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Who was Martin Luther and how did his teachings differ with those of the Catholic Church?
Martin Luther was an Augustinian Friar, who supposedly was ordained to the priesthood in the early 16th century and taught theology. One day while sitting on the Friary's privy (outdoor toilet) he was struck with a novel idea that had never been thought of in Christianity before - that God did not care about his sins, and that since He send His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for his sins, then He did not care about them, and it didn't matter how much he sinned, God would smuggle him into heaven anyway. Luther's mind, which was never far from the privy, thought of the example of a large pile of cow dung covered with snow - and that was how we were smuggled into heaven. We are the cow dung, and Christ covered us with the snow. Of course all of this is completely contrary to Christian teaching and the Bible, so Luther announced that his brand new teaching was based on the Bible Alone (Sole Scriptura) - another novel concept which was not only never thought of nor taught before, but was flat out impossible as there was no complete Bible until the end of the fifth century, and since Jesus neglected to invent the printed press AND neglected to tell His disciples to write a New Testament, was completely impossible until the fifteenth century when printing presses were finally invented..In addition to declaring that the Bible alone would be the basis of his new faith, he then proceeded to mutilate the Bible as it didn't support his new religion either. Thus he threw seven books out of the Old Testament, and a number out of the New Testament (including the only one where the words "faith" and "alone" are found together - unfortunately for Martin Luther with the word "NOT" in front of them - James 2:24) and then added words to other books to make them agree with him:."Martin Luther ADDED words to the Bible that were not there. When he was confronted with this sin of adding to the Bible he replied: "Because Dr. Martin Luther will have it so!" This man was one ego-maniac with delusions of popehood." (from An Open Letter on Translating By Martin Luther, 1530)."Romans 3:28 states, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law" (NKJV). Martin Luther, in his German translation of the Bible, specifically added the word "allein" (English 'alone') to Romans 3:28-a word that is not in the original Greek. Martin Luther reportedly said, "You tell me what a great fuss the Papists are making because the word alone in not in the text of Paul...say right out to him: 'Dr. Martin Luther will have it so,'...I will have it so, and I order it to be so, and my will is reason enough. I know very well that the word 'alone' is not in the Latin or the Greek text" (Stoddard J. Rebuilding a Lost Faith. 1922, pp. 101-102; see also Luther M. Amic. Discussion, 1, 127). This passage strongly suggests that Martin Luther viewed his opinions, and not the actual Bible as the primary authority--a concept which this author will name prima Luther."Answer from a protestantLuther differed from the catholic church in several ways.He believed that there was no difference to god whether you were a layman or a member of the clergy.The transubstination that catholics believe, when the bread and wine turn into body and blood. To luther this was untrue and that this part of the mass should only reinforce the message of the sacrifice nothing more. He also fought for the right for priests to marry, where before a priest would have a housekeeper who would have intimate relations and then their children would be bastards nothing more.He also fought for the right to have mass in the common tongue, having translated the bible into german in 1521 when he was in hiding.Luther believed that the pope did not have the power to interperate the scriptures but insisted that the bible spoke for its self and that the pope has no real authority on the matter..Catholic AnswerThe Catholic Church teaches only what was given to it by Our Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She has consistently taught this for over two thousand years with no changes, as she believes that she is a guardian of the truth, not its creator. Luther's teaching differed radically from this as he believed that he, personally, had the truth, not the Apostles, or the Church to whom Christ entrusted the truth, and thus he could dispense with various "truths", individual books of the Bible, or even rewrite books he kept in his Bible.
What is the difference between Lutheranism and Catholicism?
