Luther Sparks Revolt in Germany

 

Luther became the German leader of the Reformation. For some years he had protested that some of the clergy were selling indulgences (temporal pardon of sins) without making clear that people must also be sincerely repentant for their sins. He especially attacked the monk Johann Tetzell for deceiving the people. In 1517 the angry Luther wrote the Ninety Five Theses against indulgences and nailed them to the door of the church in Wittenberg. Luther developed new ideas opposed to the church.

 

He rejected the authority of the pope, and -- like Wycliffe and Huss before him-- set up the Bible as the sole source of Christian truth. He denied that priest had any power that laymen did not have. He declared that the vows taken by the monks and nuns were not binding, and that monasteries should be abolished. He rejected the celibacy of the clergy. Of the seven sacraments he kept only two-- baptism and the Lord's supper (Eucharist).

 

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