The Lutheranism is the founded Théologie starting from the writings and of the thoughts of Martin Luther. It then became the regrouping of the Protestant Churches Lutherans being attached to these doctrines. This is why, one speaks about Lutheran , Églises Lutherans or about theology Lutheran .

The theology of Luther is the community property of the whole of the Protestant Réforme. There exist theological currents in addition referring more especially to him, including in the reformed Churches.

History

At the beginning of the 16th century, the Church Roman Catholique sold with prolifically Indulgence S. In 1517, Martin Luther, monk Augustin and theologist, first of all rose against this traffic. Then, the October 31st 1517, it posted on the door of the church of Wittenberg in Saxony, its 95 theses condemning the principle of indulgences. From a simple theological confrontation was born the movement from the Réforme which gave place then to the Counter-Reformation in the Church Roman Catholique.

Traffic of indulgences

Since centuries, the Christian Church of Occident had founded the system of indulgences which allowed the remission of the imposed sorrows, ici-bas and even with the Purgatoire and in Enfer, to secure a place with the Paradis. The pope Leon X had decided to grant some to the Christians who would finance the construction of the Saint-Pierre basilica of Rome, that it wanted to be the largest church in the world. But the system is perverted. There were abuses. Even a criminal could be made forgive his crimes by buying them. Luther was indignant some, because it made accept the people which one can be repurchased by money. In its eyes, this practice moves away the Christian from the true source of hello: grace of God.

The theological dissension

Excommunicated Luther

In 1518, Luther even affirms that to in no case the Holy Scriptures cannot be contradicted by the pope. The pope is him also subjected to the authority of the Bible. The June 15th 1520, it is excommunicated for its theses, its writings are flarings. In return, the December 11th 1520, Luther burns the text of excommunication in front of all the town of Wittenberg, by treating the pope of Antichrist. Luther has more and more partisans, the movement of reform of theology and Christian Church is launched. Several princes of Germany of north, for religious reasons, and to seize the goods of the Church, adopt the Reform. The January 3rd 1521, the pope pronounces the Anathème against Luther and its defenders.

The diet of Worms

In April 1521, Luther is convened with the diet Worms, assembled political bringing together various princes d' Allemagne. The emperor Charles Quint again asks him to retract. Luther answers then by this famous sentence: “ My conscience is captive of the Word of God. I then neither want nothing to retract, because it is neither sure nor salutary to act against its conscience. That God is to me in assistance. ”. He then is condemned and put to the round of applause of the Empire. He will continue to write while being protected by the prince Frederic from Saxony.

Translation of the Bible

To put its doctrines into practice, it translates the New Testament (or the Second Alliance) in the spoken language by the people. It distributes then this translation thanks to not very front printing works discovered by Gutenberg. This translation is at the base of the creation of written German, it.

Main roads of theology Lutheran

Sola gratia, sola fide, sola will scriptura, solo christo

1- (By the grace alone) This assertion means initially that the man is not saved by his works morals or pious. In fact, Luther wishes to found a relationship of trust with God and either a relation based on the fear and the culpability. The Eucharistie, celebrated at the time of each liturgical service with the Preaching, recalls us that God is a love present and real in the concrete gesture of his son who is given for the safety of the men. All starts with this initiative of love, this helping hand. At that time indeed the fear of the hell and the divine judgment dominated encouraged by certain not very scrupulous priests of the Roman institution. Tillich, interprets of Luther will say: " It is this grace which reconciles me with myself, with the others and the world (nature, cosmos) and with Dieu". Ethics will be an answer to this love first, it is the " price of the grâce" Dietrich Bonhoeffer will say, which will pay its life its resistance to Hitler.

2- (By the faith alone) If the man is not saved by his works, it is thus simply asked to him to rely on God: it is the faith which is born and develops primarily by the mediation of a Pasteur which preaches the good news of the grace and which celebrates the sacraments. It is this confidence which makes of him a member of at the same time local and universal Church.

3 (By the Writing alone) And one of the places where this message resounds it is par excellence the worship which gathers the Christian community around the Prédication and of the Eucharistie which are the two poles of the worship Lutheran in an environment of canticles and praises inspired by the Psalms. However this preaching draws its inspiration in a tradition resulting from the mass and which is that of the reading and the comment of the Bible. And Luther will continue the tradition of the lectionnaire which it found in the catholic mass. Thus the crucial role of the bishops and even of the pope will be to train responsible pastors well to preach, because knowing the Greek and the Hebrew of the Writings, and to animate the Community liturgy.

4 (By Christ only) But with the difference of the catholic Homélie, the preaching of Luther is not an interpretation of the catholic Dogmes, of which he thinks that they too often deviate biblical sources and patristics. Luther thinks that there exists in the bible a interpretative central core, which is a fidelity so that the Gospels and the Epistles say to us of Jesus-Christ and who joined the great assertions of the Symbole of the apostles and texts recognized by the Church Lutheran, the such Confession of Augsburg (See below). And the preacher, enraciné on this word symbolic system and taking part in the company and the culture of his time, will take the risk of analogies, metaphors and correlations which make of him a prophet and a man of compassion.

