(If you have ever wondered why God allows evil regimes are allowed to succeed, at least for a time, read Habakkuk 1:2-17 for the question why? (from a different time) and Habakkuk 2:4-20 for God’s answer)
In the 20th century, the nation that claimed the founder of the protestant Church in Europe became the home of one of the most unchristian states ever to exist. What could have caused an advanced, industrialized and, at least apparently, Christian nation to forsake all of the basic teachings of Jesus and to allow (or even support) a government that was the antithesis of its most basic beliefs? There is no easy answer to this question, but (I believe) there are some important lessons to be learned for us today.
One important consideration is that Martin Luther and the Luther Bible were extremely important to the creation of what became the German nation. In his book “Bonhoeffer” (a pastor in Germany whom we shall discuss more later), Eric Metaxas says, “ …the Luther Bible was to the German Language what Shakespeare and the King James Bible were to modern English”. Prior to this there was no unified German language and, after the publication of the Bible everyone read it and began to speak the language as written in it. Out of this grew a common heritage and culture. As a result it became difficult to separate religion from Germanism.
In the book “When a nation forgets God” Dr. Erwin Lutzer outlined 7 lessons to be learned from this era that are relevant to the United States today. As he points out, it is easy to overstate this, but there are some points here worth consideration.
1)When God is separated from government, judgment follows
2)It’s always the economy
3)That which is legal might also be evil
4)Propaganda can change a nation
5)Parents – not the state - are responsible for a child’s training
6)Ordinary heroes can make a difference
7)We must exalt the cross before the gathering darkness
Clearly, there are many differences between post World War I Germany and America today, but there are some important (and disturbing) similarities that are worth noting. Here we will look at some of these and, particularly, at the reaction of the Church in Nazi Germany.
The rise of Nazism is probably most attributable to the focus of the majority of the population on the economy. The defeat of Germany at the end of the first World War and the subsequent reparations forced by the treaty of Versailles, resulted in an enormous debt placed on Germany. This resulted in runaway inflation, unemployment and discontent. The weak government left in place (Weimar Republic) was ineffective in many ways. Just as things were beginning to improve, the Great Depression descended on Europe (as in America) and devastated the economy. The people wanted someone to fix the economy and to restore the pride of the German nation. This overriding concern for an economic revival created the conditions when the majority of people were willing to accept a loss of freedom so long as conditions would improve. Thus, after his election, Hitler was able to get the majority of parliament to amend the constitution giving him authority to make laws. Shortly thereafter, he decreed that the Nazi party would be the only one allowed.
Do you see any parallels today with this thinking?
It seems that economic concerns are certainly paramount today and that there is a strong desire for someone to “fix” it and to produce a solution to the problem.
Where were people (generally) not turning?
There was little attention to Biblical teaching to turning to God and his instruction on the management of what we have. It certainly appears that the focus was on the government to produce a solution.
Look at Job 2:4 What do you think?
The question here is an essential one – what will someone give up for his life (or prosperity)? There is no easy answer, but it is certainly asks an important question about priorities.(see also John 6:27)
It’s clear that Hitler and all of the leadership of the Nazi party were not Christians. While some, like Hitler and Goebbels (Propaganda Minister) remained nominally Roman Catholics, they only remained so for public relations reasons.
“It’s been our misfortune to have the wrong religion. Why didn’t we have the religion of the Japanese who regard sacrifice for the Fatherland as the highest good? The Mohammedan religion too would have been much more compatible to us than Christianity. Why did it have to be Christianity with its meekness and flabbiness?” - Adolf Hitler
If there were a unifying theme to their philosophy it would probably be Nietzschean or Darwinian in that they believed in a genetic superiority of certain (i.e. Germanic) peoples (“…of blood and soil”) and they also had a ruthless disregard for all those who were not of this ethnic heritage. They viewed other races as inferior, sub-human or, in the case of Jews and some others, not really human at all. They also viewed the sick (including the mentally handicapped) and weak as a burden on the state that should be eliminated (*see separate sheet on philosophy).
So how did Christians allow a leadership that was antithetical to the teachings of their religion? The answer appears to be that some agreed with them, some were strongly opposed and did so at great cost and the majority simply went along for a variety of reasons including the fact that they were confused or unprepared to take a strong stance if it meant opposing their own government or risking their own lives.
What does this say about their understanding of the Bible or commitment to Christianity?
It really appears that for many (but not all) Christians the commitment to their faith was less central than their concerns about the economic times and thus, a government that could (and did) improve economic conditions prior to the war was able to engage in activities that were racist and anti-Biblical. It may be that many did not have a clear or strong enough understanding of Biblical teaching to refute Nazi actions or were simply afraid to do so.
See Galations 3:28, Revelation 7:9-10 for examples of why (there are many others) the Nazi philosophy was completely incompatible with the teachings of the Bible.
One outspoken critic of the Nazis was a pastor named Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was committed to acting against all that Hitler and his party stood for from the beginning. Forty-eight hours after the election of Hitler he went on the radio and delivered a speech on, “the Younger Generation’s Altered Concept of Leadership”.
Here is an excerpt:
“Only when a man sees his office is the penultimate authority in the face of the ultimate, indescribable authority, in the face of the authority of God, has the real situation been reached. And before this authority the individual knows himself to be completely alone. The individual is responsible before God. And this solitude of man’s position before God, this subjection to the ultimate authority, is destroyed when the authority of the Leader or of the office is seen as the ultimate authority…”
The “Führer principle” literally meaning the Leader was the idea of almost a supreme leader and Bonhoeffer saw this as setting himself up as a god. This had been the subject of the radio address that was scheduled before the election of Hitler, but its message as to the true source of all authority is clear.
What positions did the Church take?
