May 6, 2015 – “N” is for Ninety-five Theses

Lutherans teach that, on October 31, 1517, Dr. Martin Luther decided to nail a document onto the church door at Wittenberg. It contained 95 points of interest – mainly points of concern that Luther had with the Catholic Church – concerns about practice.

“Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses centers on practices within the Catholic Church regarding baptism and absolution. Significantly, the Theses reject the validity of indulgences (remissions of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven). They also view with great cynicism the practice of indulgences being sold, and thus the penance for sin representing a financial transaction rather than genuine contrition. Luther argued that the sale of indulgences was a gross violation of the original intention of confession and penance, and that Christians were being falsely told that they could find absolution through the purchase of indulgences.”

Within two weeks of mailing out copies of his theses, some of the copies had spread throughout Germany; within two months throughout Europe. In January 1518 Christoph von Scheurl and other friends of Luther translated the Ninety-Five Theses from Latin into German, printed, and widely copied them, making the controversy one of the first in history to be aided by the printing press.

What is the legacy of the 95 Theses? Somehow, this simple act of speaking out rallied others into supporting the need for change. It began the perfect storm opening the door for discussion and debate on practice and the understanding of absolution. What had become of the church? How could the sale of indulgences resolve any inner struggle with sin? The Indulgence was a document that, when purchased resolved the purchaser, or a family member, of their sin. Johann Tetzel had transferred his career from simple Dominican Priest to Papal commissioner for Indulgence. His goal was to collect money for the building of St. Peter’s Basilica. Martin struggled with his own sense of salvation and finding the love of G*d. For all of his actions to earn G*d’s love, he never felt worthy, or never felt that he had done enough. And then, in returning to scripture, he realized that it is faith, not works, that brings G*d’s love, mercy and Grace. G*d’s love could not be bought or earned through money, actions of piety, actions of service, or actions of any kind. And it was through the 95 Theses that Luther expressed his dissatisfaction with the direction of the church he loved.

Pastor Dave