1518, the 35-year-old Martin Lu­ parts of Europe. The 22-year-old Melanch­ ther appeared at the Heidelberg meeting thon had already arrived the year before. of the Augustinian chapter to consider the He had successfully completed the master 28 theological and 12 philosophical theses of arts program at Tiibingen after he had presented for dispute. Luther impressed a met the reql1irements fo he b chelor of la gc n be: of the younger men. Marrin arts at Heidelberg at the age of 15. The Bucer, one of those present, wrote to M. A. had been "denied shortly thereafter Beatus Rhenanus at Basle: (by Heidelberg ) because of his youthful I will oppose to you a certain theologian, appearance." 6 This youthful companion not, indeed, one of our number, but one who has been heard by us in the last few of Luther issued the first edition of his days, one who has got so far away from Loci in 1521 at the age of 25. the bonds of the sophists and the trifling W hen it became evident that the elector of Aristotle, one who is so devoted to the of Saxony would protect Luther and when Bible, and is so suspicious of antiquated the pope felt that the elector should not theologians of our school .