German Christians
A pro-Nazi group that became the religious arm of the Nazi party that sought to remove the “Jewish” influence on Christianity. They went so far as to change scripture removing much (or sometimes all) of the Old Testament. They also portrayed Jesus as hero of the “Aryan” people. They also declared the idea of grace “un-German.” They would become the nemesis of the churches that attempted to remain faithful to Christian teaching. (Ultimately, the goal of some in the Nazi party was to replace Christianity with a religion more like the ancient pagan beliefs with the swastika as its symbol replacing the cross and Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” taking the place of the Bible).
Confessing Church
“It must be made quite clear – terrifying though it is – that we are immediately faced with the decision: National Socialist or Christian…” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Once a schism between Christianity and Nazism (e.g. German Christians) was clear a number of churches (though only a minority) formed what was termed the Confessing Church. These churches maintained orthodox Christianity was impossible to reconcile with Nazi teachings. The essence of their stance was articulated in the Barmen Declaration (Bonhoeffer helped write this).
Some key points:
8.23 We reject the false doctrine, as though the State, over and beyond its special commission, should and could become the single and totalitarian order of human life, thus fulfilling the Church’s vocation as well.
8.24 We reject the false doctrine, as though the Church, over and beyond its special commission, should and could appropriate the characteristics, the tasks, and the dignity of the State, thus itself becoming an organ of the State.
8.26 The Church’s commission, upon which freedom is founded, consists of delivering the message of the free grace of God to all people in Christ’s stead, and therefore in the ministry of his own Word and work through sermon and sacrament.
8.27 We reject the false doctrine, as though the Church in human arrogance could place the Word and work of the Lord in the service of any arbitrarily chosen desires, purposes, and plans.
Critical events that occurred in the Church:
Aryan paragraph 1933 - as part of the Nazi policy of “synchronization” all government employees had to be of “Aryan” stock. If the German Church (essentially part of the state for a long time) agreed, all pastors that had a Jewish heritage were banned from the ministry (regardless of whether they were baptized Christians). This ignited an intense debate within the Church. The Confessing church was adamantly opposed to this as it violated the basic tenants of Christianity.
Pastor’s Oath 1938 – All pastors would be required to take the following oath: “I swear that I will be faithful and obedient to Adolph Hitler, the Führer of the German Reich and people, that I will conscientiously observe the laws and carry out the duties of my office, so help me God.”
What is wrong with this oath?
Pastors were told to swear an oath to a man (Hitler) and to the law – this would mean that they would have to divide their loyalty between God and man. This would be incompatible with Biblical teaching.
In response to these demands the majority of Churches and pastors simply went along. Indeed the synod of Churches decided each pastor/Church should make up their mind individually. This made it easy for the Gestapo (Nazi secret police) to identify those who opposed the Aryan paragraph and oath. Despite this, many pastors of the Confessing Church refused to take the oath. A number (800-1000) went to prison for refusing to submit.
Ordinary Heroes Can Make a Difference
Martin Niemoller – German pastor – initially tried to find common ground with the Nazis, but came to speak against them. He was arrested and imprisoned for eight years in a concentration camp (as a personal prisoner of Hitler).
(1934 sermon)
“…It is now springtime for the hopeful and expectant Christian Church – it is a testing time and God is giving Satan a free hand, so he may shake us up so that it may be seen what manner of men we are!...”
His famous writing after the war:
“First they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out – because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew. And then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
A leader in the Confessing Church – he would ultimately join a conspiracy that helped Jews escape Germany and attempted to kill Hitler. He would be imprisoned for three years and, ultimately, executed at Flossenbürg concentration camp in 1945.
A quote from his largest volume entitled “Ethics” can give us an overview of the conflict between the world and Christianity.
“In a world where success is the measure and justification of all things the figure of Him who was sentenced and crucified remains a stranger and is at best the object of pity. The world will allow itself to be subdued only by success. It is not ideas or opinions which decide, but deeds. Success alone justifies wrongs done… With frankness and off-handedness which no other earthly power could permit itself, history appeals in its own cause to the dictum that the end justifies the means… The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.”
In his communication to his family we see his resolution to follow through on what he believed God was calling him to do.
“My calling is quite clear to me. What God will make of it I do not know… I must follow the path. Perhaps it will not be such a long one (Phil 1:23). But it is a fine thing to have realized my calling… I believe its nobility will become plain to us only in coming times and events. If only we can hold out.”
See Matthew 10:16-22
A fitting summary to this period is given by Albert Einstein, himself a Jew forced to flee Europe.
“Being a lover of freedom, when the (Nazi) revolution came I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but no the universities took refuge in silence.
Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers, whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks.
I then addressed myself to the authors, to those who had passed themselves off as the intellectual guides of Germany, and among whom was frequently discussed the question of freedom and its place in modern life. They are, in turn, very dumb.
Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing the truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration for it because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.”
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
HISTORY OF THE BIBLE – TIMELINE
I. Septuagint (300 B.C.-410 A.D.) Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Septuagint was the Bible read by Christians during the first few centuries AD. Many early Christians spoke and read Greek, thus they relied on the Septuagint translation for most of their understanding of the Old Testament. The New Testament writers also relied heavily on the Septuagint, as a majority of Old Testament scriptures cited in the New Testament are quoted directly from the Septuagint (others are quoted from the Hebrew texts.)
II. Latin Vulgate (410 A.D.-1522 A.D.) Latin translation of the Bible, both Old and New Testament, done by Jerome. The Latin Vulgate was THE official Bible of the Church and would be for over a thousand years. It is still the Bible used by the Catholic Church today and would be the template for future bible translations.
