Defending Luther

Iprotest, in the strongest possible manner, the article “Do-it-Yourself Churches Won't Get You the Truth,” from the pen of Karl Keating.

First, Martin Luther had no intention of starting a church and, to this day, the churches that bear his name regard themselves as (and indeed are) part of the “one holy, catholic, and apostolic church,” only too eager to discuss what is correct doctrine with anyone. It was Leo X who sent Luther and those who agreed with him “packing,” shattering Catholic unity.

Second, regarding “purgatory,” Lutheran churches affirm that the entire universe must be “purged” before the Kingdom of God comes. What is denied is the “intermediate state.” The question has to do with the word “temporal” when applied to the eschaton. What can the word temporary [or temporal] possibly mean in this context?

The Lutheran churches do have a place for good works in the order of salvation. They are the fruits of justification, upon which God's judgment of us all will be based, but Christ is our justification. Misinformation is of no help in relationships among churches! For example, I have constantly opposed those who say Roman Catholics have no Gospel, the Roman Catholics worship Mary and save themselves, etc. I expect members of the Roman Catholic church to oppose inaccuracies, too. That the polemics persist in 1998 is tragic.

Rev. Jerry Myers

Ecumenical Representative

Allegheny Synod—ELCA

Pastor, Trinity & St. Thomas Lutheran Churches

Hooversville, Pennsylvania

Karl Keating writes in response:

I noted that “Martin Luther determined that there is no purgatory (good-bye Maccabees!) and that works play no role in salvation.”

Purgatory is precisely an “intermediate state,” and Rev. Myers notes that today's Lutherans (as did Luther) reject such a belief. The term “purgatory” never has meant merely that “the entire universe must be ‘purged’ before the Kingdon of God comes.”

By saying that good works “are the fruits of justification” — and apparently nothing more than that — Rev. Myers confirms my comment that, according to Luther, “works play no role in salvation.” For Luther, good works were signs that justification had been achieved, but they did not assist in maintaining that justification.

Few men who ended up starting churches of their own intended at first to do so. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, never thought of himself as splitting off from the Anglican Church. In Luther's case, Pope Leo X merely ratified what already had been accomplished by Luther, who had severed himself from the Catholic Church and had become the head of a new ecclesial body.

—KK