The Reformation: 1517 How Martin Luther Changed the world

DO NOW: grievances! A grievance is a complaint. [Paragraph] What kinds of things do you complain about? How do you deal with your grievances?  [ie, do you just yell about it? Or do you try to fix the problem? Do you talk about it? Or keep it to yourself?]

1. Roman Catholic Church  Dominated life  Criticized: $ and power

2. Definition: Reformation -Movement of reform (change) -lead to Protestant Churches

3. Causes of Reformation: a. Social b. Political c. Economic d. Religious -INDULGENCES! (paid pardons) “Give me $, I’ll pardon your sins.”

4. Along comes Martin Luther  Monk  Wanted to be good Christian

5. 95 Theses  Written in 1517  List of 95 bad things church did

6. 95 Thesis: A Closer Look  On your sheet, write down another way to explain each grievance. 1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ in saying “ Repent ye, ” etc., intended that the whole life of believers should be penitence.

95 Thesis: A Closer Look  6. The Pope has no power to remit any guilt,1except by declaring and warranting it to have been remitted by God; or at most by remitting cases reserved for himself; in which cases, if his power were to be despised, guilt would certainly remain.  21. Thus those preachers of indulgences are in error who say that, by the indulgences of the Pope, a man is loosed and saved from all punishment.

95 Thesis: A Closer Look  37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has a share in all the benefits of Christ and of the Church, given him by God, even without letters of pardon.

95 Thesis: A Closer Look  43. Christians should be taught that he who gives to a poor man, or lends to a needy man, does better than if he bought pardons.  44. Because by a work of charity, charity increases, and the man becomes better; while by means of pardons, he does not become better, but only freer from punishment.  45. Christians should be taught that he who sees any one in need, and, passing him by, gives money for pardons, is not purchasing for himself the indulgences of the Pope, but the anger of God.

95 Thesis: A Closer Look 86. Again; why does not the Pope, whose riches are at this day more ample than those of the wealthiest of the wealthy, build the one Basilica of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with that of poor believers ?

95 Thesis: A Closer Look 92. Away then with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ: “ Peace, peace, ” and there is no peace.

95 Thesis: A Closer Look 94. Christians should be exhorted to strive to follow Christ their head through pains, deaths, and hells. 95. And thus trust to enter heaven through many tribulations, rather than in the security of peace.

7. 95 Thesis: A Closer Look ANSWER IN YOUR NOTES:  Summarize Luther’s 95 Thesis in 3-5 sentences.  What is the tone of the thesis?  What do you think the reaction to his thesis was? (By the Pope? By the average Christian?

8. Printing Press  Discussion Question: The printing press was invented in How would that affect Luther’s message?

9. Luther’s Teachings ProtestantCatholic Faith aloneworks Bible final authorityPope All equalneed for priest to interpret

10. Martin Luther’s Punishment  Called an outlaw and heretic  Excommunication: kicked out of church  “I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me. Amen.” -Luther

Question?  What would you do if YOU were Martin Luther?  Recanted your beliefs, knowing you would be excommunicated?  OR, stick with your beliefs and suffer the consequences?

11. Consequences A. Lutherans form (first Protestant group)

Protestants B. Protestants = support Luther (protest!)  Today, Protestant= Christians in non- Catholic churches

C. Protestants Today  Over 33,000 denominations in 238 countries  Every year there is a net increase of around 270 to 300 denominations.  1970: 8,196 denominations within Protestantism

D. Question  Why do you think there are so many Protestant churches? (Hint: Think about its foundation)