Problem: If the average person in 1000 A.D. had access to the Bible, they would see the following:
“in principio creavit Deus caelum et terram” – Genesis 1:1
“sic enim dilexit Deus mundum ut Filium suum unigenitum daret ut omnis qui credit in eum non pereat sed habeat vitam aeternam” – John 3:16
III. Wycliffe’s Bible (1382) – translated the Bible into English in 1382 by John Wycliffe. He believed the common people should be able to read God’s Word and was extremely critical of the established Church. Included his criticisms in his Bible.
“In the beginning God made of nought heaven and earth” – Genesis 1:1
“For God louede so the world, that he ȝaf his oon bigetun sone, that ech man that bileueth in him perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf.” – John 3:16
Wycliffe died in 1384. In 1408, it becomes illegal to translate or read the Bible into English. The Church declared Wycliffe a heretic in 1415. It was decreed that his Bible and books he wrote be burned and his remains be exhumed. The exhumation was carried out in 1428 when, at the command of Pope Martin V, his remains were dug up, burned, and the ashes cast into a nearby river. Because the Wycliffe Bible had to be copied by hand, it was extremely expensive. People often paid a “rental fee” to read a copy of the Wycliffe Bible for one hour. Illiterate people would gather a person who could read to hear the Bible being read at the risk of imprisonment or death.
IV. Luther Bible (1534) – German translation completed in 1534 by Martin Luther. It would have a profound impact on future translations of the Bible. Encouraged others to translate the Bible into the common language.
V. Tyndale Bible (1525) – English translation of the New Testament completed by William Tyndale in 1525 during the reign of Henry VIII. Tyndale is called the “Father of the English Bible” because his translation was the basis for all future English translations including the King James Version. Tyndale believed that the only way anyone could truly know God was to be able to read the Scripture for themselves. Moreover, many priests in England were ignorant of the Bible. Tyndale told one priest that if God allowed him (Tyndale) to live long enough, a plow boy will know more of the Scriptures than the priest. The English of the Wycliffe Bible was too antiquated for people to understand, so Tyndale planned to write a new English translation. Problem – In England, it was illegal to translate the Bible into any language but Latin. Tyndale sought the permission of the Church leaders in England to translate the Bible into English but was strongly denied. Tyndale went to Europe where he translated the New Testament into English. Tyndale’s New Testaments were smuggled into England in sacks of corn and flour. It became very popular. The English church burnt every copy of the Tyndale NT it could get its hands on. While Tyndale was working on an English translation of the Old Testament, Henry VIII sent secret agents into Europe to arrest Tyndale for heresy. (The real reason Henry VIII arrested Tyndale was not for his English translation of the Bible. He was angry that Tyndale had publicly denounced the king’s divorce from his first wife Catherine.) In 1536, Tyndale was tried in Belgium and sentenced to death. He was tied to a stake strangled, impaled, and burnt at the stake. Before his death, Tyndale cried out, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!” God heard his prayer.
VI. The Great Bible (1539) - Three years after Tyndale’s death, Henry VIII authorized an official English translation of the Bible much of which was based on Tyndale’s Bible. It was called the Great Bible because of its large size. It was designed to fit the large pulpits in English churches. It was not a household Bible. For the first time, English church members could hear the Bible in their own language. Problem – They could not take it home with them to read for themselves. It was chained to the pulpit to prevent it from being stolen. Church leaders did not want the people to be able to read the Bible for themselves. Only the clergy could interpret the Scriptures.
Queen Mary I and the Bible (1553-1558) – Mary was the eldest daughter of King Henry VIII and a staunch Catholic. Soon after ascending the throne following the death of her father, Mary made every effort to return England to Catholicism. In 1555, she banned English translations of the Bible. Anyone caught with an English translation was arrested and burned at the stake. Over 300 men, women, and children were executed during the reign of Mary.
VII. The Geneva Bible (1560-1611) – A revision of the Great Bible made by English Protestant exiles living in Geneva, Switzerland. It’s the first Bible to have verses and use the normal lettering we see today rather than the large, bulky Gothic letters. More importantly, it was a much smaller Bible that anyone could hold. The Geneva Bible was the Bible the Pilgrims brought with them to the New World as well as the settlers of Jamestown, not the KJV.
VIII. The Bishops’ Bible (1568-1611) – Following the death of Queen Mary, her sister Elizabeth becomes Queen of England. Elizabeth and the leaders of the Church of England (bishops) were not thrilled with a translation of the Bible (Geneva Bible) that they did not “authorize” being the most popular Bible in England. Queen Elizabeth had the bishops create a royal approved version of the Bible nicknamed the Bishops’ Bible. It was the Bible used by the Church of England. However, the common people continued to prefer the Geneva Bible.
IX. The King James Version (1611-present) – When King James I ascended the throne in 1603 the Church of England (Anglican) was in turmoil. Primary source of dispute was that many English believed the church was too “Catholic.” They wanted to purify the Anglican Church of all “Catholic” elements. They were called “Puritans.” Another source of contention had to do with the Bible. Church leaders and the nobility preferred the Bishops’ Bible; the laity (common people many of whom were Puritans) preferred the Geneva Bible. Monarchs do not like it when the people are divided. They like unity. Being the king of England also meant James I was the head of the Anglican Church. In this role, James I convened a council of Anglican and Puritan leaders to resolve their differences. The council proposed a new “authorized” version of the Bible that would be used by all Englishmen. The translators used the original Greek and Hebrew texts as well as the Tyndale Bible and other English translations. The result was the King James Version of the Bible completed in 1611. It was not immediately accepted by the laity. They still preferred the Geneva Bible. By 1700, the KJV became the Bible of English speaking people around the world and remained so until the mid-20th century.
X. The New American Standard Bible, The New International Version, and The English Standard Version
One reason for the new translations is the same reason Tyndale wrote his new translation in 1525. Enable people in the current era to read and understand God’s Word in the English that people speak in the present not in 1611.
