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You are here: Home / Archives for Reformation Jubilee 500 / Appreciating Luther

An Appreciation of Luther’s Critique of the Eucharistic Sacrifice

December 18, 2017 by Shane Brinegar

The Eucharist as a propitiatory sacrifice offered by the priest on behalf of the living and the dead was at the center of medieval ecclesial life.[i] The biblical scholar and later evangelical reformer will sharply critique the mass as a sacrifice and ex opere operato work in light of the doctrine of justification by faith […]

Filed Under: Appreciating Luther, Reformation Jubilee 500

My Appreciation of Martin Luther’s Sacramentality and His Attention to the Human Body

October 10, 2017 by Frank C. Senn

Let’s Talk has invited readers to write what they appreciate about Martin Luther as we observe the 500th anniversary jubilee of the Reformation. I’m a cradle Lutheran who grew up in a church-going family, so I’ve had a long relationship with the reformer. I don’t know when I first became aware of Martin Luther, but […]

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An Appreciation of Luther’s Pastoral Writings

June 26, 2017 by Anna Marie Johnson

Martin Luther became a historical figure for a set of academic theses, but most of his German contemporaries knew him for his pastoral writings. By the time he was excommunicated in 1520 he had already written 25 pastoral writings, most of them in German. According to historian Mark Edwards, his German pastoral writings were printed […]

Filed Under: Appreciating Luther, Reformation Jubilee 500

“Are you ignorant of what it means to be ignorant?”: Luther’s Insults

June 26, 2017 by Tyler Rasmussen

“Are you ignorant of what it means to be ignorant?” (LW 33:254) That’s my favorite Lutheran insult. I’ve used it often. It’s wonderful when people look at me after I say that to them and go, “Huh?” *** It all began in Kurt Hendel’s “Theology of Martin Luther” class. Dr. Hendel’s final project had two […]

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More Than Just Table Talk

June 26, 2017 by Francisco Herrera

When Frank Senn asked me to write an essay on what I appreciate/don’t appreciate about Luther I practically jumped at the chance. Why? Because writing out my answer gave me the chance to share one of my most perplexing observations of Lutherans. For what confuses me about Lutherans is not so much what they appreciate […]

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Why Did Luther Demonize His Theological Opponents?

June 26, 2017 by Robert Saler

For the last five years, I have been the only Lutheran teaching at my ecumenical seminary. Having taught at a Lutheran seminary prior to coming here, I was surprised by the negative reaction of other Protestants (evangelicals, Disciples of Christ, Reformed, Methodist, Episcopalian, etc.) towards the mention of Luther. This negativity has less to do […]

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Martin Luther, The Peasants’ War, And Anti-semitism: A Quincentennial Rumination

June 26, 2017 by Gregory Holmes Singleton

(with a bit of ersatz theology thrown in for good measure) In the past, centennial celebrations were times for rejoicing and celebration. Quincentennial celebrations were times for over-the-top rejoicing and raucous celebration.  For the last few decades, however, these milestones have often been the occasion of less than flattering revisionist historical treatments.  Cultural icons and […]

Filed Under: Appreciating Luther, Reformation Jubilee 500

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