Happy Reformation Day?

Ever since that fateful day on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of All Saint's Church in Wittenburg, protestants celebrate today as Reformation Day. Next year will mark 500 years of the protestant church. However, as I sit here on my couch reflecting the current divisions within the church, I'm sad. The "one holy, catholic and apostolic church" that we confess to believe in the Nicene Creed is anything but "one" -- she's deeply divided.

We protestants have to face the fact that since the Reformation schism has been a valid option for protestants. Was the protestant reformation necessary? Yes, but it was a necessary tragedy. In fact, its tragedy is that it was necessary.

In honor of Reformation Day I want to remind protestants exactly what our great hero Martin Luther believed about a few things. I hope to show that Luther saw himself as a faithful son of the church who only wanted to oppose clerical abuses. He did not want to re-start the church. Therefore, to be a protestant in the steps of Luther means to be faithful sons and daughters of the church. We should never seek be more protestant than Martin Luther.


1. Sacrament of Baptism
Martin Luther had a high view of baptism. He believed that baptism was necessary for salvation because it produced faith. In his treatise Concerning Rebaptism he writes:

For faith doesn't exist for the sake of baptism, but baptism for the sake of faith. When faith comes, baptism is complete.

In Luther's Shorter Catechism he asks, "What does baptism give or profit?" He answers:

It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

So, baptism for Luther is twofold: First, it washes away sins. Second, it produces faith. It may surprise us to realize that Martin Luther, the great protestant reformer, held to baptismal regeneration.

2. Sacrament of Communion
Luther believed in the real presence of Christ in the sacrament:

It [the sacrament] is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself (Shorter Catechism).

Many will say this sounds too much like the Catholic view of transubstantiation. However, we must remember that believing in the real presence of Christ in communion does not necessitate transubstantiation. No, believing in the real presence of Christ in communion is merely the biblical and historic view of the church. Transubstantiation specifically asks the question, "How is Christ present." It answers using Aristotelian philosophy of "substance" and "accidents." Luther rejected Aristotle without rejecting the real presence.

What does Communion do?

[Communion is] Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation (Shorter Catechism).

The sacrament is called "communion" because God communicates his graces to us through the elements of bread and wine. When we eat and drink faithfully, we receive the remission of our sins.

3.Confession to a minister
Luther understood that the guilt from sin can overwhelm a Christian. To combat this, he encouraged sacramental confession to a pastor. In his Shorter Catechism he writes:

You should speak to the confessor thus: Reverend and dear sir, I beseech you to hear my confession, and to pronounce forgiveness to me for God's sake.

After the minister hears the confession of the penitent the minister is instructed to ask:

Dost thou believe that my forgiveness is God's forgiveness?

The penitent answers, "yes." The the minister says something that may offend many protestants living today:

As thou believest, so be it done unto thee. And by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I forgive thee thy sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Depart in peace.

 This is not merely an assurance of pardon but a true absolution. The promises of the forgiveness of sins flows from God through the minister. The minister is speaking of God's behalf.

Conclusion
Martin Luther was a faithful son of the church. He appropriately stood against the abuses of the Medieval church of his day. He rightly fought against the problem of indulgences and works based righteousness by reminding the church that we are justified by faith, not by works. Yet, when we look at his protestant theology more closely, he says some things that may make us uncomfortable. I respect Dr. Luther because he did not throw out the baby with the bath water. As heirs of the reformation, should we be more protestant than Martin Luther?