The ESV translation is more literal than the popular New International Version, but more fluent than the New American Standard Bible.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – KJV
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. – NASB
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - NIV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – ESV
II. Latin Vulgate (410 A.D.-1522 A.D.) Latin translation of the Bible, both Old and New Testament, done by Jerome. The Latin Vulgate was THE official Bible of the Church and would be for over a thousand years. It is still the Bible used by the Catholic Church today and would be the template for future bible translations.
Problem: If the average person in 1000 A.D. had access to the Bible, they would see the following:
“in principio creavit Deus caelum et terram” – Genesis 1:1
“sic enim dilexit Deus mundum ut Filium suum unigenitum daret ut omnis qui credit in eum non pereat sed habeat vitam aeternam” – John 3:16
III. Wycliffe’s Bible (1382) – translated the Bible into English in 1382 by John Wycliffe. He believed the common people should be able to read God’s Word and was extremely critical of the established Church. Included his criticisms in his Bible.
“In the beginning God made of nought heaven and earth” – Genesis 1:1
“For God louede so the world, that he ȝaf his oon bigetun sone, that ech man that bileueth in him perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf.” – John 3:16
Wycliffe died in 1384. In 1408, it becomes illegal to translate or read the Bible into English. The Church declared Wycliffe a heretic in 1415. It was decreed that his Bible and books he wrote be burned and his remains be exhumed. The exhumation was carried out in 1428 when, at the command of Pope Martin V, his remains were dug up, burned, and the ashes cast into a nearby river. Because the Wycliffe Bible had to be copied by hand, it was extremely expensive. People often paid a “rental fee” to read a copy of the Wycliffe Bible for one hour. Illiterate people would gather a person who could read to hear the Bible being read at the risk of imprisonment or death.
IV. Luther Bible (1534) – German translation completed in 1534 by Martin Luther. It would have a profound impact on future translations of the Bible. Encouraged others to translate the Bible into the common language.
V. Tyndale Bible (1525) – English translation of the New Testament completed by William Tyndale in 1525 during the reign of Henry VIII. Tyndale is called the “Father of the English Bible” because his translation was the basis for all future English translations including the King James Version. Tyndale believed that the only way anyone could truly know God was to be able to read the Scripture for themselves. Moreover, many priests in England were ignorant of the Bible. Tyndale told one priest that if God allowed him (Tyndale) to live long enough, a plow boy will know more of the Scriptures than the priest. The English of the Wycliffe Bible was too antiquated for people to understand, so Tyndale planned to write a new English translation. Problem – In England, it was illegal to translate the Bible into any language but Latin. Tyndale sought the permission of the Church leaders in England to translate the Bible into English but was strongly denied. Tyndale went to Europe where he translated the New Testament into English. Tyndale’s New Testaments were smuggled into England in sacks of corn and flour. It became very popular. The English church burnt every copy of the Tyndale NT it could get its hands on. While Tyndale was working on an English translation of the Old Testament, Henry VIII sent secret agents into Europe to arrest Tyndale for heresy. (The real reason Henry VIII arrested Tyndale was not for his English translation of the Bible. He was angry that Tyndale had publicly denounced the king’s divorce from his first wife Catherine.) In 1536, Tyndale was tried in Belgium and sentenced to death. He was tied to a stake strangled, impaled, and burnt at the stake. Before his death, Tyndale cried out, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!” God heard his prayer.
VI. The Great Bible (1539) - Three years after Tyndale’s death, Henry VIII authorized an official English translation of the Bible much of which was based on Tyndale’s Bible. It was called the Great Bible because of its large size. It was designed to fit the large pulpits in English churches. It was not a household Bible. For the first time, English church members could hear the Bible in their own language. Problem – They could not take it home with them to read for themselves. It was chained to the pulpit to prevent it from being stolen. Church leaders did not want the people to be able to read the Bible for themselves. Only the clergy could interpret the Scriptures.
Queen Mary I and the Bible (1553-1558) – Mary was the eldest daughter of King Henry VIII and a staunch Catholic. Soon after ascending the throne following the death of her father, Mary made every effort to return England to Catholicism. In 1555, she banned English translations of the Bible. Anyone caught with an English translation was arrested and burned at the stake. Over 300 men, women, and children were executed during the reign of Mary.
VII. The Geneva Bible (1560-1611) – A revision of the Great Bible made by English Protestant exiles living in Geneva, Switzerland. It’s the first Bible to have verses and use the normal lettering we see today rather than the large, bulky Gothic letters. More importantly, it was a much smaller Bible that anyone could hold. The Geneva Bible was the Bible the Pilgrims brought with them to the New World as well as the settlers of Jamestown, not the KJV.
VIII. The Bishops’ Bible (1568-1611) – Following the death of Queen Mary, her sister Elizabeth becomes Queen of England. Elizabeth and the leaders of the Church of England (bishops) were not thrilled with a translation of the Bible (Geneva Bible) that they did not “authorize” being the most popular Bible in England. Queen Elizabeth had the bishops create a royal approved version of the Bible nicknamed the Bishops’ Bible. It was the Bible used by the Church of England. However, the common people continued to prefer the Geneva Bible.
IX. The King James Version (1611-present) – When King James I ascended the throne in 1603 the Church of England (Anglican) was in turmoil. Primary source of dispute was that many English believed the church was too “Catholic.” They wanted to purify the Anglican Church of all “Catholic” elements. They were called “Puritans.” Another source of contention had to do with the Bible. Church leaders and the nobility preferred the Bishops’ Bible; the laity (common people many of whom were Puritans) preferred the Geneva Bible. Monarchs do not like it when the people are divided. They like unity. Being the king of England also meant James I was the head of the Anglican Church. In this role, James I convened a council of Anglican and Puritan leaders to resolve their differences. The council proposed a new “authorized” version of the Bible that would be used by all Englishmen. The translators used the original Greek and Hebrew texts as well as the Tyndale Bible and other English translations. The result was the King James Version of the Bible completed in 1611. It was not immediately accepted by the laity. They still preferred the Geneva Bible. By 1700, the KJV became the Bible of English speaking people around the world and remained so until the mid-20th century.
