We Have Everything a Thousand Times Better in Christ: Why the Invocation of the Saints is So Foolish and False
“The invocation of the saints is also one of the Antichrist’s abuses that conflicts with the chief article and destroys the knowledge of Christ (Philippians 3:8). It is neither commanded nor counseled, nor has it any warrant in Scripture. Even if it were a precious thing–which it is not–we have everything a thousand times better in Christ. The angels in heaven pray for us, as does Christ Himself. So do the saints on earth, and perhaps also in heaven. It does not follow though that we should invoke and adore the angels, and saints. Nor should we fast, hold festivals, celebrate Mass, make offerings, and establish churches, altars, and divine worship in their honor. Nor should we serve them in other ways of regard them as helpers in times of need. Nor should we divide different kinds of help among them, ascribing to each one a particular form of assistance, as the papists teach and do. This is idolatry. Such honor belongs to God alone. As a Christian and saint upon earth, you can pray for me in many necessities. But this does not mean that I have to adore and call upon you. I do not need to celebrate festivals, fast, make sacrifices, or hold Masses for your honor. I do not have to put my faith in you for my salvation. I can honor, love, and thank you in Christ in other ways. If such idolatrous honor were withdrawn from angels and departed saints, the remaining honor would be harmless and quickly forgotten. When advantage and assistance (both bodily and spiritual) are no longer expected, the saints will not be troubled, neither in their graves nor in heaven. No one will much remember or esteem or honor them without a reward or just out of pure love.”
–Martin Luther
Smalcald Articles, Part I, Article II, par.25-28.
Concordia: pgs. 292-293.
Yes, yes, yes. Excellent.
We don’t need Luther either, nor his writings nor his “here I stand” trial.
I just have Christ and I don’t need Luther, the reformation, since he was a man. How dare I even think that what he wrote compares to Scripture, and how can I even let my eyes glance at his picture, when I could be gazing at a picture of Jesus.
I don’t need the Book of Concord, since I only need Scripture and it is a book written by men.
God did nothing wonderful through Luther that needs mentioned, lest I venerate and give honor to Luther.
The Lutheran church has never prayed to Luther to have him intercede for us to God. The Lutheran church has never had called upon Luther in times of help. Therre is no Feast of Martin Luther day. There is no church services dedicated to Luther. His birthday and death are not observed as church holy days. Reformation Day (October 31st) is observed as a historical event, and even then Luther is not prayed to.
Yes, Luther was a man, and only a man, blessed with special talents given to him by God, as witnessed by his profound intellect in distilling the teachings of the Bible into essays to teach others and to translate the Bible into German for all.
Agreed, it would be better if the Lutheran church was called the Holy and Catholic Evangelical Church of Christ or something similar rather than the Lutheran Church. Martin Luther protested against his name being applied to the congegations being formed following the holy and pure Gospel established by Christ, purged of non-Biblical teachings and saintology. Luther insisted that they be called “Evangelicals”.
We honor him by quoting his writings where they agree with the Bible and are very helpful for studying the Bible. Ditto for the Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, written by him and others. The Bible and Christ still remain paramount and the only standard by which all things are judged.