Andreas said:
Hey all.
I just wanted to learn a little bit about Martin Luther?
1. Did Martin Luther start the Lutheran Church?
2. Is the Lutheran Church united as one?
3. Do Lutherans consider their Church to be the purest form of Christianity?
4. Did Martin Luther and Calvin know each other?
5. What's the best non-bias book/link on Martin Luther?
6. Why is Martin Luther's interpretation of the Bible regarded so highly by his followers?
Thanks.
1.) Like JVAC said, the Lutheran Church was started by the Pope's excommunication. It could be said that it was started by Martin Luther, though it was never his point to. The Lutheran Church was originally called the Evangelical Church, Lutheran originated as a derogatory term, but we decided to take it as a compliment instead.
2.) Somewhat. We are bound by the Lutheran Confessions. Most countries have one Lutheran Church, but America is a special case. Originally there were many Lutheran Churches, all started by immigrants. Eventually the many many denominations formed into just three denominations, LCMS, WELS, and what is today known as the ELCA. There were ongoing talks between all three Churches to for one Lutheran Church in America, but this was just about the time that liberalism began to infect the Church. Talks broke down because the LCMS and WELS wanted part of our confession to be the inerrancy of the Gospel, while the ELCA just wanted to commit to the inerrancy of the Gospel message.
The LCMS had a struggle with liberalism within our own Church, but then made history as the first Church in history to reverse liberalizing tendencies, They kicked out churches that refused to commit to the Gospel and the Book of Concord. Those liberal churches then joined up with (I think) the LCA to form the what is now the ELCA. Communion remained between the 3 Churches until the ELCA decided to enter communion with the Reformed Churches, at which time the LCMS and WELS broke communion with them. Later the LCMS and WELS broke communion over whether it is acceptable to pray with those you are not in doctrinal agreement with.
Even so, we enter talks from time to time, in order to try to solve our differences.
3.) Yes.
4.) They did not know each other personally. I can guess that Luther like Calvin more than Zwiligi.
The Book of Concord denounces several Reformed beliefs as heretical. The only real split the Lutheran Church has suffered since it's split with Rome is that with the Reformed Church.
5.) I don't think you will get one. Everyone either hates him or loves him. Upon JVAC' list, I would add his commentary on Romans. Which is truely interesting because it was finished 5 years before his 95 theses and 8 years before the Diet of Worms. The Bishops had no problem with his teachings until he used it to combat the selling of indulgences. If you ever do pick up one of his books, you'll like it even if you don't agree with all of it. His writing style is very interesting.
6.) Sort of like how the writting os St John Chrysostom are regared so highly by the Orthodox. Luther probably had the largest influence on our theology, Philip Melanchthon would be a very close second if not first, Martin Chemnitz being third, and St Augustine being fourth.