X. The New American Standard Bible, The New International Version, and The English Standard Version
One reason for the new translations is the same reason Tyndale wrote his new translation in 1525. Enable people in the current era to read and understand God’s Word in the English that people speak in the present not in 1611.
The ESV translation is more literal than the popular New International Version, but more fluent than the New American Standard Bible.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – KJV
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. – NASB
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - NIV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – ESV
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Just Shall Live By Faith pt. 2
What the Bible says about salvation:
Read John 3:16; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; I John 1:1-2; Psalm 103:12
Martin Luther and the Reformation: (From Christianitytoday.com)
Martin Luther was born in 1483 in Germany. His father was in the mining business and served on the local town council. He was said to be an ambitious man. Being the first born son, there was a lot of pressure placed on Martin to be a success in life. Luther’s father wanted/demanded that his son become a lawyer – a profession that brought respect and wealth. Hans sent Martin to Latin school and then, when Martin was only 13 years old, to the University of Erfurt to study law. There Martin earned both his baccalaureate and master's degrees in the shortest time allowed by university statutes. He proved so adept at public debates that he earned the nickname "The Philosopher."
Luther entered law school in 1505 but became more interested in spiritual matters than law school. He became concerned about his eternal fate. As the 21-year-old Luther was on his way to law school, a severe thunderstorm arose and a bolt of lightning struck the ground near him. Afraid, Luther cried out "Help me, St. Anne (mother of Mary and patron saint of miners)!" Luther screamed. "I will become a monk!" Luther fulfilled his vow: he gave away all his possessions and entered the monastic life to the disappointment of his father.
Luther was extraordinarily successful as a monk. He plunged into prayer, fasting, and ascetic practices—going without sleep, enduring bone-chilling cold without a blanket, and flagellating himself. As he later commented, "If anyone could have earned heaven by the life of a monk, it was I." He sought by these means to love God fully, he found no consolation. He was increasingly terrified of the wrath of God: "When it is touched by this passing inundation of the eternal, the soul feels and drinks nothing but eternal punishment." Luther described this period of his life as one of deep spiritual despair. He said, "I lost touch with Christ the Savior and Comforter, and made of him the jailor and hangman of my poor soul."
Martin Luther visited Rome. While there he visited the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) which, according to the Christian tradition, are the steps that Jesus Christ walked on his way to his trial before Pontius Pilate. Pilgrims ascended the stairs on their knees and offered prayers each step of the way. Martin Luther climbed these steps on his knees in 1510. As he did so, the Holy Spirit, reminded him of the Bible verse, "the righteous/just shall live by faith.” Luther began to question what he was doing – attaining God’s favor by works and not by faith. This was a turning point in Luther’s life, as he placed his faith in God, rather than trying to earn his way to heaven.
What does "the righteous/just shall live by faith" mean? It’s not what we do that makes us righteous (the sacraments or buying indulgences), but what we believe in – Jesus Christ and the meaning of his death (took upon himself our punishment) and resurrection (gift of eternal life.) This faith is a steadfast, rooted, unwavering faith (faith that enabled Moses to stand before Pharaoh, David to stand before Goliath, Elijah to stand before the king of Israel and a thousand false prophets)… one that Luther up till now, never had.
In 1511, Luther was ordered to take his doctorate in the Bible and become a professor at Wittenberg University. During lectures on the Psalms and a study of the Book of Romans, Luther’s understanding of salvation fully matured. "At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I ... began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith… Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had been flung open." On the heels of this new understanding came others. To Luther salvation came not by the sacraments as such but by faith. Faith no longer consisted of assenting to the church's teachings but of trusting the promises of God and the merits of Christ.
In 1516 and 1517, a papal commissioner named Johann Tetzel travelled through Germany to raise money for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica. (Pope Leo X wanted a church more befitting the head of the Church.) Tetzel did so by selling indulgences - documents prepared by the Church and bought by individuals either for themselves or on behalf of the dead that would release them from punishment due to their sins. Tetzel came up with an advertising slogan - "Once the coin into the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs!" People all over Germany quickly purchased the indulgences. When they came to confession, they presented their written indulgences to the clergy which they had paid good silver money for, claiming they no longer had to repent of their sins, since the document promised to forgive all their sins.
Luther was outraged that people had paid money for what was theirs by right as a free gift from God. On All Saints' Eve, 1517, Luther wrote down 95 objections to the concept of indulgences which are famously known as the 95 theses. Ex. Thesis 86 - "since the pope's income to-day is larger than that of the wealthiest of wealthy men, why does he not build this one church of St. Peter with his own money?" Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door of the Catholic church in Wittenberg and challenged anyone to a public debate on the matter. Thanks to the printing press, copies of Luther’s 95 theses spread across Germany in a matter of weeks and throughout Europe in a matter of months. Suddenly, the issue quickly became not indulgences but the authority of the church: Did the pope have the right to issue indulgences? (There were individuals who criticized the Church – 100 years before Luther there was Jan Hus and before Hus there was John Wycliffe. If the printing press had been around in the days of Hus and Wycliffe, the Reformation would have happened sooner.)
Events quickly accelerated. At a public debate in Leipzig in 1519, when Luther declared that "a simple layman armed with the Scriptures" was superior to both pope and councils without them, he was threatened with excommunication. The Church gave Luther 60 days to recant his words. Luther’s response to the threat was increased criticism of Church teachings. He completely undermined the Church’s teaching on salvation by reducing the seven sacraments to two (baptism and the Lord's Supper).
