Lutheranism

Lutheranism is one of the major reformative churches of the middle ages that target at effecting changes on the theology and practices of Roman Catholic Church.

The movement was named after its founder Martin Luther who was a German Theologian.  His work of church reformation commenced in 1517 with the publication of what he termed as “95 Thesis” against the theological practices of Roman Catholic Church.

History Of The Body

The writings and thesis of Martin Luther sparked arguments and interaction with early ideas of reformation. The influence of Martin Luther's movement attracted reaction from Roman Catholic authority who persuaded him to recant his ideas. His refusal to the order of Roman church made the church to officially condemn his work during the Council of Worms.  The edicts of the Diet forbid citizens of Roman Catholic empire from defending or propagating the ideas of Martin Luther.

Advocates of the Thesis were subjected to forfeiture of all their properties, specifying half of any seized property to the Roman government and the remaining half portion to be forfeited to the party that brought the accusation.

The name Lutheran came into existence as a mockery term used against Martin Luther by German theologian Dr. Hohann Von Eck during the Lepzing Debate in 1519. Eck called the thesis formulated by Luther as Lutheran in nature of Roman Catholic faithful tradition of naming a heresy after its theorist.

Martin Luther and his advocates hated the name but preferred to be identified as “Evangelicals” which means “Good News”. Equally the followers of Calvin also started to use that term as identity and to separate both bodies, people began to identify them separately as “Evangelic Lutheran” and “Evangelical Reformed”.

With passage of time, the term “Evangelical” became disused by the movement rather they begin to identify themselves as the Lutheran church and later referring it as the true church.

Establishment And Spread

Although, the Catholic Church stood out to root out Martin Luther and his thesis as well as his converts but such effort was hindered by acceptance of the Lutheran thoughts by the Monarchs of Denmark-Norway and Sweden.  These Royal fathers gave their support to Lutheran church to consolidate easily and made for quick spread over many cities in Europe.

During the formative days of Lutheranism, Denmark-Norway was under the reigh of Frederick I (1523 – 1533) who was a Catholic.  He officially pledged to persecute Luther and his converts but soon adopted a policy of protecting of the Lutheran preachers and other reformers in his territory.

Frederick I was succeeded by his son Christian who was officially a Lutheran and such stance hindered his ascension to his father's throne until after his victory of a civil war in 1537 in which he became Christian III and advanced the Reformation in Denmark-Norway.

As the reformation of Martin Luther focused on establishment of a church of a Biblical standard, the Lutherans refuted the ideology that tradition is a carrier of word of Yahweh and thereby considered equivalent to the scriptures as was held by Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Church equally believed that only the communion of the Bishop of Rome has been divinely entrusted to interpret the word of Yahweh.

Political Influence

The Lutheran church in Denmark-Norway later became identified as the Danish Norwegian church and set a church ordinance that rest on the percept that the pure word of Yahweh which is the laws and Gospel remains the only authority of the church.

By these effort, the Lutheran Church in Denmark made the first Danish Bible translation in 1550 which made available of about 3000 copies that were sold out in about 30 years period.

The Reformation in Sweden started with Olaus who converted King Gustar Vasa to Lutheranism in 1523.  The conversion was made easy because of the Pope's refusal to remove an archbishop that supported the invading forces that opposed king Gustar Vasa during the Stockholm Bloodbath.

The disagreement led to discontinuation of official connection between Sweden and the Papacy and gave the Lutheran easy access to convert the king. Four years after, the king was granted to own or possess all rights to the church properties with inclusion to the clergy and appointments. By the arrangement, Lutheranism became the national church of Sweden.

In 1593, the Lutheranism convened uppsala synod which ended with a declaration that Holy Scriptures remains the sole guidance for faith with four documents adopted as authoritative explanation to the scriptures. Those documents were – Apostolic creed, the Nicene Greed, the Atanasian Greed and the Angsburg confession of 1530.

Foundations And Councils

Another milestone development in the history of Lutheranism is the Formula of Concord and circumstances surrounding it.  During 16th century, religious dispute rose between Lutherans with diverse thoughts and concepts that resemble those of Crpto – Calvinists, Philipists, Sacramentarians and Gnosis – Lutheran.

To resolve this dispute, large number of politically and religious leaders of Lutheran members met, debated and resolved those differences on the basis of scriptures.  The council resulted to the Formula of Concord which more than 8000 leaders signed into action.

The book of concord thereby took eminence over all other documents of the body and addressed the issues of unified doctrine to Lutheranism which equally marked the beginning of Orthodox Lutherans.

