Lutherna View of Church and State

LESSON THREE

A LUTHERAN VIEW OF CHURCH AND STATE

I. The Protestant Reformation

A. Martin Luther, quoted by CTCR on page 15:

“I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything.”

B. However, there were political dimensions to the work.

C. Also, Luther did devote time to politics.

D. Spark was 95 theses against indulgences.

E. Printing press made debate a matter of public controversy.

F. Luther went on to wholesale reformation of doctrine and practice of Roman Catholic Church.

G. Fate of Reformation depended largely on princely politics within Holy Roman Empire; particularly his prince, Elector Frederick of Saxony.

II. Edict of Worms (May 26, 1521)

A. John Hus - burned 100 years before.

B. Fredrick did not enforce edict - hid Luther in Wartburg castle.

C. Fredrick’s resistance seems to have been grounded on two principles

1. Regarded edict as unconstitutional - insufficient attendance.

2. R.W. Scribner, quoted by CTCR on p. 16:

“ It had been drafted by Imperial councillors as early as 8 May, but its presentation was delayed until so many princes had departed from Worms that it was passed only by a rump Diet. Some of the most powerful princes of the empire challenged its legality and held themselves not to be bound by its terms. From 1521 there was an energetic campaign to have it rescinded….The failure of the Edict of Worms was largely the failure of German political authorities to enforce it.”

3. He would not defer all judgment on theological questions to the church.

4. John Stephens, quoted by CTCR on p. 16:

“ What is remarkable is Frederick’s readiness to assume responsibility. He refused to allow the case to pass to Rome. He sought the opinion of Erasmus. The latter’s declaration that Luther had only sinned against the privileges of the papacy and of monks must have strengthened his resolve. Later, Frederick attacked the burning of Luther’s books and remarked that Luther himself had protested that he would do everything ‘consistent with the name of Christian.’ Frederick was determined to be the judge of this…In short, Frederick chose to judge what was true or false in matters of doctrine. Later he was happy to propose the standard by which others should judge. He called this the office of a Christian prince.”

D. One major political reality was readiness of civil authorities to adjudicate ecclesiastical questions.

III. Response by Emperor Charles V.

A. Distractions, including Turks.

B. Delayed response until after movement had grown enormously.

C. Turned attention in earnest in 1530, at Diet of Augsburg,

D. Finally took military action against Protestants, but after Luther’s death in 1546.

IV. German princes

A. 1524 Diet of Nuremberg - German princes sought a Council of the German church.

B. 1526 Recess of Speyer allowed each sovereign to regulate religion “as the laws of the empire and the Word of God allowed.”

1. Seemed to establish a “right of Reformation” in the law of empire.

2. Some German princes used it exactly that way.

C. Theological questions mixed with socio-political trends.

1. Drive for wider social control by magistrates.

2. Desire to subordinate clergy to secular jurisdictions.

D. Luther and other German reformers had no intention of subordinating the church to civil authorities.

E. Princes became heads of their territorial churches and enlisted thoseresources to support territorial interests.

V. German Peasants’ Revolt

A. By 1525, Reformation had spawned many variations, some radical.

B. Perceived lack of moral improvement in society distressed radical reformers.

C. Swabian peasants met in February, 1523.

1. Grievances stated in 12 articles aimed at secular and religious leaders.

2. Cited and appealed to Luther; who responded with “An Admonition to Peace.”

3. Martin Luther, quoted by CTCR on p. 18:

“This, then, is a great and dangerous matter. It concerns both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world. If this rebellion were to continue and get the upper hand, both kingdoms would be destroyed and there would be neither worldly government nor word of God, which would ultimately result in the permanent destruction of all Germany.”

4. Peasants took up arms.

5. Luther strongly supported the princes.

6. Martin Luther, quoted by CTCR on p. 18:

“For rebellion is not just simple murder; it is like a great fire, which attacks and devastates a whole land. Thus rebellion brings with it a land filled with murder and bloodshed; it makes widows and orphans, and turns everything upside down, like the worst disaster. Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay, and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful, or devilish than a rebel. It is just as when one must kill a mad dog; if you do not strike him, he will strike you, and a whole land with you.”

