Reformation Scars all but Healed

Pastor Hal Mayer on Sep 14, 2017 

Five centuries after the Reformation triggered a religious course correction for many people, it nevertheless caused many splits; Ritual vs. the Bible, Protestant vs. Catholic, North vs. South, and a series of long and bloody religious wars across Europe. Modern-day Protestants and Catholics believe they have more in common theologically than they do differences, and most would be willing to accept each other as neighbors and family members.

“Theological differences that split western Christianity in the 1500s have diminished to a degree that might have shocked Christians in past centuries,” says a report by the Washington-based Pew Research Center.

The Reformation’s fuse was lit when Martin Luther, a German monk, nailed his 95 theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg on 31 October 1517. The document, written in Latin, fundamentally challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

Luther’s protest was part of a backlash against increasing corruption and in particular the highly profitable sale of indulgences, promoted as fast-track tickets to heaven. Luther declared that when it came to “justification,” salvation was a matter between an individual and God.

Swiftly translated into German and other European languages, Luther’s ideas spread across the continent within weeks, triggering religious, political, intellectual and cultural upheaval.

In recent decades there has been a slow rapprochement between Catholics and Protestants, with greater cooperation and dialogue, encouraged by Pope Francis and his predecessors in what is known as ecumenism. While there are pockets of resistance to Rome’s moves, last year, leaders of the Catholic and main Protestant churches in Germany issued a joint text calling for a “healing of memories” of past divisions.

In all the countries of Europe, only small proportions of Catholics and Protestants pray daily, attend services weekly or say religion is very important in their lives. Across the board, 58% of Protestants and 50% of Catholics in Western Europe say the two traditions are religiously more similar than different. But 26% and 34% respectively say the differences outweigh the similarities.

Roughly nine out of 10 or more Protestants and Catholics say they are willing to accept members of the other tradition as neighbors. Large majorities of both groups say they would be willing to accept each other into their families.

Germany is the most tolerant country, with 98% of Protestants and 97% of Catholics willing to accept the other into their families. Portugal and Spain are the least tolerant, with less than 80% of their predominantly Catholic populations willing to accept Protestants as family members.

Pew also records a reconciliation between the two traditions on a key theological issue: whether eternal salvation is attained solely through faith, as Luther believed, or through a combination of faith and good works.

In every country bar one, majorities or pluralities of Catholics and Protestants say both faith and good works are needed for salvation. The exception is Norway, where 51% of Protestants say salvation comes through faith alone.

Obviously, the ecumenical movement has made an impact. “The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by many as decisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever be made. But there has been for years, in churches of the Protestant faith, a strong and growing sentiment in favor of a union based upon common points of doctrine. To secure such a union, the discussion of subjects upon which all were not agreed—however important they might be from a Bible standpoint—must necessarily be waived.” The Great Controversy, page 444.