The Reformation Identifying the Problems Terms Reformation 1517

The Reformation { Identifying the Problems

Terms Reformation (1517 -1563) religious revolt against the authority and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church Protestant A Christian who is not a member of the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox faiths

Power Prior to the Renaissance the Pope is not only head of church, probably most powerful man in the world. One word……. . Excommunication

Northern Humanists Northern humanists were critical of the church but they were a long way from calling for a separation from the Church. Unfortunately, as these attacks became more and more vociferous the Church became more reluctant to accept the necessity for change.

{ So Wait… What Caused the Reformation?

Political Development of nation states began to erode papal power. (ex Fr. & Br. ) Rulers resented the Church courts and Church claim of supremacy over civil authority Many saw the pope as a foreign ruler (Nationalism forming)

Economic Envy of the Church’s wealth & desire to obtain some of it Unfavorable view of tithing to Church Unfavorable view of Church’s prohibition of interest (usury) Dislike of money flowing out of country to Rome

Intellectual Renaissance emphasis on the role of the individual Christian humanism emphasis on individual relationship with God and faith Questioning attitude expands to include Church’s powers and authority

Decline of Church Prestige In-fighting in the church led to people loosing faith. Babylonian Captivity (1309 - 1377) French domination Great Schism (1378 -1417) rival popes at Rome and Avignon claiming to be the true pope

Church Abuses Worldliness - luxury and materialistic life of some popes and high clergy Immorality – neglect of celibacy, drunkenness, gambling Ignorance – lack of education Nepotism - appointing relatives to Church offices Simony - selling appointments to Church offices Pluralism – holding more than one office

More Church Abuses This one is the kicker! (Just write it down now, we will cover it in HUGE detail later … ) Be patient… It is coming Sale of indulgences - accepting money for Church pardons

{ But wait… If there were so many abuses, why hadn’t people tried to change the church?

{ I am glad you asked.

Jan (John) Huss (1372 – 1415) Important Bohemian religious reformer Rector of the Univ. of Prague Argued with Archbishop over who should be pope (Babylonian Capt). Denounced various church abuses in his sermons.

Look what happened to him! Called to the Council of Constance. Promised safe passage by the emperor. The Council found him guilty of heresy & burned at the stake on 6 July 1415.

{ Wow… Did anyone else try and make changes?

{ Of Course! This would be a pretty short slide show if it ended there!

John Wycliffe (1320 -1384) Called the “Morning Star of the Reformation” Dr. of Theology at Oxford 14 th c Wrote many tracts against the teachings of the church (including purgatory, the sale of indulgences, and the doctrine of transubstantiation) Denounced the pope, but not the papacy and argued that scripture was more important than tradition.

All that upset the Pope! The Pope issued five decrees (Bulls) against him and condemned him on nineteen different charges concerning his writings. Removed from his post – he took the time to translate the Bible into English (no press though) Condemned by the church later died of a stroke

But Rome Wasn’t Done Yet! Thirty years after his death, orders were given for his writings to be destroyed, his bones exhumed and burned, and the ashes to be thrown into the nearby river!

{ WHOA! So what you are basically trying to say, is change was impossible!

{ I said hard and possibly toasty, but not impossible….

{ What about Martin Luther? I thought the reformation was all about him!

Martin Luther Who was this guy? Born in 1483 in Eastern Germany from peasant stock His father sent him to school so that he could study law. ¨ In 1505 he was almost hit by lightning & he entered the strict Augustinian monastery against his father’s wishes

It’s A Matter of Faith Luther became disillusioned with the Church & he began to question good works: prayers, fasting, etc. He was tormented and troubled by the correct way to achieve salvation.

The Epiphany Luther read Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans “The just shall live by his faith” Luther thought this meant if people had faith God will save them “Justification by Faith” or “Salvation by Faith Alone”

Wait a SECOND ……. . You said that the main problem was the sale of Indulgences and that we would cover them in detail yet you haven’t mentioned them at all! What’s up with that?

{ Hmm, you are right, lets take a moment to explain those.

What is an Indulgence? They were a document that could be bought from the church. They were not a remission of sin, but instead is a remission of temporal punishment due to sin They could be used to reduce the amount of time they or others would spend in Purgatory They had been given to the Crusaders and were often used to raise money for the Church

{ So, if these things were around forever, what is the problem?

The problem Archbishop Albert of Magdeburg hired John Tetzel to oversee the collection of funds – in theory for building St. Peter’s. Luther got upset when they were sold near Wittenberg. (His parishioners often went to buy these instead of coming to confession and were not remorseful) Luther openly criticized the abuses of Indulgences

Tetzel Used various techniques to sell the indulgences. For yourself Friends and Family Sins you MAY commit in the future. (insurance) Examples of Prices for Letters of Indulgence • robbing a church and perjury - 9 Ducats • murder - 8 Ducats

Luther Reacts October 31, 1517, he posted his 95 theses on the Castle Church in Wittenberg These were spread without Luther’s knowledge. (printing press)

Hmm, Did he get killed too? ? ? No.

The Pope Responded Pope Leo X gave Luther 60 days to recant - Luther burned the papal bull Luther appealed to the Holy Roman Emperor to hear the argument at the Diet of Worms Luther refused to modify his views and said “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise” Luther was “abducted” and placed in Wartburg Castle for his own protection by Frederick the Wise. Translated the Bible into the vernacular

Reasons for Luther’s success Germany resented papal power Distance from Rome Lack of central authority to mediate the dispute

What did Luther believe? salvation comes by faith alone religious authority resides in the Bible and is open to interpretation the church is a community of believers all vocations are equal in the eyes of God there are only 2 sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s Supper the importance of marriage a women’s place was in the home