Do You Know About The Protestant Reformation?

The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge in the Catholic Church and in particular to papal authority, arising from what were perceived to be errors, abuses, and discrepancies by the Church. As the reforms have been accepted by many church priests, monks and theologians, it has not been accepted by the pope, and it brought split between the church leaders.

Prior to Martin Luther, there were many earlier reform movements. Although the Reformation is usually considered to have started with the publication of the Ninety-five Theses by Martin Luther in 1517, he was not excommunicated by Pope Leo X until January 1521. The Diet of Worms of May 1521 condemned Luther and officially banned citizens of the Holy Roman Empire from defending or propagating his ideas.

The spread of Gutenberg's printing press provided the means for the rapid spread of religious materials. Luther survived after being declared an outlaw due to the protection of Elector Frederick the Wise (famous kidnaping).

The Reformers argued that salvation in Christianity was a completed status based on faith in Jesus alone and not a process that requires good works and must of earning the eternal life. So selling the tickets for it (indulgences) by the Catholic Church was strongly criticized by the reformers and banned. Luther insisted that the Pope had no authority over purgatory and that the Treasury of Merit had no foundation in the Bible. The Reformation developed further to include a distinction between Law (OT) and Gospel (NT), a complete reliance on Scripture as the only source of proper doctrine (sola scriptura) and the belief that faith in Jesus is the only way to receive God's pardon for sin (sola fide) rather than good works. Although this is generally considered a Protestant belief, a similar formulation was taught by Molinist, Jansenist Catholics and much later also the Roman Catholics.

So, the Reformation was the start of Protestantism and the split of the Western Church into the Roman-Catholic Church and Protestantism (Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Methodism, Baptism, Pentecostalism, and more). It is also considered to be one of the events that signified the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the early modern period in Europe & enlightenment.

The priesthood of all believers downplayed the need for saints or priests to serve as mediators, and mandatory clerical celibacy was ended. Simul justus et peccator (at the same time justified and a sinner) implied that although people could improve, no one could become good enough to earn forgiveness from God, that is why the forgiveness is given from free through God’s grace and love.

Bishop Tor’s Reformation Day letter 2022

Reformation Day letter 2022 – Leeds 30^th October

“The Truth Will Make You Free” – By Faith, in Grace, with Hope

These are famous words of Jesus. “Truth” and “Freedom” are still two words of great significance in the political and philosophical discourse in today’s world. They are also two core words in our Lutheran heritage. For Luther these two words are related to two other basic theological realities: “Faith” and “Grace”. Through faith we receive God’s grace which set us free.

The consequence of this insight was a new and creative freedom which challenged both the ecclesiastical and political powers of his day and shaped new values and attitudes of responsibility and service.

Our understanding of Truth and Freedom/Faith and Grace is dynamic, based on our reading of the Scriptures. It will always be critical and dynamic, as life and history are developing and changing.

Today we must admit that Luther was part of an authoritarian culture which he and his followers also used theologically and politically when they came into power.

How future generations will look at us living in the beginning of the 21^st century, we do not know. When it comes to “Truth” and “Freedom” it seems that we start to realize that our wealth in the past 200 years or so, was based on violent suppression and exploitation of other people. And the society we have created is still focused on material growth based on certain groups privileges, not being able to solve the everyday life burdens of common people, or the big issues of climate change, poverty, refugees, racial and gender inequality…. The list is long.

But our reading of the Bible conveys to us the obligation we have, to see the realities of those who are suffering and speak the truth from their perspective. That is often an inconvenient task, but I am happy to realize that the churches are engaged in a lot of this Truth-telling and Faith-acting.

In the LCiGB we are trying to strengthen our consciousness around questions of racial injustice. And I hope we will be able to establish a similar core-group for LGBT-questions. And I just recently participated in a meeting about disarmament and peace arranged by people connected with the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT). In the middle of a dramatic war in Ukraine, we must work for long-term agreements.

Our faith in Jesus Christ creates a basic solidarity with people in need. We are seeking to see the truth in the life of people, like Jesus did. And get involved to create freedom for the oppressed. A task which is based on the reality of the Grace we have received from God, through faith in Jesus. This faith gives us freedom to serve. And it gives us part in the holy gift of hope. This is living and transforming hope which transcends the limitations of what we see and what we are able to accomplish. It gives us freedom to live in thanksgiving and praise as we do every Sunday when we participate in the eucharist.

We have indeed reasons to also be thankful for Luther’s important reminder of our dependence of God’s Grace and the Freedom we receive through faith! Happy Reformation Day.

Pax & Bonum

+ Tor B Jørgensen