In 1521 Luther was called to an assembly at Worms, Germany, to appear before Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor defender of the papacy as well as the most powerful political rulers and church officials in the German states. Luther arrived prepared for another debate; he quickly discovered it was a trial at which he was asked to recant his views. Luther was presented with copies of his writings laid out on a table and asked if the books were his, and whether he stood by their contents. Luther confirmed he was their author, but requested time to think about the answer to the second question. He prayed, consulted friends, and gave his response the next day.
“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures or by evident reason-for I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves-I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. God help me. Amen.”
What gave Luther the ability to stand before the most powerful individuals in Europe … the most powerful institution in Europe – the Church … knowing that death would soon follow, and say the words he said? “The righteous/just shall live by faith.”
The Church branded Luther a “heretic” and condemned to burning at the stake. A local German ruler “kidnapped” Luther while he was returning to Wittenburg and brought Luther to his castle for his safety. During his stay, Luther translated the New Testament into German and continued to write treatises against Church practices that were not Scriptural. (Talk about importance of being able to read the Bible in your own language. It’s as if God Himself is speaking to you in your language.)
Read John 3:16; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; I John 1:1-2; Psalm 103:12
Martin Luther and the Reformation: (From Christianitytoday.com)
Martin Luther was born in 1483 in Germany. His father was in the mining business and served on the local town council. He was said to be an ambitious man. Being the first born son, there was a lot of pressure placed on Martin to be a success in life. Luther’s father wanted/demanded that his son become a lawyer – a profession that brought respect and wealth. Hans sent Martin to Latin school and then, when Martin was only 13 years old, to the University of Erfurt to study law. There Martin earned both his baccalaureate and master's degrees in the shortest time allowed by university statutes. He proved so adept at public debates that he earned the nickname "The Philosopher."
Luther entered law school in 1505 but became more interested in spiritual matters than law school. He became concerned about his eternal fate. As the 21-year-old Luther was on his way to law school, a severe thunderstorm arose and a bolt of lightning struck the ground near him. Afraid, Luther cried out "Help me, St. Anne (mother of Mary and patron saint of miners)!" Luther screamed. "I will become a monk!" Luther fulfilled his vow: he gave away all his possessions and entered the monastic life to the disappointment of his father.
Luther was extraordinarily successful as a monk. He plunged into prayer, fasting, and ascetic practices—going without sleep, enduring bone-chilling cold without a blanket, and flagellating himself. As he later commented, "If anyone could have earned heaven by the life of a monk, it was I." He sought by these means to love God fully, he found no consolation. He was increasingly terrified of the wrath of God: "When it is touched by this passing inundation of the eternal, the soul feels and drinks nothing but eternal punishment." Luther described this period of his life as one of deep spiritual despair. He said, "I lost touch with Christ the Savior and Comforter, and made of him the jailor and hangman of my poor soul."
Martin Luther visited Rome. While there he visited the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) which, according to the Christian tradition, are the steps that Jesus Christ walked on his way to his trial before Pontius Pilate. Pilgrims ascended the stairs on their knees and offered prayers each step of the way. Martin Luther climbed these steps on his knees in 1510. As he did so, the Holy Spirit, reminded him of the Bible verse, "the righteous/just shall live by faith.” Luther began to question what he was doing – attaining God’s favor by works and not by faith. This was a turning point in Luther’s life, as he placed his faith in God, rather than trying to earn his way to heaven.
What does "the righteous/just shall live by faith" mean? It’s not what we do that makes us righteous (the sacraments or buying indulgences), but what we believe in – Jesus Christ and the meaning of his death (took upon himself our punishment) and resurrection (gift of eternal life.) This faith is a steadfast, rooted, unwavering faith (faith that enabled Moses to stand before Pharaoh, David to stand before Goliath, Elijah to stand before the king of Israel and a thousand false prophets)… one that Luther up till now, never had.
In 1511, Luther was ordered to take his doctorate in the Bible and become a professor at Wittenberg University. During lectures on the Psalms and a study of the Book of Romans, Luther’s understanding of salvation fully matured. "At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I ... began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith… Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had been flung open." On the heels of this new understanding came others. To Luther salvation came not by the sacraments as such but by faith. Faith no longer consisted of assenting to the church's teachings but of trusting the promises of God and the merits of Christ.
In 1516 and 1517, a papal commissioner named Johann Tetzel travelled through Germany to raise money for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica. (Pope Leo X wanted a church more befitting the head of the Church.) Tetzel did so by selling indulgences - documents prepared by the Church and bought by individuals either for themselves or on behalf of the dead that would release them from punishment due to their sins. Tetzel came up with an advertising slogan - "Once the coin into the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs!" People all over Germany quickly purchased the indulgences. When they came to confession, they presented their written indulgences to the clergy which they had paid good silver money for, claiming they no longer had to repent of their sins, since the document promised to forgive all their sins.
Luther was outraged that people had paid money for what was theirs by right as a free gift from God. On All Saints' Eve, 1517, Luther wrote down 95 objections to the concept of indulgences which are famously known as the 95 theses. Ex. Thesis 86 - "since the pope's income to-day is larger than that of the wealthiest of wealthy men, why does he not build this one church of St. Peter with his own money?" Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door of the Catholic church in Wittenberg and challenged anyone to a public debate on the matter. Thanks to the printing press, copies of Luther’s 95 theses spread across Germany in a matter of weeks and throughout Europe in a matter of months. Suddenly, the issue quickly became not indulgences but the authority of the church: Did the pope have the right to issue indulgences? (There were individuals who criticized the Church – 100 years before Luther there was Jan Hus and before Hus there was John Wycliffe. If the printing press had been around in the days of Hus and Wycliffe, the Reformation would have happened sooner.)