To note that in later Protestantism one often privileged the " sola scriptura" but that the thought of Luther, as we have just seen it above, remains much finer and moderate.

Sacraments

1- Source

It is especially through its treaty Of captivitate babylonica praeludium , published in beginning of the year 1520 that we discover the thought of Martin Luther on the sacraments. " Having reduced the Church in captivity, Roman tyranny attacked its heart by removing the sacrament to him, whereas the sacrament does not belong to the priests but to all ".

For the catholics indeed, the sacraments are then means of grace which have a quasi magic effect, operative " ex operates operato" between the hands of the priest. At Jean Calvin, they will be only visible signs of an invisible grace.

For Luther " the sacraments are the objective demonstration of a revelation that God wanted, at the same time gave outside and materialized in the incarnation, in the Book, Water, in the Bread and the Wine " (E. G. Leonard). And in all that, the role of the priest (especially developed by the explanatory word on the sacrament and preaching), remains secondary.

2- Sacrament: visible succession of a single incarnation

There thus exists well for Luther a kind of visibility of the sacraments which prolongs the historical incarnation of Jesus-Christ, of her death and of its resurrection which took place only once. The priest cannot thus renew this sacrifice at the time of the sacrament. And this succession of the sacrament continues in the Church through the baptism (children or adults) and the eucharistie, which are clearly instituted by Jesus-Christ in the Gospels and also the book of the Acts of the Apostles. It pushes back the sacrament of the marriage thus, about the extreme oiling and of the confession and the confirmation which were unequally practiced at that time and will take again strength after the Council of Thirty.

The sacrament is thus restored in the purity of its evangelic institution like the communication of only and nonrenewable sacrifice of the cross, without human intervention.

3- Consubstantiation instead of transsubstantiation

Just as the Wyclif reformer, Luther will give up the eucharistic doctrines of the transsubstantiation to the profit of an explanation which it will name the " consusbtantiation". Here, the species are truly and at the same time bread and wine, Chair and Blood of the saver, but only during the short moment when the faithful one eats them and drinks them.

The liturgy

1- The new liturgical organization

Although the organization of the ceremonies appears " to him; Rauch und Dampf " (smoke and noise) because the open door with a pious legalism, Luther will be led to take part in the organization of the worship to Wittemberg in 1523. He will then write Von ordnung of Gottesdienst (About the divine service) and Formulae Missa . In this spirit, in 1525 the first celebration of the " will take place; Allemande" mass; and its order which will be published in 1526. Which will be used as framework, not only with the Lutheranism of the following centuries, but also with Jean-Sebastien Bach, which will write for it one of its more beautiful works. Here is the plan which strikes by its simplicitié:

• Introït

• Kyrie eleison (not of Gloria)

• Collection (prayer of the day)

• Gradual Epistle

• (German canticle)
• Gospel
• Creed (song of a paraphrase of the Creed by Luther)
• Preaching
• Our Father (song of a paraphrase made by Luther)

• Exhortation with communier with dignity

• Words of institution pronounced initially on the bread with distribution, then on the wine
• Prayer of thanksgiving

• Blessing

2- True innovation: A comprehensible word

The mass thus will become a worship celebrated by Pasteur. It thus loses its character of " renewed sacrifice of Christ offered by a priest for the safety of faithful the " . Admittedly, it will always start with the austere one and humble recognition of the man who needs to live forgiveness and divine grace (Kyrie: " Lord have pitié"). But it will not be any more one mysterious and incomprehensible celebration for the faithful one, because from now on, the reading of the bible will be done in the language of the people and preaching will not be any more a homélie but a clear word which returns the Christ of the bible more familiar to the listeners. A Christ who reconciles us with God, the others and the world, while bringing his safety and his grace to us. The " to be able of the clefs" is not entrusted to the Pope any more, from now on each preacher is the successor of Pierre who opens at the listener the door of the kingdom of God.

3- Another innovation: the revival hymnologic

Good musician and poet, Luther will introduce emotion into the worship by multiplying the joint canticles which make take part the people better than the Gregorian chant did it, often very beautiful but become the work of specialists. It composed itself an about sixty anthems (of which " Ein feste Burg" (It is a rampart), which remains one of the Cantique S protesting among most known in the whole world. Its works were joined together in 1524 in a Enchiridion diffused widely in the world Lutheran - which shows in the passing the intelligent use by Luther of the new media of its time, which it will also do for the bible -. Many musicians and poets took part in this first Protestant hymnology (Sachs, Speratus, Spengler, Rupff etc…) and which one still finds the names in many current canticles protesting.

Perhaps thus, after the music, the Lutherans will remain, among the Protestants, those which do not hesitate to introduce an esthetic dimension into the liturgy. Not only in the musical field but also in that of the visual forms. Expression of the praise of the Church satisfying the popular sensitivity (liturgical colors and clothes, stained glasses, gestures etc…). Luther being itself very tolerant in this field which he regarded as secondary.

