Luther073082
κύριε ἐλέησον χριστὲ ἐλέησον
- Apr 1, 2007
- 19,202
- 840
- 41
- Faith
- Lutheran
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Others
If you don't mind me asking, if you do believe in the Real Presence, then how do you guys believe the ability to do so is passed down? I was under the impression that Luther believed in the Real Presence, but since he couldn't ordain priests himself, that he had to cut that out of his theology. In other words, you couldn't have the Real Presence because there was no one to do it.
It does not have to be "passed down".
The biggest similarity between Lutherans and Protestants is that we belive that the church is essentially where Christ's belivers are.
The Augsburg confession says about the church
Article VII: Of the Church.
1] Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.
2] And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of the Sacraments. Nor is it necessary that human traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6.
Article VIII: What the Church Is.
1] Although the Church properly is the congregation of saints and true believers, nevertheless, since in this life many hypocrites and evil persons are mingled therewith, it is lawful to use Sacraments administered by evil men, according to the saying of Christ: The Scribes and 2] the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, etc. Matt. 23:2. Both the Sacraments and Word are effectual by reason of the institution and commandment of Christ, notwithstanding they be administered by evil men.
3] They condemn the Donatists, and such like, who denied it to be lawful to use the ministry of evil men in the Church, and who thought the ministry of evil men to be unprofitable and of none effect.
Essentially to break it down the Lutheran view of the power (ability) to consecrate the sacraments is that a church is simpily a group of belivers. And when that group of belivers elects a person to represent them in the office of Episcopos(sp?) (We hold that office to be one in the same as office of pastor) that person is called by the church to consecrate sacraments. It is therefore his job to do so.
Theoretically speaking any beliver can consecrate sacraments by Lutheran theology. However this would be considered similar to the RCC view of something that is legititmate but illicit. While I can consecrate, its wrong of me to do so because I havn't been called to that office. Its not my role in the church.
This is further described in Article XIV of the Augsburg confession.
Article XIV: Of Ecclesiastical Order.
Of Ecclesiastical Order they teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called.
As far as ordination, its my understanding that some Roman Catholic bishops did side with Luther. However our view is that scripture does not defend or endorse Apostolic Succession. So therefore the necessity for those bishops to ordain others was rendered meaningless.
Some non confessional Lutheran groups in Europe do belive in Apostolic succession and belive that they hold it. However in the US most Lutherans reject Apostolic succession. Which is our most "protestant like" doctrine.
Upvote
0