Events quickly accelerated. At a public debate in Leipzig in 1519, when Luther declared that "a simple layman armed with the Scriptures" was superior to both pope and councils without them, he was threatened with excommunication. The Church gave Luther 60 days to recant his words. Luther’s response to the threat was increased criticism of Church teachings. He completely undermined the Church’s teaching on salvation by reducing the seven sacraments to two (baptism and the Lord's Supper).
In 1521 Luther was called to an assembly at Worms, Germany, to appear before Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor defender of the papacy as well as the most powerful political rulers and church officials in the German states. Luther arrived prepared for another debate; he quickly discovered it was a trial at which he was asked to recant his views. Luther was presented with copies of his writings laid out on a table and asked if the books were his, and whether he stood by their contents. Luther confirmed he was their author, but requested time to think about the answer to the second question. He prayed, consulted friends, and gave his response the next day.
“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures or by evident reason-for I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves-I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. God help me. Amen.”
What gave Luther the ability to stand before the most powerful individuals in Europe … the most powerful institution in Europe – the Church … knowing that death would soon follow, and say the words he said? “The righteous/just shall live by faith.”
The Church branded Luther a “heretic” and condemned to burning at the stake. A local German ruler “kidnapped” Luther while he was returning to Wittenburg and brought Luther to his castle for his safety. During his stay, Luther translated the New Testament into German and continued to write treatises against Church practices that were not Scriptural. (Talk about importance of being able to read the Bible in your own language. It’s as if God Himself is speaking to you in your language.)
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Just Shall Live By Faith pt. 1
The Church in 1517
The most powerful and influential authority in Europe in 1517 was the Church. Its power was greater than that of kings. The leader of the church was the pope. He was Christ’s agent on Earth. The pope’s residence was Rome making it the center of Christianity in Europe. Why were the Church and pope so powerful? Why did everyone in Europe from peasants to kings bow down to the supremacy of the Church and pope?
Church’s Teaching on Salvation
Seven Sacraments
1) Baptism - the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Performed by the clergy.
2) Confirmation - Through this sacrament the grace given in baptism is strengthened and deepened. It confirms a baptized person in his or her faith and admits him or her to full participation in the church. It is conferred by the anointing with sacred oil mixed with balsam which is done by the laying on of the hand of the clergy who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite. Administration was normally reserved for those who can understand its significance.
3) The Eucharist - is the sacrament in which Church members partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Holy Communion) and participate in his one sacrifice. The bread and wine used in the Eucharistic rite were in all but appearance the body and blood of Christ, a change that is called transubstantiation. The bread and wine was mysteriously transformed into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. Only clergy could administer of the Eucharist, acting in the person of Christ himself.
4) Reconciliation - involves four elements: (1) Contrition (the penitent's sincere remorse for wrongdoing or sin, repentance, without which the rite has no effect); (2) Confession to a member of the clergy. Only the clergy had the power to administer the sacrament; (3) Absolution (freeing from guilt for sins committed) by the clergy; and, (4) Satisfaction or Penance - performance of some act to repair the damage caused by sin
For the confession to be acceptable, the penitent (person seeking forgiveness) must tell his or her sins directly to an ordained clergy. The clergy will then recite the prayers of absolution to forgive the penitent's sins. The penitent may confess his sin face to face with the clergy, or anonymously through a screen known as a "penitential grill.”
5) Extreme Unction (now referred to as Anointing the Sick) - the sacrament was conferred only on those in immediate danger of death by clergy. Also referred to as Last Rites. One of the effects of the sacrament is to absolve the recipient of any sins not previously absolved through the sacrament of penance.
6) Marriage – performed by clergy
7) Holy Orders - is the sacrament by which a man is made a bishop, a priest, or a deacon, and thus dedicated to be an image of Christ. Performed by clergy.
The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. - Council of Trent 1547. The Church was affirming a belief that had been in place for centuries. As the sole dispenser of Christ's sacraments, the Church itself is spoken of as "the universal Sacrament of salvation" containing the individual seven sacraments.
Excommunication – If an individual refuses to submit to the authority of the Church, he/she would be denied the sacraments – usually the Eucharist. Performed by clergy. Examples – Emperor Theodosius and Bishop Ambrose, Henry III and Pope Gregory
Anathema – Major excommunication that could only be performed by the pope.
“Wherefore in the name of God the All-powerful, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, of Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and of all the saints, in virtue of the power which has been given us of binding and loosing in Heaven and on earth, we deprive (Name) himself and all his accomplices and all his abettors of the Communion of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, we separate him from the society of all Christians, we exclude him from the bosom of our Holy Mother the Church in Heaven and on earth, we declare him excommunicated and anathematized and we judge him condemned to eternal fire with Satan and his angels and all the reprobate, so long as he will not burst the fetters of the demon, do penance and satisfy the Church; we deliver him to Satan to mortify his body, that his soul may be saved on the day of judgment.”
Interdict – form of excommunication that typically excluded groups from certain rites of the Church. Ex. In 1208, Pope Innocent then placed an interdict on England because King John refused to acknowledge papal authority. The pope prohibited clergy from conducting religious services, with the exception of baptisms for the young, reconciliation, and absolutions for the dying. Clergy were not allowed to perform the Eucharist or marriages.
Indulgence - the full or partial remission of temporary (as opposed to eternal) punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. You do not have to perform penance in purgatory for sins you have committed. Ex. Pope Urban II and the First Crusade to reclaim the Holy Lands from the Muslims in 1095. Pope Urban II guaranteed an indulgence for the Crusaders. “All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested.”
1) In order for one to be saved in 1517, according to the Church what must one do? The sacraments
2) Who made salvation possible? God through his agency on earth the Church. No Church, no salvation. Do illustration.
