HIS 374 Luther and Church short essay
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Southern New Hampshire University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
374
Subject
Religion
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by BailiffHedgehogMaster682
Martin Luther was a German monk and theologian who initiated the Protestant
Reformation in the 16th century. He challenged some of the teachings and practices of the
Roman Catholic Church, which he believed were contrary to the Scriptures and the gospel of
salvation by grace alone through faith alone. He had five main disagreements with the Catholic
Church.
The first was with the authority of the pope and the church tradition. Luther rejected the
claim that the pope was the supreme head of the Christian church and the infallible interpreter of
the Scriptures. He also denied that the church tradition, especially the councils and the fathers,
had equal or higher authority than the Bible. He argued that the Scriptures alone were the sole
and sufficient rule of faith and practice for all Christians. ¹
The second was with the doctrine of justification. Luther opposed the Catholic teaching
that justification, or the forgiveness of sins and the acceptance by God, was a process that
involved human cooperation with God's grace through good works and sacraments. He affirmed
that justification was a one-time event that occurred when a sinner, by faith alone, received the
imputed righteousness of Christ as a gift. He also taught that good works were the fruits and
evidence of justification, not the cause or condition of it. ²
The third was with the nature and number of the sacraments. Luther criticized the
Catholic doctrine that there were seven sacraments, or outward signs that conferred grace
inwardly. He maintained that only two sacraments were instituted by Christ: baptism and the
Lord's Supper. He also rejected the Catholic views on the efficacy and meaning of these
sacraments. For example, he denied that baptism regenerated infants and that the bread and wine
in the Lord's Supper were transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ. ³
The fourth was with the practice of indulgences and purgatory. Luther condemned the
Catholic system of indulgences or the remission of temporal punishments for sins after
confession and absolution. He saw it as a corruption of the gospel and a source of abuse and
exploitation by the church. He also questioned the existence and necessity of purgatory, or the
intermediate state where the souls of the faithful departed were purified before entering heaven.
He argued that indulgences and purgatory undermined the sufficiency and finality of Christ's
atonement and the assurance of salvation. ⁴
The fifth was with the role of the clergy and the laity. Luther challenged the Catholic
distinction between the clergy and the laity, or the ordained ministers and the common people.
He asserted the priesthood of all believers or the idea that every Christian had direct access to
God and the right to interpret the Scriptures. He also advocated the reform of the clergy,
especially the abolition of celibacy, the restoration of marriage, and the elimination of corruption
and worldliness. He also encouraged the laity's participation and education in the church's
worship and ministry. ⁵
In conclusion, Martin Luther and the Catholic Church disagreed on many fundamental
issues of theology and ecclesiology in the 16th century. These disagreements led to the split of
Western Christianity into Catholic and Protestant branches, which had lasting effects on the
history and culture of Europe and the world.
(1) Reformation: Here's what Martin Luther thought the Catholic Church was ....
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-01/what-martin-luther-thought-the-catholic-church-was-
wrong-about/9031732.
(2) The Church's Response to Luther | Catholic Answers Q&A. https://www.catholic.com/qa/the-
churchs-response-to-luther.
(3)
Why
did
Martin
Luther
disagree
with
the
catholic
church.
https://elrenosacredheart.com/question-answer/why-did-martin-luther-disagree-with-the-catholic-
church.html.
(4)
Martin
Luther's
Disagreements
With
The
Catholic
Religion.
https://www.studymode.com/essays/Martin-Luthers-Disagreements-With-The-Catholic-Religion-
9EFC634DD8D94E88.html.
(5) What 3 issues did Martin Luther have with the Catholic Church?.
https://teacherscollegesj.org/what-3-issues-did-martin-luther-have-with-the-catholic-church/.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help