With passage of times, there evolved many scholastic paradigm and syncretistic controversies which gave rise to many versions of Lutheran movements and councils in many nations.  With passage of time as mentioned, there were many faces as Orthodox Lutheranism, Rational Lutheranism, Pietism, Neo-Lutheran movement, Haugean movement, Laestadian movement, Finnish Awakening, Old Lutheran, Inner Mission High Church Lutheran etc. that exists separately and independently but were generally known as Lutherans.

These movements were grouped into many confessional Councils and the Lutheran World Federation was the major council which had over 72 million people.

Additionally, there are other bodies as International Lutheran Council, Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Council and Independent churches.

As the body progresses, some of its movements began to unit with some other protestant Reformed churches like the Calvinists. In the later days, there are movements entering into agreement with Roman Catholic Church in regards to the authority of the institutional church effectiveness of the sacraments and the divine authority of clergy while agreeing with the complete details of Book of Concord.

Theology And Practices

On doctrines of Lutheranism, Bible of Old and New Testaments alone is held as the formal principle of the faith, the final authority for all faith and morals because of its inspirational authority, clarity, efficacy and sufficiency.

Bible as the only authority of faith was held strong by the Orthordox Lutheranism in 17th century.  The Rationalism of the 18th century advocated that reason rather than Bible is the final source of knowledge.

In 19th century, a Confessional Revivalists re-emphasized on the authority of the Bible.

Though, there have been some elements of doubters of authority of the Bible by  some Lutherans but the majority view of members and people outside the movement is that the sect is centred upon “Bible – Bible Alone”.  For example – the Apology of the Augsburg Confession identified the Holy Scriptures with the word of Yahweh and calls the Holy Spirit the author of the book.

In the Formula of Concord, Lutherans confess as follows – “we receive and embrace with our whole heart the prophetic and apostolic scriptures of Old and New Testaments as the pure, clear fountain of Israel”.

The sect affirm that the apocryphal books were not written by prophets and apostles, were non-inspired and that they contain errors and never included in the Judean cannon that Yahoshea used when he was physically present on earth. The sect conclude that they were therefore not part of holy scriptures.

On the Catholic claim that the highest Pontiff was solely entrusted by divinity to interpret the scriptures, the Lutherans hold that the Bible present all doctrines and comments of the Christian faith clearly. That the Bible character is freely accessibly to every reader or hearer of ordinary intelligence which requires no special education.

As a result of this conclusion, the movement believe that no one need to wait for any clergy, pope, scholar or ecumenical council to explain the real meaning of any part of the Bible.

Lutheranism held that the Bible has everything that will make a believer or Christian to obtain salvation of his soul and that there are no deficiencies in the Bible that requires to be completed by the tradition, pronouncement of the Pope, new revelation or development of new doctrines.

The next cardinal pillar of the doctrines of Lutheranism is the justification by faith.

This doctrine of justification holds that human being are saved from their sins by Yahweh's grace (Sola Gratia), though faith alone (Sola Fide), on the basis of scriptures alone (Sola Scripture).

As an astute believer of the contents of the Bible, the Lutherans belief in the doctrine of original sin, satan's existence, reality of Heaven and hellfire, salvation of believers by the saviour's death of Calvary.

Approved Traditions

The movement recognize baptism, sacraments, crosses as symbol of Yahoshea's agony and redemption of humanity, the existence of trinity, belief that Yahoshea is of two natures (one is that he is Yahweh by nature and second that he is man by nature).

On the doctrine of sacrament, the Lutheran church recognizes baptism, Holy Communion and Absolution as ordained sacraments. Actually, the body recognized the baptism and Holy Communion as two approved sacraments while some churches allow for individual absolution on Saturdays before the Eucharistic service.  A general confession or absolution which is known as Penitential Rite is proclaimed in the Eucharistic Liturgy.

Lutherans do not emphasis on penance as a retribution rather the proclamation of Yahweh's forgiveness by the called and ordained minister of the Holy Scriptures.

On baptism, the Lutherans baptizes both infants and adult because it views the sacrament as a means of grace through which Yahweh creates and strengthen saving faith as the washing or regeneration on which infants and adults are reborn.

On mass, the Lutheran church require Sunday Mass service as  carried in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, article xxiv, has thus – “We do not abolish the Mass but religiously keep and define it.  Among us the mass is celebrated every Sunday (Lord's Day) and on other festivals when the sacrament is made available to those who wish to partake of it, after they have been examined and absolved.  We also keep traditional liturgical forms, such as the order of reading, prayers, vestments and other similar things.”

