Lutheranism

Lutheranism

The Roman Catholic Church dominated religion for many years in Europe and became an extremely powerful institution. Over the years, the Roman church became corrupt and immoral in many ways. The development of the Protestant Reformation, Lutheranism, was greatly influenced by political events in the years proceeding the 16th century. The declared aim of the original reformer, Martin Luther, was to restore the Christian faith as it had been at its formation, while salvaging what he considered valuable from the Roman Catholic tradition that had developed during the previous centuries. Luther broke the unity of the Catholic Church forever by exposing their faults and misguided notions. Lutheranism spread quickly due to the availability of the Christian Faith, as well as the close relationship between religion and the state.

Luther believed that the Christian Faith was being exploited. The leaders of the Roman church were abusing their monopoly over their Christian followers for their benefit. Luther wrote The Ninety-Five Theses in response to the sale of indulgences by the Pope. He wanted to make the people aware of how a true Christian should act and how the Pope was violating them: "The treasures of indulgences are nets, whereby they now fish for the riches of men." (Luther, The Nine-Five Thesis, p.5) He felt that giving to the poor and needy would make them far better off than if they bought pardons. The Romanists had set up barriers so that no one could condemn their actions and power. They thought that the temporal power had no jurisdiction over the spiritual power. Secondly, the only person who could interpret the Scriptures was the Pope. Therefore, he decided what was right and what was wron...

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...nd your books, you have truly denied God." (Luther, How far Temporal Authority Extends, p.29) Faith was a free act that no one could force because it came from within.

The Protestant Reformation appealed to many including political rulers, princes and those living in towns who were tired of paying papal dues and taxes to Rome. Lutheranism was the first of its kind to give a freedom to the individual and a sense of equality among men. The Scriptures themselves could provide salvation, which was the purpose of every man's life. This provided a sense of peace to those living in a world full of corruption, tyranny, and death. The governmental authority was a means of protecting the neighborhood from the evils of the world and structured itself to be from the will of God. This authority also profited from Lutheranism, which allowed it to become such a success.