Reading and interpretation of Scripture – Only the clergy were permitted to read and interpret Scripture. The average person (laity) whether rich or poor did not own a Bible. In some instances, it was illegal to own a Bible. Even if one could own a Bible, they could not read it because a) illiterate b) the Bible could only be written in Latin. It was illegal to translate the Bible into the language of the masses (English, French, German, Italian, Slavic, etc.)
3) Why did the Church deny people access to the Bible? The Church wanted everyone on to be on the page when it came to spiritual matters. Prevented the rise of heresies that would lead people away from the Truth. Masses did not have the proper education to understand the complex teachings found in the Bible.
4) What problem do you think were generated from the inability of a person to read and interpret the Bible? Inability to know if what the Church was teaching them was true. Acts 17:10-15
5) How did the laity’s inability to read and interpret the Bible enhance the authority of the Church? The Church was the sole source for all knowledge re: God. Show illustration again.
The most powerful and influential authority in Europe in 1517 was the Church. Its power was greater than that of kings. The leader of the church was the pope. He was Christ’s agent on Earth. The pope’s residence was Rome making it the center of Christianity in Europe. Why were the Church and pope so powerful? Why did everyone in Europe from peasants to kings bow down to the supremacy of the Church and pope?
Church’s Teaching on Salvation
Seven Sacraments
1) Baptism - the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Performed by the clergy.
2) Confirmation - Through this sacrament the grace given in baptism is strengthened and deepened. It confirms a baptized person in his or her faith and admits him or her to full participation in the church. It is conferred by the anointing with sacred oil mixed with balsam which is done by the laying on of the hand of the clergy who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite. Administration was normally reserved for those who can understand its significance.
3) The Eucharist - is the sacrament in which Church members partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Holy Communion) and participate in his one sacrifice. The bread and wine used in the Eucharistic rite were in all but appearance the body and blood of Christ, a change that is called transubstantiation. The bread and wine was mysteriously transformed into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. Only clergy could administer of the Eucharist, acting in the person of Christ himself.
4) Reconciliation - involves four elements: (1) Contrition (the penitent's sincere remorse for wrongdoing or sin, repentance, without which the rite has no effect); (2) Confession to a member of the clergy. Only the clergy had the power to administer the sacrament; (3) Absolution (freeing from guilt for sins committed) by the clergy; and, (4) Satisfaction or Penance - performance of some act to repair the damage caused by sin
For the confession to be acceptable, the penitent (person seeking forgiveness) must tell his or her sins directly to an ordained clergy. The clergy will then recite the prayers of absolution to forgive the penitent's sins. The penitent may confess his sin face to face with the clergy, or anonymously through a screen known as a "penitential grill.”
5) Extreme Unction (now referred to as Anointing the Sick) - the sacrament was conferred only on those in immediate danger of death by clergy. Also referred to as Last Rites. One of the effects of the sacrament is to absolve the recipient of any sins not previously absolved through the sacrament of penance.
6) Marriage – performed by clergy
7) Holy Orders - is the sacrament by which a man is made a bishop, a priest, or a deacon, and thus dedicated to be an image of Christ. Performed by clergy.
The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. - Council of Trent 1547. The Church was affirming a belief that had been in place for centuries. As the sole dispenser of Christ's sacraments, the Church itself is spoken of as "the universal Sacrament of salvation" containing the individual seven sacraments.
Excommunication – If an individual refuses to submit to the authority of the Church, he/she would be denied the sacraments – usually the Eucharist. Performed by clergy. Examples – Emperor Theodosius and Bishop Ambrose, Henry III and Pope Gregory
Anathema – Major excommunication that could only be performed by the pope.
“Wherefore in the name of God the All-powerful, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, of Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and of all the saints, in virtue of the power which has been given us of binding and loosing in Heaven and on earth, we deprive (Name) himself and all his accomplices and all his abettors of the Communion of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, we separate him from the society of all Christians, we exclude him from the bosom of our Holy Mother the Church in Heaven and on earth, we declare him excommunicated and anathematized and we judge him condemned to eternal fire with Satan and his angels and all the reprobate, so long as he will not burst the fetters of the demon, do penance and satisfy the Church; we deliver him to Satan to mortify his body, that his soul may be saved on the day of judgment.”
Interdict – form of excommunication that typically excluded groups from certain rites of the Church. Ex. In 1208, Pope Innocent then placed an interdict on England because King John refused to acknowledge papal authority. The pope prohibited clergy from conducting religious services, with the exception of baptisms for the young, reconciliation, and absolutions for the dying. Clergy were not allowed to perform the Eucharist or marriages.
Indulgence - the full or partial remission of temporary (as opposed to eternal) punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. You do not have to perform penance in purgatory for sins you have committed. Ex. Pope Urban II and the First Crusade to reclaim the Holy Lands from the Muslims in 1095. Pope Urban II guaranteed an indulgence for the Crusaders. “All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested.”
1) In order for one to be saved in 1517, according to the Church what must one do? The sacraments
2) Who made salvation possible? God through his agency on earth the Church. No Church, no salvation. Do illustration.
Reading and interpretation of Scripture – Only the clergy were permitted to read and interpret Scripture. The average person (laity) whether rich or poor did not own a Bible. In some instances, it was illegal to own a Bible. Even if one could own a Bible, they could not read it because a) illiterate b) the Bible could only be written in Latin. It was illegal to translate the Bible into the language of the masses (English, French, German, Italian, Slavic, etc.)
3) Why did the Church deny people access to the Bible? The Church wanted everyone on to be on the page when it came to spiritual matters. Prevented the rise of heresies that would lead people away from the Truth. Masses did not have the proper education to understand the complex teachings found in the Bible.
4) What problem do you think were generated from the inability of a person to read and interpret the Bible? Inability to know if what the Church was teaching them was true. Acts 17:10-15
5) How did the laity’s inability to read and interpret the Bible enhance the authority of the Church? The Church was the sole source for all knowledge re: God. Show illustration again.
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