On good works or acts of obedience to divine laws, the Lutherans believe that non can be saved by the acts of his good works or if measured by the requirement of the laws rather each person is capable of receiving salvation through the grace of Yahweh only which is based on the merit of Yahoshea's suffering and death, the faith in the triune God (Trinity). This means that through Lutheran thoughts, Christians are no longer compelled to keep the lows of Yahweh as done by the ancient Hebrew nation and as continued by Yahoshea's instituted assembly.

To the Lutherans, good works or acts of peity is a matter of choice for a believer who concentrates on the percepts of serving Yahweh and their fellow mortals..

The Lutheran’s concept on divine providence indicate that Yahweh preserves, cooperates and guide the universe.  Yahweh cooperates with both good and bad deeds, but he cooperates with evil deeds as they are deeds but not with the evil in them.

Comparism To Other Reforms

To the Lutherans, Yahweh concurs with an acts and effect, but he does not cooperate in the corruption of an act or the evil of its effect and that everything works for the good of the Christian church and that Yahweh guides everything to its welfare and growth.

Although, the Lutheranism believe of the divine providence but it differs with Calvinism on the matter of predestination.  Lutherans believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting as carried in the Apostle's creeds than predestination.

The movement holds that the suffering, death and resurrection of Yahoshea Meshiyach is the source of salvation but not according to the concept of pre-earthly selection for salvation of some souls while others are made to be damned.

Lutherans refers Yahweh as loving father who aims at salvaging all mortals and to come to the knowledge of truth and that damnation of any soul defends upon such persons disobedience or unbelief of Yahweh through his son Yahoshea Meshiyach.

Although, Lutheran do not firmly belief that freewill can be properly used by mortals than to decide spiritual matters but affirms that any man that must come to the true awareness of spiritual matters must have the support of the holy spirit who will communicate to the person through the word of Yahweh in the scriptures.

On conversion of members to the scriptural truth, the Lutheran believe that such regeneration is strictly possible under the work of divine grace and power by which man born of flesh, and void of all power to think, to will, or to do any good things, and dead in sin, , through the gladness of the scriptures and the baptism, takes from a state of sin and spiritual death under Yahweh's wrath into a state of spiritual life of faith and grace, rendered able to will, and to do what is spiritually good and, especially, made to trust in the benefits of the redemption which is in Yahoshea Meshiyach.

The movement accepts the doctrine of resurrection, last-day judgment, heaven for righteous ones and eternal torment in hell fire for evil doers.

The Lutheranism had much influence over numerous Reformative Protestants and the Pentecostal churches  globally.

It is credited as a strong movement that contested with Roman Catholic Church over reading and possessing of Bible by lay-men.  It equally helped to institute the era of translations,  productions and distributions of the Bible books which was formally held as taboo by the Roman Catholic authority.

The efforts of Lutheranism in Europe and the Anglicans of United Kingdom pressed upon Roman Catholic to reduce some of its dracolian acts against the rights of  possession of the Bible books.

Lutheranism equally helped on the struggle to separate the church from the state of Rome.  The sect was supported by some monarchs and such helped it to destroy the monopoly of Roman Catholic and empiric order from exercising absolute powers upon Christian affairs.

Through efforts of Lutheranism and others, men can peaceful have freedom to choose a religious thoughts and practices that suits their line of conscience.

But the unfolding circumstance have prove that Lutheranism is a mere movement of reformation of the Christian church rather than a movement into doctrinal correction.

For example, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) – aligned churches do not believe that one church is singularly true in its teachings and for such reason, a number of doctrinally diverse denominations under the umbrella are presently separated from state control, and are making joint statements or agreement with non-Lutheran Christian denominations.

Involvement In Ecumenism

Since after the Second Vatican Council, the Lutheran World Federation and the Lutheran Church Mission synod have engaged in many official dialogues with Roman Catholic Church.

These dialogues gave rise to the joint declaration on the doctrines of justification.

Religious observers have concluded that such development is a total demonstration that Lutheranism was surely a dissenter church for sake of leadership and minor episcopal issues but not aimed at establishment of apostolic practices that the Roman Catholic order altered.

Surely, men move into Lutheran churches and their likes for search of the saviour – Yahoshea Meshiyach because they have been convinced that Roman Catholic has blocked the way of truth and the path to reach to Yahoshea.  But  they are deceived again because what they will practice as a new way and order is exactly what they abandoned in Roman Church though with minor modification..

