It is October 31st 1517, Martin Luther has nailed his 95 Thesis's to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. It is neither the beginning, nor the end of what will eventually become a broad sweeping change known as the Christian Reformation.
A Dominican priest, by the name of Johann Tetzel, had been commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz and Pope Leo X to raise money for the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
As any properly demented and thoroughly soiled church leader can tell you, the easiest way for the church to raise money is by directly connecting people's financial giving to their fear of the afterlife-unknown. Better yet, if you can also magically work it out that their giving absolves them of the need for repentance, you've got a true win-win situation!!!
It is with this often-used technique that Johann Tetzel promotes the idea of Papal Indulgences.
What is an Indulgence?
Get ready for this one...
The current official doctrine of the Roman Catholic church is that Jesus, Mary, and the various assundry Saints lived such exemplary lives, and did so very many good works, that there is left over a super-abundance of "merit". This extra "merit" is owned and held in reserve by the Roman Catholic church, and can be distributed by said Roman Catholic church as it deems fit in it's exercise of "the power of the keys."
With me so far?
The doctrine further states that when God forgives sins, there are some sins that He only grants remission from the "eternal" punishment of the sins, while the "temporal" debt of punishment for the sin remains in effect. If the punishment of the sin is not endured in this lifetime, than it remains to be paid after death in purgatory.
Through the giving of indulgences, the Roman Catholic church can shorten or eliminate this "temporal" punishment, be it here on earth, or after death in purgatory.
Johann Tetzel Plays on the Ignorant
The Joe Six-Pack, regular-day everyman European Roman Catholic believer in the early 1500's was kept in great ignorance and lived a life of superstition-run-wild. Dimly explained doctrines such as purgatory were excellent tools to keep the people controlled by fears and ignorance.
Feeding on these superstitions, it was easy enough for Johann Tetzel to present a desperate picture of a dearly departed wife, or beloved child burning in the fires of purgatory. With your painful and generous contribution, your loved one could be instantly released from this torture. Tetzel's famous claim, "So wie das Geld im Kasten klingt; die Seele aus dem Fegfeuer springt" [As soon as the coin in the casket rings, the rescued soul to heaven springs] resonates like a demented nursery rhyme.
"...And I can't stands no more!"
Into this environment, Martin Luther's 95 Thesis's (which he intended as a continuation of his scholarly objection to the detestable practice) brought clarity, focus, and illumination to the plight of the average believer under the purposeful deceiving machinations of church leadership.
One of Luther's other major problems was with the issue of "Sacerdotalis".
Sacerdotalis
I know... with the flick of a dragon-heartstringed elm wand, it could almost be a Harry Potter spell.
It is an ancient latin word referring to the priesthood. Sacerdotalism teaches that the priesthood is a special class of churchman, and is a necessary part of worship. People cannot approach God on their own, but must come through the ministry of a priest, whether through the confession of sin, taking communion, or receiving grace. And divine blessing comes only through the church, and that only through the Church's ordained priesthood.
The More Things Change, The More they Stay the Same
At Luther's point in history, it's almost 1500 years after the finished work of Christ. 1500 years after Christ fulfilled and superseeded the need for and responsibility of the priest. 1500 years after the termination of the High Priest's lineage. 1500 years after the destruction of the temple. And, yet again, the Priesthood reigns supreme as the mediator between man and God. No one comes to the Father except through them.
Luther argued that not only was there no distinction between leadership and laity. Not only was there no difference between priest and participant. But, Luther championed the scriptural understanding of the priesthood of ALL believers.
In Luther's Open Letter to the German Nobility he talked about how the Roman Catholic church divided people into the "spiritual" and "temporal" estate. The "spiritual estate" consisted of those who went into the church and chose a holy vocation, while the "temporal estate" were the vast majority (i.e. everybody else). There were two kinds of people, clergy and laity. Ordination served as a kind of 2nd baptism, that lifted the clergy into a higher state of Christiandom while the laity struggled on in normalcy.
Is it really any different today?
Have things really changed? The Christian church was born out of Judaism. The protestant churches were born out of the Catholic church during the Reformation. But, even today, 2000 years later, are things that different?
Look at the big positions at your church. I'm not talking about the "lowly" positions like the guy who scrubs toilets. Or, the family who teaches children. I'm talking about the Big Money spots. The "Pulpit Ministry". The Go To Guys. The face of the ministry. Are they clergy, or are they laity. Do they work only in the church, seperate from the real world? Or, do they slave in a steel mill alongside their fellow church workers? Are they "Professional Christians"?
What does Scripture have to say about this?
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' This is the message you must give to the people of Israel." - Exd 19:5-6 NLT
And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. - 1Pe 2:5 NLT
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. - 1Pe 2:9 NLT
This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. - Rev 1:4-6 NLT
Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth." - Rev 5:6-10 NLT
For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus. - 1Ti 2:5 NLT
There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins. The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever. - Hbr 7:23-28 NLT
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. - Hbr 4:14-15 NLT
Hold ON a Second!
Thank God for Stacy. My beautiful wife ROCKS! There's nothing like having someone in your life who can encourage you and tell you you're being an idiot at the same time. Stacy is my Ideal Reader, and proofreads everything I write before I post. If it passes the Stacy litmus test, then it's good enough by me. I sent her everything I had written so far in Part 4 (I'm travelling for work this week), and she replied back with an "I-love-you-but-you're-an-idiot"...
"What about all the Pastors who are working themselves to death? The ones with pure hearts? They deserve respect. Don't forget that the heart of your writing needs to be Love and Grace."Realizing how harsh all this sounds. Let me clarify my feelings and thoughts.
In Honor and Respect for the Selfless Shepherds
A very dear friend and mentor of mine (that I would never want to disrespect) had worked in Church ministry for many years. He worked as the Minister of Music for a large, respected, and progressive church. Through some time in prayer, and internal searching, he became convinced that God had laid it upon his heart to go in a different direction, to birth a church. And so, in his desire to be obedient to the plans Father had for him, he left his comfortable church salary with the comfortable benefits, and he, his wife, and their 5 kids struck out on their own. I don't know if you've ever tried that. But, when there aren't people in the church yet. There ain't no money. Kids still need to eat (and so do adults, by the way), and so this excellent man took on lots of roles to make ends meet. He worked odd jobs. He did construction. He did consulting. He did technical work. He did management and leadership training. He taught music lessons. All while slowly building a congregation, and developing a ministry. Years later, this ministry is now well established, handed off to an internally developed leader, and my friend is on to the next "church plant." My dear friend is an excellent, Godly, compassionate, compotent, and wonderful man. I have no doubt that his efforts deserve a "well done, thou good and faithful servent."
That is just an example. There are many, many people across the globe who have selflessly devoted themselves to the work of the ministry. Worked tons of hours. Baptized babies. Held friends hands as they died. Protected rape victims. Feed and clothed the homeless. Told the truth. Loved their spouses. Raised their kids right. Studied till all hours of the night. Endured budget meetings. And, put up with whiny people like me who point out faults without taking a moment to recognize just how much these men and women have given.
I honor you.
I respect you.
The world is not worthy of you.
Next up, Part 5, where do we go from here?
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