Reformed Theology

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Recommended: Contribution of Martin Luther to the church

There were various theologies of the sacrament of Holy Communion that were being debated during the Reformation. Among reformers there were conflicting views on transubstantiation, consubstantiation, infant baptism and Christ’s importance of being in communion overall. Some reformers and reformation events that appealed believers more than others were Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin and the Council of Trent.

Martin Luther was a German priest who rebelled against authorities of the Roman Catholic Church and initiated the start of the reformation. He rejected some of the traditional practices although he believed that the church was essential to the Christian doctrine. He was very big on communion with God. He believed that people of God were a part of a community of belief and being honest and just in that community made you equally seen to God. Through and in the church we receive sacraments that give us the Word of God. Luther felt that for a sacrament to be true, it had to come from Christ and be a sign of the promise of the gospel. He concluded that baptism and communion were the only two sacraments (Gonzalez, pg. 53)

For Luther, baptism was a sign of one’s death and resurrection with Christ. To complete this act one has to possess the gift of faith from God. With this faith you are a believer and baptized to become a member of the body of Christ. This baptism begins a person’s life as a Christian and lasts a life time. A person could be possibly more able to resist the devil because of the strength of God in the baptism. Luther disagreed with infant baptism because he that you couldn’t just be born into a religion.

Luther’s belief of the bread and the wine involved in the receiving of communion was seen as consub...

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References

González, J. L. (1984). Luther's Theology, Ullrich Zwingli and the Swiss Reformation, John Calvin . The story of Christianity (pp. 47-56, 57-65, 77-86). San Francisco: Harper & Row.

Lusk, R. (n.d.). Theologia » Calvin on Baptism, Penance, & Absolution. House of Horne. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from http://www.hornes.org/theologia/rich-lusk/calvin-on-baptism-penance-absolution

Mason, M. W. (n.d.). Calvin on the Lord's Supper. The Theologian. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from http://www.theologian.org.uk/doctrine/calvinonthelordssupper.html

Placher, W. C. (1988). Council of Trent. Readings in the history of Christian theology (pp. 43-47). Philadelphia, Pa.: Westminster Press.

Waterworth, J. (n.d.). CT13. History Department, Hanover College. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct13.html

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