On this day, January 3rd, in 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X. [1]
This act was in punishment for Luther’s refusal to recant his statements, including his 1517 Ninety Five Theses, in which Luther publicly protested how the Catholic Church held untrue doctrine, were corrupt, and abused their power. [2]
His protest included the selling of indulgences by the Catholic Church to families wishing to pardon the sin of their deceased family members. Luther saw the indulgences as a corrupt fundraising scheme to build St. Peter’s Basilica and other major cathedrals in Europe. [3]
More importantly, the selling of indulgences signaled to Luther that the Catholic Church had lost the centrality of Christ in its doctorine. [4] Luther defended on theological grounds the central tenet of the Christian faith which he reiterated Ephesians 2:8: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Luther’s excommunication accelerated the burgeoning Reformation (that began with his posting of the 95 Theses) and the start of the Protestant churches being planted around the world. Today there are more than 500 million Protestant believers worldwide in virtually every nation. [5] Every Protestant church can trace its history back to this date, January 3, over 500 years ago.
Such a pivotal Church event needs little explanation to signify its importance. On a personal level, however, the significance of this event can be lost.
Whether we recognize it as such or not, we all hold a doctrine of faith which are often subconscious beliefs in who God is, who we are, and how the present world and life after death works. We are all responsible to God, and those on whom we have influence, for the doctrine we hold. That is why Paul charges Timothy, even in his youth, to: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim 4:16).
Luther’s excommunication in 1521 is a reminder to us all to watch our doctrine closely and daily adhere to doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even if it comes at great cost.
Footnotes:
- https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/martin-luther-excommunicated
- Bainton, Roland (1978). Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Festival ed.). Nashville: Abingdon Press. p. 142-143
- https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/bible-answers/theology/luther-95-theses-protestant-reformation.html
- Bainton, Roland (1978). Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Festival ed.). Nashville: Abingdon Press. p. 225.
- https://www.gordonconwell.edu/blog/protestants-around-the-world/