Differences between Catholics and Lutherans. The Catholic Church is a Sacramental Church and always has been. There are 7 Sacraments,Baptism,Reconciliation,Communion,Confirmation,Marriage,Holy Orders,Sacrament of the Sick. There are two in the Lutheran Church, Baptism and Confirmation.The Catholic Church believes in Transubstantiation. That is when consecrated by a priest the bread and wine while having the appearance of bread and wine is actually changed into the body and blood of Christ, it is no longer bread and wine. This is a mystery of faith and follows Christs command "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you will not have life within you." Catholics do not believe it is symbolic. When Christ told this to his disciples and they said who can believe this it is too hard to follow and they left, Christ did not go after them and say, wait I only meant it was symbolic. No he let them go and asked his apostles if they too would go.Lutherans believe in Consubstantiation. That is, they believe it is the body and blood of Christ;and it still is bread and wine.The Catholic Church is one, holy, and Apostolic. The Lutheran Church follows the same creed but there are various denominations within the Lutheran Church which vary on some of their beliefs. Some are stricter and some such as the ELCA accept women ministers and abortion under certain circumstances. The original Lutheran church which was born out of the protestant reformation does not even exist today. Almost from the beginning there was disagreemet among it's members and offshoots formed.The Catholic Church has not changed it's doctrines and cannot. Despite the fact that almost every denomination has changed doctrinal belief to bow to the whim of the current ages, the Catholic Church alone has remained steadfast in spite of constant critisim. It will not change because it can't. What Christ has established cannot be broken or changed. The Holy Spirit has guided it through the ages and has helped to better define doctrines, but not change them. No human, not even the Pope can do that.AnswerCatholics believe that love, faith, kindness, etc. are what give us eternal life, however Lutherans believe that you only need faith. Also Lutherans believe that Christ is the only authority in the church and Catholics believe the pope is. Everything else is basically the same. Another view: It is not correct to suggest that Catholics believe that the pope is the 'only' authority, or that the pope's position is above that of Christ. The Catholic church considers the pope to be Christ's earthly representative only, and in fact the 'first among equals' regarding his position among the church's bishops.AnswerThe catholic and Lutheran Churches have different views on the eucharistic rite. the Catholics believe that the body of christ is revealed to us by the method of transubstination. this term refers to the bread and wine changing from one substance into another. bread to body. blood to wine.the lutherans rejects such teachings.AnswerMartin Luther believed that God had only set four sacraments to be followed by the church. On the other hand the church believed that all 7, were essential in the religion, as well as forgiving peoples sins with money. Lutherans don't have a "leader" while the catholic church does. AnswerCatholics were the first christians, the first followers of Christ. Jesus charged Peter to be the rock on which He will build his church, a mere mortal man to head His church here on earth. He was followed by those we would call Pope. It is true that the catholic church did prostitute itself in selling off sins for moneys much needed for the church. Also,Popes began to dabble in politics instead of souls. Martin Luther took great exception to the workings of the church at the time of his era and chose to break away with his fellow discontented followers. They did hold to many of the catholic ways but adjusted to their thinking those which they disagreed. They grew as more converts disgrunted with the catholic church joined their ranks. I am catholic and not very proud of those many dark years of the church, yet I remain catholic. I have attended Lutheran services on several occassions and was surprised at the similarities between the two. Les HeadlineYour answer is partly correct. The term catholic (lower case 'c') simply means universal. Because Rome was in power during the time of Christ and Constaintine later converted to Christianity and named it the state religion, the term Roman Catholic came about. However the first Christians were certainly not Romans nor known as Catholics. In fact the early Christians faced sever persecution from the Romans until the time of Constaintine. Now regarding Luther: He did take exception to the selling of indulgences and the proclamation of the pope that he could release souls from purgatory (which in itself has no Scriptural standing, but he had no intention of "breaking away" from the church. When Luther wrote his 95 thesis and posted them on the door of the church in Wittenberg, his hope was to engage in a debate with the church leaders so that the church may be reformed--hence the term The Reformation. Because Luther's stance was rejected by the church, and his life threatened, Luther did break from the church.There are many more differences than what are listed here and in the other responses. Lutherans have only 2 sacraments, not 4 or 7: Holy Communion and Baptism. Lutherans hold Christ as the head of the Church and confess that we are under the authority of Scripture. We are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ. Our works are a result of our salvation , not a means by which we attain it. We believe that Jesus in the only intercessor and mediator between God and man and that praying to Mary or the saints is not Biblically based and is not pleasing to God. I could continue writing on this subject, but I would suggest doing a search for the "Book of Concord" which contains the Lutheran confessions and Catechisms.AnswerThere isn't really much difference. Luther didn't think the selling of indulgences was right, and wanted everyone to be able to read the bible. Other than that, he was pretty mainstream. AnswerWhen I was Lutheran,as my family raised me, they believed that you were saved when you were baptised, when you were a baby (sprinkled with water) now that I am nondenominational, I believe in salvation through understanding and believing Christ, and I was baptised by being emmersed in water which is not necessary for salvation, but God asks this of you, which symbolizes the new birth. I grew up Lutheran. What I do remember was our branch of Christianity had more exceptions to rules and (in my opinion) the faith was simpler. I went to a Greek Orthadox and Roman Catholic churches for Catechism trips, and I remember thinking it was very strict.They believe in the same teachings, but Lutherans don't take them as literally as Catholics. And, we did have four sacrements. whoever keeps saying that Lutherans only have two is...wrong.