Can one say that there exists always today a difference between the catholic Messe and the Protestant worship inspired of Luther? Perhaps insofar as, for the catholics, the mass always represents a " rise towards the sacrifice eucharistique" who of is top, whereas for the Protestants whom Luther inspires, the worship remains more a celebration whose two poles of equal importance are, not only the eucharistie, but also preaching, the Word which lights it.

The confession of Augsburg

The CONFESSION D AUGSBURG a Confession of Faith Presented to Augsburg by certain Princes and Cities with His Imperial Majesty Charles V in the Year 1530 “In front of kings I will speak about your requirements, and I will not have shame. ” Psalm 119,46. Contents. Page of presentation. Maintenance

THE FIRST PART: FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF THE FAITH AND THE DOCTRINES ---Article 1. -- Of God ---Article 2. -- Original sin ---Article 3. -- Of the Son of God ---Article 4. -- Justification ---Article 5. -- Ministry for the Word ---Article 6. -- New Obedience ---Article 7. -- Church ---Article 8. -- What is the Church in the World ---Article 9. -- Baptism ---Article 10. -- The Holyone ---Article 11. -- Confession ---Article 12. -- Of Repentance ---Article 13. -- Use of the Sacraments ---Article 14. -- Government of the Church ---Article 15. -- Ecclesiastical Rites ---Article 16. -- Civil Government ---Article 17. -- Return of Christ for the Judgment ---Article 18. -- Free will ---Article 19. -- Origin of the Sin ---Article 20. -- Faith and Good Works ---Article 21. -- Invocation of the Saints CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST PART

SECOND PART: ARTICLES WHICH ARE DISPUTED AND WHERE ONE TREATS ABUSES WHICH WERE CORRECTED INTRODUCTION ---Article 23. -- Marriage of the Priests ---Article 24. -- Mass ---Article 25. -- Confession ---Article 26. -- Distinction of Food ---Article 27. -- Monastic Vows ---Article 28. -- Capacity of the Bishops CONCLUSION AND SIGNATURES

(One will find the text complete of this confession central of the Luthérienne churches to the following address)

Let us retain article 7 " Of Église" who appears important to us for 3 reasons

1 - It is placed after article 5 on the " ministry for Parole"

It is the central step of the reform of Luther. On the one hand against the subjectivism pietist which binds the Saint Spirit to our states of hearts and our feelings pious. And in addition against the Catholicism which binds a little too the Spirit to the Roman institution of which he claims that it is the continued incarnation of Christ and who makes it deaf to the calls of the Gospel.

2 - In its heart, a new very simple teaching on the Church

The Church is defined there like the community or the assembly of all the Christians of the whole world, or like physically dispersed Christendom but spiritually gathered in only one Gospel. Locally, the Church will be an always current event of the Spirit dependant “on a teaching right and a faithful administration of the sacraments”.

Popes, bishops and pastors are with the service of this church there, locally, and in the whole world. Let us not forget that we are before the Council of Thirty and Luther thinks still possible the reformation of the Roman Church. Thus Luther opened it the way of the modern oecumenism.

3 - It is supplemented by article 8 on “the good grain and the ryegrass”

This article specifies indeed that on this ground, part of the Church remains made up men and women whom the grace transforms into " good grain " evangelic parabola (Matthieu 13:25 - 30). But also coexist in the Church of the hypocrites and the sinners who are like " the ryegrass and bad the herbe". This is why it is important that the good grain agrees to coexist with the ryegrass. Because even the good grain remains a " sinner pardonné" who awaits all the grace of God for him and the others.

And that against certain sects (Donatistes) which is insulated in a religious or moralizing purity, and which, being put at the place of God, distribute excommunications. A tendency which we find in certain contemporary movements which find an invitation with the tolerance here.

(See also the article " Confession of Augsburg " )

And today?

In the world

The principal countries Lutherans: Sweden, Norway, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia.

Largest worldwide associations of the Churches Lutherans are the Fédération world Lutheran (FLM), whose EELF and EPCAAL are members; (ILC), whose Church Évangélique Lutheran Synod of France and Belgium is member; and it (CELC).

In France

The Lutherans represent part of French Protestantism. They are especially located in Alsace and the Moselle, with the Protestant Église of the Confession of Augsburg of Alsace and Lorraine.

They are also present, to a lesser extent, in “France of the interior”, primarily within the evangelic Église Lutheran of France, made up of 35  000 members divided in the ecclesiastical inspections of Montbeliard (northern of the Franche-Comté) and of Paris (which also gathers the parishes of Lyon, Marseilles and Nice).

These two Churches are members of the Fédération world Lutheran and the Protestant federation of France.

The Lutherans are also present within the Église Évangélique Luthérienne Synod of France and Belgium (EEL-SFB), made up of 1  000 members in communion with (ILC).

By the way

• Martin Luther

• Church Lutheran
• Rose de Luther
• Protestantism

On the Web

• world Lutheran Federation
• evangelic Church Lutheran of France
• the Interior Mission
• Mission Electronic Youth
• Library Lutheran
• Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine
• Faculty of Protestant theology of Strasbourg
• the theological School of the Evening

Beats-smg: Liuteruonībė

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