The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017. Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
(Since I will be in Europe for a Reformation 500 trip with others from Bethel, I will be sharing Theses 24- 40 here in one space. For the previous theses, see this same blog. As previously mentioned, I am using Martin Luther's 95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide by Timothy Wengert.)
24. For this reason most people are necessarily deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of release from penalty.
25. That power which the pope has in general over purgatory corresponds to the power which any bishop or curate has in a particular way in his own diocese and parish.
26. The pope does very well when he grants remission to souls in purgatory, not by the power of the keys, which he does not have, but by way of intercession for them.
27. They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory.
28. It is certain that when money clinks in the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed, since we have exceptions in St. Severinus and St. Paschal, as related in a legend.
30. No one is sure of the integrity of his own contrition, much less of having received plenary remission.
31. The man who actually buys indulgences is as rare as he who is really penitent; indeed, he is exceedingly rare.
32. Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
33. Men must especially be on guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him.
34. For the graces of indulgences are concerned only with the penalties of sacramental satisfaction established by man.
35. They who teach that contrition is not necessary on the part of those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessional privileges preach unchristian doctrine.
36. Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters.
37. Any true Christian, whether living or dead, participates in all the blessings of Christ and the church; and this is granted him by God, even without indulgence letters.
38. Nevertheless, papal remission and blessing are by no means to be disregarded, for they are, as I have said (Thesis 6), the proclamation of the divine remission.
39. It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the bounty of indulgences and the need of true contrition.
40. A Christian who is truly contrite seeks and loves to pay penalties for his sins; the bounty of indulgences, however, relaxes penalties and causes men to hate them -- at least it furnishes occasion for hating them.
In these theses, Luther argues compellingly that a truly penitent heart and trusting heart is what ultimately matters to God. At the end, in theses 36-37, he makes this salient point well. Additionally, in theses 39-40, Luther counters the validity of indulgence preaching because in their very offering, they nullify the cross of Christ. And for Luther, this is the true issue with indulgences, indulgence preaching, and the way that the pope uses them. They alleviate the need for Christ! The power of salvation becomes something that we can affect with money and something the Church grants on a whim. And this, for Luther, cannot and will not stand. In Christ alone, we are saved. In Christ alone, we are forgiven. In Christ, alone we trust and find our hope.
A Prayer of Martin Luther
Behold,
Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.
I
am weak in the faith; strengthen me.
I
am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my
neighbor.
I
do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust
you altogether.
O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.
In
you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.
I
am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.
I
am a sinner; you are upright.
With
me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness.
Therefore
I will will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment