Lutheranism, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Lutheranism is a branch of the Protestantism that commonly follows the philosophical ideologies of the 16^th century reformist known as Martin Luther. The Lutheran movement disseminated after 1517 from Saxony through to many of the protective areas in Germany and thereafter moved down to Scandinavia (Avery, 26). By the wake of 18^th Century, Lutheranism found its way into the American territory and thereafter into various nations around the globe and it has come to number more than seventy million aficionados. As such, it consequently lays claims that it is the prevalent non-Roman Catholic body in the Western Christian cathedral.

Religious reforms and the rise of territorial states were the basic features of early modern German history. As Avery (77) states many cases of reformation and the general construction of the states, was based on a much longer historical setting or understanding. This period began in the late middle Ages and went through a process of transformation into the current or modern period. Analytically, based on this insightful new study, it is basically necessary to explore the key relationship of the rise of the territorial states and the religious upheavals of the age. In exploring the ideas further it is necessary also to look at the impacts of the reformation process that was spearheaded by Martin Luther in the Lutheran mission.

In this compelling analytical paper we take a look at the origin and course of the Catholic and protestant missions’ reformation process. We therefore examine the major religious issues or crisis that was experienced during the great period of Schism. We also have to compare the impacts on the various states and showing how events presented themselves in the local territorial and imperial stages. It is also good to note that this process also had some prevalent. Careful analysis of the sources discloses or divulges that the religious beliefs shaped the political understanding during this period prior to the French revolution.

Impacts of Lutheranism

During the Reformation, the bishopric came apart: the parishes in the domains of the Franconia Hohenzollerns became Lutheran; those under the worldly influence of the bishops of Bamberg remained Catholic. In relation to Lutheran belief one was not allowed move away from the religion with intension of forming his or her own. During this period, Lutheranism became more that the expectation of Martin Luther but luckily people or the believers did not deviate from his point of view. His view stated that “people are made right with the prevalence of God and godly deeds”. This meant that only through the Devine initiative of grace as presented to individuals by God’s gift of faith.

The distinguishing doctrines of Lutheran divinity have universally been associated to the conventional or orthodox leitmotifs of the Reformation: sola gratia, sola Scriptura, and sola fide. Due to the fact tat Luther was at handy with his faith in the Supreme Being’s scripture he therefore had to explore the exhortation of Sola scriptura, which in real sense meant that one or Lutherans were to base their thought son biblical understandings alone and the scripture as the only norm for their teachings (Russell & Lull, 67). Through the compelling mindful thoughts of Luther, Lutherans or Lutheran movement gained popularity at a fast pace in Germany by the time when nationalism spread amongst the individuals who did not want to send their wealth in Rome.

The early Lutherans lived mostly in the Universities and therefore they used this opportunity to spread their faith through the assumption that they were only learners and nothing more. This had a greater impact on the universities as they used this opportunity to also to spread their religion as well as their faith in the whole University and thus leading to Lutheranism influence amongst the students at the universities. By around 1530, the Lutherans began to formulate their own confession of their faith and proceeded independently despite the fact that non Lutherans reform parties that had been proliferated in most of the parts of northern Europe. By 1580, and through the following century, the confessions became more rigid through scholastic expressions that were designed to give or provide a definition for the church in a more formal manner or terms. Throughout this period, the religion or the spirit of Lutheranism has been assumed to be doctrinal and dogmatic church.

In spite of its impacts that were greatly influential, Lutheranism did not and could not have been influential through its teachings only and the presence of its professor. In the due course, during the late 17^th century, it’s more gentle side which basically was strengthened to lead into a faster growth that was based out of piety of Luther. According to Russell and Lull (120), the appearance of this piety was generalized to be in form of a movement that was named Pietism.

Normally, their practices were orthodox in belief and practices, as the case and thoughts of Martin Luther, Pietism also spread the message of basing their ideas on biblical understandings as well as the interpretation thus people were influenced to practice the use of bible as their main scripture. They also rested their thinking on the circle of prayer and devotion through the work of love and that proved to one of the most influential part of the Lutheran Movement. Though pietism was somehow not stable, in the process of it being downgrading of its doctrines and that helped the Lutherans to understand the age of illumination.

This was the time when various leaders of the faith turned to rationalism as the only option. Subsequently, theology under the Lutheran influence had during that time taken on a radical character, specifically in Germany. As a result of Lutheranism there was always a more significant gap created between intellectual understanding or turn of phrase of Lutheranism and the liturgy and preaching and teaching in relation to the Lutheran congregations. This process greatly bore so much impact in relation to the pace at Lutheranism spread in the German periphery and way of thinking which was influenced by the Lutherans.

Even though from the onset, Lutheranism had to be involved in a wrestle as no one felt it was going to be a threat in due course of its implementation and this showed that it was likely to develop further and have greater impacts on other religions. There was also the problem that was brought about through the understanding of the civil authority. During this period Luther was a great rebel of papal teachings. He was also docile about the reformation process of the civil order and instead spearheaded the rejection of the peasants (peasants’ war).

Upon fearing the practice of anarchy more than that of authoritarianism, the Lutherans based much of their gravity or force on the biblical teachings that they felt stressed the authority of the state more that civil freedom of its citizens. Most of the people were contented not with the separation of the state as well as the church and that was incorporated in the Peace of Augsburg during the (1555) and that approved the principle that the ruler was the basic determiner of the faith of those being ruled (Merriman, 180).