D. Lutheranism never again appealed as much to social reformers as it had between 1517 and 1525.

E. Princes realized religious radicalism linked to social radicalism was prescription for disaster.

F. Saxon church visitation of 1527.

1. Groundbreaking - the basis for institutionalized reform not previously envisioned.

2. Luther:

a. acquiesced - called princes “emergency bishops”

b. later had misgivings: potential abuse of authority the same.

VI. Interim before War

A. Issue of civil disobedience to emperor critical to outcome of the Reformation (cf. Switzerland).

B. Luther

1. Idea of civil disobedience presented serious difficulties.

2. At first, Luther:

a. Subscribed only to passive resistance and confession of truth.

b. Submitted to presumably fatal consequences of disobedience.

c. After Edict of Worms in 1521, counseled prince to not resist emperor forcibly.

d. During Peasants’ Revolt of 1525, asserted “Christians do not fight for themselves with sword and musket, but with the cross and with suffering,” (quoted by CTCR on p. 19).

e. Opposed formation of League of Protestant princes, arguing that only God has the right to punish tyrants.

f. As late as 1530, still opposed military resistance to emperor.

3. October, 1530

a. Luther, Melanchthon and Jonas summoned to a meeting with prince’s lawyers at Torgau.

b. Long, stormy conversation.

c. Luther finally allowed that constitution of empire might permit resistance if emperor were attacking princes solely on basis of religion.

d. Princes soon preparing for war.

4. By 1536, Luther accepted necessity of military resistance.

5. Luther’s mature position reflected in Magdeburg Confession of 1530

(“lessor magistrates” are under divine obligation to defend themselves and those in their charge from unjust persecution by a higher authority).

VII. Holy War and Religious Toleration

A. Once Charles V turned in earnest to eradicating Protestantism, soon became military conflict.

B. Outcome of Schmalkaldic War of 1546-47 was defeat for Protestants.

C. Charles V dictated terms of peace at Diet of Augsburg in 1548.

1. Augsburg “Interim” - only temporary, until Council of Trent could meet.

2. Made some concessions to Protestants (e.g. married priests and communion in both bread and wine.)

3. Otherwise, unsympathetic to Protestant concerns.

4. Wounds in Germany not healed.

5. Magdeburg:

a. become bastion of continuing Protestant resistance.

b. unleashed harsh propaganda campaign against “Interim”.

D. Renewed religious war in 1552; 1555 Charles V acknowledged defeat in the Peace of Augsburg.

E. Terms of peace complex, including:

1. Catholics and subscribers to Augsburg Confession guaranteed full personal and legal security.

2. Princely sovereignty over religion was recognized (one ruler, one religion)

3. Calvinists and Anabaptists excluded (destabilizing element)

F. Thirty Years’ War

1. Outbreak in 1618.

2. One of the most destructive in German history.

3. Involved the European continent.

4. Devastated Germany (one-third of population dead)

G. Peace of Westphalia in 1648

1. Confirmed long-scorned Peace of Augsburg.

2. Sovereignty of territorial princes affirmed.

3. Most Germans accepted creed of their ruler.

4. Calvinists included; Anabaptists and other sects persecuted (many emigrated to America).

5. Ended wars of religion in central Europe.

6. Territorial princes not permitted to impose a religious faith on subjects but only to regulate public religion in his territory.

7. Door open to rulers who desired to practice a policy of religious toleration.

VIII. Germany in 18th and 19th centuries.

A. At opening of 18th, Germany was partitioned, entangled, and confused.

B. Holy Roman Empire.

1. Existed in name only with an emperor.

2. Individual states were everything.

C. Prussia rose to prominence in Germany.

1. Rulers has been Calvinists since 1613.

2. Permitted no church government independent of the state.

3. Hohenzollern sought to mold teachings through church appointment.

4. 1817 - formal union of Lutheran and Reformed churches.

D. Napoleon defeated in 1815.

E. Prussia emerged as a greatly enlarged German state.

F. Within 55 years, Prussia unified Germany under its headship.

G. Government exerted strong pressure to make clergy conform to new communion in liturgy (1822) drafted by Prussian king, Frederick William III (“the Union liturgy”).

H. By 1830, liturgy accepted throughout greater part of realm.

I. Controversy eventually settled by compromise.

J. Compromise unacceptable mainly to “Old Lutherans” - helped to create,support and populate the Missouri Synod.