Orthodoxy, isms, & ologies 3
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We have looked at the development of “the Church” from the day of Pentecost through the 14th-15th centuries
We’ve seen the thoughts of man infiltrate the plan of God, thus polluting the church
Though there were bright spots, overall, the purity degraded
Reform was in the wind
Major issue was the matter of indulgences
Indulgences
Indulgences
could shorten the time a Christian would have to spend in *purgatory. In the sixteenth century an indulgence could be granted under the auspices of the pope, usually in exchange for a gift of money or land, to reduce the penalty of the “temporal consequences of sin,” i.e., unfulfilled penances.
Came to the point of…as is reported...
“The moment the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs” Attributed to Johann Tetzell—touted as having been the Pope’s best indulgence salesman
In German, there is a similar rhyme, klight and ringt
The sourcing may not have been quite accurate, but the principle was certainly out there
Enter Martin Luther and his 95 Theses, nailed to door at Wittenburg Castle, Oct. 31, 1517
b. 1483, d. 1546
Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
He was not out to start a new religion, but to reform the existing Church
#1,When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ``Repent'' (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
#2 This word cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.
The rest flow from these two truths
Another major player was Ulrich Zwingli
b.1484, d. 1531, somewhat contemporaneously with Luther
His preaching followed much of Luther’s, attacked praying to saints, purgatory, monastic abuse, & challenged papal authority
The 3rd major player was John Calvin
b. 1509, d. 1564
French by birth, exiled to after writing a reform-oriented speech for Nicholas Cop
Ended up preaching in Geneva…but got run out for preaching on church discipline and confessionalism
Back to Geneva, writing Institutes
Forming a virtual theocracy in Geneva
His writings most directly influence and codified Reformed theology
Out of this came the FIVE SOLAs of the Reformation
Sola Scriptura
Sola Christus
Sola Fide
Sola Gratia
Soli Deo Gloria
A Remaining Sticking Point
A Remaining Sticking Point
The nature and components of the Lord’s Supper
Roman belief had been transubstantiation; elements became the true body and blood; held salvific power in the participation
Luther held to co or consubstantiation, at best the lines are a bit blurred, insisting that in some way, Christ was present
Zwingli held that it was “a sign of a sacred thing, i.e. of a grace that has been given.” For him there was no salvific effect
For Calvin, a visible sign of a sacred thing
Where We Stand
BFM 2000: The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.