Later on Lutherans went through a phase of embracing the Republican and the democratic administration as one of the application of the principles that state that God presents himself in various and distinguished manner through the real realm of churchy and civil societal setting or the authority. By this period in the 17^th century, many German Lutherans were docile or cooperative before the Nazi regime took over. However, when the Nazi regime took over, only the confessing church that was under the leadership of Martin Niemoller was the only group that led the opposition of the system out-rightly.

Furthermore, Lutherans have been more ready to see the permanence of evil practices that any other religion or Christians. This was to be seen in the powers of the created fallen world, which meant that the world that is under the influence of sinful acts. The general negative attitude that the Lutherans had over the influence of sin was another impact that led or contributed to most religions including the Socrates and even the Christians but not all to turn their attention towards the practices and the beliefs of the Lutherans. Their thoughts were very much influential as most Christians were now beginning to admire their ways and approaches. Consequently, they did put much of their energies on the welfare and the charity of the hospitals, orphanages and deaconesses’ movements, which is even evident in present world. That has made it a more considerable belief and it did not invest much of the energy on the social schemes that are basically aimed at transforming the world.

For instance, in Europe most Lutheran churches are under the leadership of the bishops. And the church of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden happen to be established under the same ideology of being led by bishops. In northern part of America and elsewhere or globally, Lutherans prefer the idea of congregational and bishopric form of government in which local churches are linked with the togetherness motive and purposes of performing their duties.

General Perspective on the Impacts of Lutheranism

In general, Lutherans in the United States form three main bodies which include; the Lutheran Church of the United States or America, the Lutheran Church of Missouri Synod, and the American Lutheran Church. All these groups of Lutheran churches which make up the association of Lutheran churches were formed as a result of ecumenical cooperation or the incorporation of the Lutheranism ideologies as well as their practices. These practices became more influential to most of the parts around the globe as they happen to bore much impact on Christianity (Merriman, 260).

This ecumenical process was so much influential as it involved or was based on the biblical teachings as any other religions and therefore it was not easy to go against. This association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches formed a unity in most of the parts of American periphery. Another important element or impact of Lutheranism in a more general perspective, states that Lutheran Biblical; understanding or interpretation of bible is that one takes words of command and make compelling promises that are literal unless there are some compelling reason for not doing so.

If the word of institution, in relation to Supper were to be viewed in a more figurative perspective simply because they happen to be conflicting in one way or another this was likely to lead to discontent to Godly ways of life and ways of making promises to God. In this case Lutheranism has insisted on the doctrine of the “real presence” that is based on the words of Christ. Also the Lutheran way of life made contribution to the retention of the infant baptism. Lutherans strengthened the belief that baptism expresses that participation of the Christian upon Death and resurrection of Christ.

The above doctrines that are based on the impacts of Lutheranism were subjected to a variegated history in the century that followed the restoration era. In the seventeenth century, they were elaborated in a mode that can be referred to as a scholastic. In relation to scholastic mode, Lutheran orthodoxy, whose classical pe4riod happened to be around 16^th century was one of the extension of the Lutheran confession on their understanding and the interpretation of the biblical teachings.

This period was however profoundly or greatly influenced through the neo-Aristotelianism which had already secured a foothold in most of the German universities. Through this German scholastic philosophy rose to the intellectual strain which in essence characterized Lutheran movement and later prompted a more pronounced artificial and more metaphysical treatment of theological questions. All the same, the scholastic theology or methodology did not lead to Lutheranism ways of stressing so much about the biblical teachings. Luther was a great man indeed, as he managed to impact various thoughts in the life of Christians and non-Christians.

Conclusion

Though other perceptions see Lutheranism as a more extreme or unfriendly Ecumenical Movement, it is generally friendly to the Ecumenical Movement and with some exceptions. Lutheran churches have been in the front-line and has participated in most of the international gatherings of Christians across confessional or denominational boundaries. Basically Lutherans consider themselves to be having something in common to both evangelical and catholic because they have one point in common with other Protestant churches on one hand and another one on the side of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican Christians on the other. In the ecumenical age, however, they have been very firm in a more distinctive identity through their general loyalty to the teachings of the 16^th century of Lutheranism.

The popular faith had at last been overthrown by eighteenth century through the philosophical personage. According to Merriman (245) the principle of the supremacy of reason was used to tear down belief in most of the characters that are inspired through the Holy Writ. The literature and the philosophy of the time as seen in the article are basically showing a great blow a sin dealing with orthodox Lutheranism. Theology thus becomes the handmaid of philosophy, can always be accepted amid the prevailing doubt and through the conciliation of the system. It is evident that even though Lutheranism was a belief of the past, if given the chance it could have been one of the greatest challenges in the present world. As though it looked underrated in the past, it could have great impact and be assumed in the current world. Even though the criticism was based on various interests that negatively defined the fate of Lutheranism, it generally had very slight impact in the late century. Instead most Lutherans focused on the affirmationalism and destiny. Later, the division generated between those who were in favor of inclusive confederation (the general Synod). After a very conclusive analysis, it therefore evident that Lutheranism has also had an impact in the process of enhancing education on religious perspective through encouraging schooling activities generally in universities. The above point shows that it had a great impact as it led to the students within the university periphery to gain interest in Lutheranism.

Works Cited

Avery, William. Empowered Laity: The Story of the Lutheran Laity Movement for Stewardship. Minneapolis: Fortress Press. 1997.

Merriman, John.  A History of Modern Europe (Volume I): From the Renaissance to the Age of Napoleon. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. 2004

Russell, William and Lull, Timothy. Martin Luther’s Basic Theological writings Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Pub. 2005.