““In our Latin Bible, ‘repent’ has come to mean ‘to do penance.’ But in the original Greek it means ‘to change one’s mind’ — and that is what Jesus meant. Jesus didn’t ask for penance… works, deeds or rituals… he asks for a simple change of heart. Salvation is not earned by pilgrimages to Rome, veneration of relics, or Masses attended. We need only Jesus Christ. Jesus paid for our sins. Salvation is a gift from God.” - Matin Luther”
And here Luther is wrong. Many at the time, as now, may skip over the “truly sorry” part of confession. But repent has always meant to turn away from sin and to be truly sorry (repentant) about the sins we’re guilty of.
But is feeling guilty enough? He says that all we need to is “change one’s mind”, to understand that what we did is truly sinful.
It is not enough. That is the repentance part of confession. We also must firmly resolve to live differently. We also must make restitution to the best of our ability. And there is penalty for sin.
Is a simple change of heart enough? I think the Luther must have had a very heavy heart and wished that “changing his mind” was enough. I believe that he must have needed it to be enough. He must have had a tremendous fear of what was to come.
Of course someone who doesn’t believe in the Churh will say that going attending Mass doesn’t count.
He says that all we need is a change of heart, to realize that our sins are sins. And yet he continues to speak with venom. To be an anti-semite. To be cruel, in fact.
Does he show any signs that “changing his miind” about how we’re supposed to “change our minds” to be saved was working for him?
Salvation is a gift from God, and God tells us that we must keep his commandments if we will be saved. Going to church is one of those commandments.
Jesus redeemed everyone. He didn’t guarantee salvation to everyone–we must keep his commandments. So what happens if you don’t?
He made some valid points, but again went much too far.
Being a miserable human being while attending Mass compusively isn’t what it’s about.
But I think we can all agree that being a miserable human being and deciding to change doctrine and the Bible aren’t what it’s about. In fact it’s worse.
Luther condemns those who sin and believe that they can buy their way into Heaven with indulgences, yet he is a miserable a person (probably worse than most) and goes on to deny the Church that Jesus founded.
Did this guy ever look at himself?
Indulgences without conscience. I can’t believe that the average person sinned without conscience, believing that all he had to do was pay his way out of purgatory. I believe that most people didn’t have the money to sin very often if that is what was truly believed.
There were probably some vulnerable people who believed such nonsense. I’m thinking that it was probably the rich who really went for this kind of thing.
You know, the kind who buy off-sets today. Their fuel-guzzling homes, cars, and planes don’t count, because they buy off-sets.
It’s preposterous, but it eases a guilty conscience, I suppose.
He taught that the Eucharist is only a symbol is sound theology?? C’MON!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!
