Zwingli, the Swiss reformer and Luther were contemplating uniting but one of Luther’s doctrines about the sacraments stood in the way, the eucharist. Zwingli believed the bread and wine were merely symbols but Luther felt bound by the words of the scriptures ‘This is my body’ Lane quotes Luther ‘It is the true body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ under the bread and wine instituted by Christ himself for us Christians to eat and drink’. This is important because it shows Luther lived only by the scriptures and if Zwingli or Luther would have changed their minds, the Swiss and German reformation would have joined. McGrath writes ‘It is generally agreed among the scholars that this was “the most serious disagreement between the Magisterial Reformers, Luther and Zwingli…unable to agree on their views on the sacraments”.’ If they had joined, the reformation would have been stronger and more powerful.
Generally, Luther taught that sacraments were symbols and signs of a ‘covenant between G-d and man than as a means of Grace’ (Chadwick) This is important because the concept opposes the Roman Catholic Church as they believe that sacraments are a way of obtaining Grace.
Another of Luther’s teachings about the sacraments is that he denies marriage as one of them. He does this because there is no order from Jesus to do get married in the bible. This does not mean that Jesus did not approve of marriage, but because there is no scriptural authority, it cannot be a sacrament in Luther’s eyes. This is important because he is attacking clerical celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church and Luther himself marries.
b) Luther became concerned with the way the Church presented itself to the congregation and therefore taught his own teachings about the nature of the church.
The most important point Luther makes on his teachings about the nature of the Church is that there is a ‘true’ Church which is invisible and only G-d knows who belongs to it. This comes from Augustine’s theory. The true church of G-d would only be known in heaven and Green explains ‘the visible church is made up of a mix of some destined to go to heaven and some to hell.’ Luther clarified that the membership of the invisible church, which are people going to heaven is determined by the ‘eternal decree of G-d’s predestination grace…by the activity of the word of G-d in this world’. This is important because it is such a contrast and goes against the Catholic belief that if good works are done on earth, you can obtain Grace which will enable you to go to heaven.
Luther does teach that the nature of the church should still be institutional, i.e. ministers to lead worship, having a church building etc. This teaching is important because a group of people called the Radicals, who had followed and supported Luther in breaking away from the Catholic church ‘were starting to depart from Luther’s teachings about the nature of the Church’ (McGrath) The Radicals were teaching that the true church should not have any outward signs or symbols and Luther disagreed with them.
Another of Luther’s teachings about the nature of the church, is he argued that the laity should receive both the bread and the wine during the Holy Communion. This is important because ‘He was challenging the spiritual superiority of the clergy’ (Armstrong). Armstrong writes this because the clergy in the Roman Catholic Church only allow the laity to have the bread while they have the wine as well, Luther is questioning the hierarchal structure of the Catholic Church.
This leads onto another of Luther’s teaching’s about the nature of the church. Ordination is denied, therefore any man can become a priest. Luther believed This is important because it rejects clerical power and the reason why he does it, is because there is ‘ no foundation in the Gospel.’ (Chadwick) Luther believed that the priest was there to lead the service rather than to be an intermediary and because the priest was equal in status to the congregation, if they did not like him, they could arrange for another priest to take his place.
Luther believed that it ‘was the princes role to reform the church’ (Armstrong) This would affect Luther’s teachings on the nature of the church and is important because it goes against the catholic belief in the Apostolic succession. This is the idea that the pope inherited his authority in a direct line of all his successors by St Peter and that clergy inherit their authority through apostles. It is also important because Luther declared the church incapable to put its own house in order.
c) The issue to be evaluated in a 2-sided debate is to what extent Luther’s teachings about sacraments differ from the Roman Catholic Church. Overall this difference is great, however there are some similarities.
Luther only accepted 3 out of the 7 sacraments, which is the main difference between the two teachings. One out of the three sacraments was holy communion and even this was significantly altered. Catholics strongly believe that the bread and wine during the eucharist changes into the body and blood of Christ through the priest. However Luther taught that this did not happen but that there was a presence of Jesus. The word transubstantiation was changed to consubstantiation. This is a major difference between Luther’s teachings about the sacraments and the Roman Catholic teachings. This point shows that the extent of the two beliefs were great.