As much that Lutheranism adopts the first four Christian Church Councils that were  convoked by Roman Catholic Church by it’s which it drew it doctrines and liturgies, they must never be tangible differences between it and the Roman Church.

For instance, the Council of Nicene in 321 Ad gave rise to Trinity doctrine as an edict of Roman church practices.  The Lutheran believed in Trinity and equally made it one of its central doctrines. By such development, the Lutheran church movement rejects any sect or body that holds to the doctrine of unity.

It equally joined with Catholic Church on the observation of mass on Sunday which is totally product of Roman tradition that has no trace in the scriptures on Bible.  Scripturally, the law of observation of Sabbath rest was prescribed in the Old Testament and equally observed by Yahoshea Meshiyach and his apostles of the New Testament.

The issue of Passover feast was scriptural prescribed by the Holy scriptures and observed by Hebrew nation and subsequently by Yahoshea Meshiyach and the apostles of the New Testaments.

The tradition of Eucharist or Lords Supper, Holy Communion, Sacrament of the Altar in any other term is product of Roman Catholic Church and has nothing to do with the early apostolic assembly of Yahoshea Meshiyach.

All festivals of the Christian church that were instituted by Roman Catholic church have traces to ancient pagan traditions and majority of them were adopted by Lutheranism.

Failed Protest

Again, the Lutheran's position of Bible – Bible Alone is frustrated by the bunch of pervatious and delusive traditions that characterized the Bible books.

Of a truth, the holy scriptures were written by men under Yahweh's inspiration but the books passed through serious threats from pagan nations and their authorities.  Added to the plight of the book is the acts of false pen of the scribes which rendered the original revelations or accounts to perditions.

By the nature of the modern Bible and its translations, the accounts of the Grand Creator of mankind and those of other actors in both Old and New Testaments were distorted and Hellenized as against its original Hebrew natures.

The original names of the actors were Hellenized.  For example, the name of Yahweh was replaced with various names of idol gods of nation such as God, Elohim, Jehovah etc. The true  name of the saviour being Yahoshea Meshiyach was changed into many forms by many translators.

Majority of the traditions changed the saviour's name to Jesus Christ a name that had its root from Greecian idol Zeus and Christos of same Greek Syncretism.

All original names of the prophets, apostles, writers and communities of the biblical account were distorted and changed with idols or Hellenized forms.

The structure of the Biblical accounts equally presented Yahweh as a brute, sadist and unjustifiable king.  The characters attributed to the creator is of more wicked and callous than those of the worst known personality that existed.

For example, the Bible gave account of the existence of Satan, the downfall of man, the partiality of Yahweh in regards to Hebrew wars against other nations, the purported expectation of the judgment day, the expected eternal torture of the wicked person and the Satan in hellfire etc These accounts shows that the creator is totally wicked for casting down Satan to the earth and allowing him to attack and oppress innocent people of the world. This looseness of the divine will be corroborated with the expectation of a time when those that were unable to win the traits of satan be committed to endless torture of hellfire.

Such account and those that relate with the negative person of the divinity or supernatural were hand works of arronous scribes. Therefore, such works cannot stand the taste of time and be as possibly inspired words that will lead a believer unto salvation as protestant  Reformers claims.

Conclusions

Truly, by these humble submission, Lutheranism and its related movements are in capable of showing spiritual light to seekers that are looking for Yahoshea Meshiyach. Rather, they are joint heir to the mystery church of Rome that has made war with the elects.

Truly, no convert can behold the good doctrines and scriptures at Lutheran churches because it was not led by the appointed comforter whom Yahoshea promised to manifest to edify his assembly.

Regarding to Lutherans observation of Sunday rest, one of the best theological friends of Martin Luther by name Rudoph B.C Cardistdat  tried to get Luther to discard Sunday rest since it was based on human tradition.

As he rejected that wise counseling, Lutherans and other reformed churches who refused keeping of Sabbath day rest were disgraced at the Council of Trent which was an arena where the Catholic traditionists and Reformers met and argued over their differences.

As movements of “Bible, Bible Alone” the reformers issued the following condition “A strong tendency to set aside tradition all-together and to make the scriptures the sole standard”.

On the defence of Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Reggio turned the tide against the reformer's Bible churches.

The Archbishop pointed out that the continued observation of Sunday and rejection of the seventh-day Sabbath which is confirmed in the Bible is a proof that the reformers are still holding to Roman traditions and not fit to claim to the Bible as their authority.

The Archbishop maintained that Sunday observation is a catholic institution or ordinance and for the protestants to follow it means they are still under the Catholic Church and still regard Pope as their religious leader.